How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Find out how to securely erase information from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and restore your device to factory settings.

If you also need to erase your Apple Watch securely, you can follow these steps to unpair your devices.

Back up your device

Make sure you back up your device so you can restore your data later.

Erase your device

Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

An iPhone showing the options to reset or erase content and settings

If asked, enter your passcode or Apple Account password

Forgotten your passcode or Apple Account password?

Confirm you want to erase your device

If you have an eSIM, then you can choose to erase your eSIM or keep it. If you erase your eSIM, then you need to contact your network provider to reactivate your mobile plan.

An iPhone asking you to confirm that you want to erase your device

Wait for your device to be erased

It may take a few minutes to erase your data completely.

If you can’t erase your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

  • Find out what to do if you can’t remember your passcode for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, or your device is disabled.

  • If you’ve forgotten your Screen Time passcode, you can reset it. Restoring your device using a backup won’t remove the Screen Time passcode.

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