How to erase all content and settings (2024)

Table of Contents
Personal Safety User Guide for Apple devices Erase your iPhone or iPad and restore it to factory settings Erase your Mac and restore it to factory settings FAQs

Table of Contents

Personal Safety User Guide for Apple devices

  • Welcome
  • Personal safety at a glance
  • What’s new in personal safety
    • Use Safety Check to stop sharing
    • How Safety Check works
    • Additional considerations when using Safety Check
    • Intro to review and take action
    • Secure AirDrop and NameDrop
    • Securely control whom you share content with from iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch
    • Securely control whom you share content with from Mac
      • Share or stop sharing your location
      • Manage automatic ETA sharing in Maps
      • Manage Location Services settings
      • Stop and remove location metadata in Photos
      • Stay safe with AirTag
    • Safely manage how you forward content
    • Reject unknown sign-in attempts
    • Record suspicious activity
    • Store your data securely in iCloud
    • Delete suspicious content
    • Manage Family Sharing settings
    • Avoid fraudulent requests to share info
    • Securely control your Home accessories
    • How to erase all content and settings
    • Restore the data you backed up
    • Intro to privacy and safety tools
    • Update your Apple software
    • Set a unique passcode or password
    • Secure your iPhone or iPad with Face ID
    • Secure your devices with Touch ID
    • Delete unknown fingerprints from iPhone or iPad
    • Add or delete fingerprints on your Mac
    • Keep your Apple ID secure
    • Use two-factor authentication
    • Help prevent being locked out of your device
    • Keep your device, app, and website passwords secure on iPhone and iPad
    • Manage shared password and passkeys
    • App privacy features in Apple products
    • Harden your devices against mercenary spyware
    • Manage safety settings in Messages
    • Use Check In for Messages
    • Block calls and messages
    • Receive warnings about sensitive images and videos on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
    • Keep your browsing history private
    • Make an emergency call or text on iPhone or Apple Watch
    • Obtain evidence related to another person’s account
    • See who has access to your iPhone or iPad
    • How to stop sharing your iPhone or iPad content
    • How to stop sharing your iPhone or iPad location
  • Copyright
See Also
How to run Mac virus scan: a step-by-step guide
How to erase all content and settings (1)

If you’re concerned someone may have had physical access to your device and tampered with its built-in security, you can restore the device to its factory settings—even if you aren’t running the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. A factory restore erases the information and settings on your device. This includes removing any apps that were installed without your knowledge and resetting your privacy settings so you aren’t sharing location with any people or apps. It also installs the latest version of the operating system.

How to erase all content and settings (2)

This process, known as Erase All Content and Settings, requires internet access and can take some time; however, it helps ensure that your device can be accessed only by you.

Important: When you use Erase All Content and Settings, all your data is erased.

If you want to use Erase All Content and Settings on your Mac, you must be running macOS 12.0.1 or later. Alternatively, you can erase your Mac. See the Apple Support articles Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon and Use Disk Utility to erase an Intel-based Mac.

Find out how: To view a task below, select the plus button How to erase all content and settings (3) next to its title.

Erase your iPhone or iPad and restore it to factory settings

  1. Go to Settings How to erase all content and settings (4) > General > Reset, then tap Erase all Contents and Settings.

    How to erase all content and settings (5)

  2. Enter your passcode or Apple ID password.

  3. Wait for all content to be safely removed from your device.

Erase your Mac and restore it to factory settings

  1. Do one of the following:

    • On your Mac running macOS 13 or later: Choose Apple menu How to erase all content and settings (6) > System Settings, click General How to erase all content and settings (7), click Transfer or Reset, then click Erase All Content and Settings.

    • On your Mac running macOS 12 or earlier: Choose Apple menu How to erase all content and settings (8) > System Preferences, then in the menu bar, choose System Preferences > Erase All Content and Settings.

  2. In Erase Assistant, enter your administrator information (the password you use to log in to your Mac).

  3. Review items that will be removed in addition to your content and settings.

    On your Mac running multiple user accounts, click the arrow next to your account name to review the items.

  4. Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions.

See alsoApple Support article: How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touchApple Support article: Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple siliconAdditional safety resources

Download this guide as a PDF

Helpful?

Thanks for your feedback.

How to erase all content and settings (2024)

FAQs

Is erase all contents and settings enough? ›

Although deleting data via 'Erase All Content and Settings' on iPhone will make your device as clean as new, but it is not enough. Your iPhone data after factory reset is still recoverable by hackers.

Tell Me More ›
How do I force my iPhone to erase all content? ›

Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase all Contents and Settings. Enter your passcode or Apple ID password. Wait for all content to be safely removed from your device.

See More ›
Why is my iPhone stuck on Erase all content and settings? ›

Turn Off Find My iPhone

If you have this feature turned on, it could be causing a hindrance in erasing all content and settings. Therefore, try turning it off. Here's how: Go to “Settings > Apple ID > Find My” and turn off the toggle if it's on.

Tell Me More ›
How do I unlock my iPhone to erase all content and settings? ›

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Do one of the following: Prepare your content and settings to transfer to a new iPhone: Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions. When you finish, return to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Explore More ›
What's the difference between reset and erase all content and settings? ›

WARNING: If you choose the Erase All Content and Settings option, all of your content is removed. See Erase iPhone. Choose an option: Reset All Settings: All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults.

Know More ›
Does erase all content delete pictures? ›

When you tap Erase All Content and Settings, it completely erases your device, including any credit or debit cards you added for Apple Pay and any photos, contacts, music, or apps. It will also turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.

Find Out More ›
Why can't I click on Erase all content and settings? ›

If erase all content and settings not showing on iPhone or iPad, reset network settings. This will remove all the networks and VPN settings on your device, disconnecting you from cellular data or Wi-Fi. Then you can connect to the Internet and use Erase All Content and Settings to factory reset your device.

Learn More Now ›
Is an erased iPhone still locked? ›

When you erase a device remotely using Find My, Activation Lock remains on to protect it. Your Apple ID and password are required to reactivate it. If you erase a device that had iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or later installed, you can use Find My to locate or play a sound on the device.

Continue Reading ›
Can you restore iPhone after erase all content and settings? ›

You can restore content, settings, and apps from a backup to a new or newly erased iPhone. Important: To restore your iPhone, you must have a backup to restore from. See Back up iPhone.

Read The Full Story ›
How to erase an iPhone without a password? ›

Here's how to do this.
  1. Connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable and open iTunes.
  2. On the left side of the screen, navigate to “Summary”.
  3. Next, press a button titled “Restore iPhone…”.
  4. A prompt will appear, asking you to confirm the factory reset. ...
  5. Wait for the reset to finish.
  6. Done!

Show Me More ›

How do I erase all content and settings on my iPhone? ›

Tap Settings > General > Transfer or Reset [Device]

Tap Erase All Content and Settings.

Get More Info ›
How to erase all content and settings on iPhone without restrictions passcode? ›

1.3 Reset iPhone without Restrictions Passcode via Find My App
  1. Make sure that you have logged into your Apple ID on another Apple device.
  2. Locate the Find My app on your other Apple device and tap on Devices.
  3. In the device list, select your iPhone that you want to reset and tap on Erase This iPhone.
Jan 27, 2023

Discover More Details ›
How do I erase all content and settings on my iPhone without Apple ID? ›

Now follow the below steps carefully:
  1. First, launch “Settings” and then select “General”
  2. Go to the bottom and click on “Reset”
  3. Here you will see the “Erase All Content and Settings” option, press it.
  4. If any passcode is required then enter it and after confirming, click on “Erase iPhone”
Jan 21, 2024

See More ›
What will I lose if I erase all content and settings? ›

Erase all content and settings only if necessary as it removes your email accounts and all data including system data, app data and media. Music, pictures and videos can be backed up to iCloud® or Verizon Cloud.

Find Out More ›
Does erase all data delete everything? ›

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.

View More ›
Does erase all content and settings really delete everything on a Mac? ›

Use Erase All Content and Settings to quickly and securely erase all settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.

View Details ›
Is factory reset enough for an iPhone? ›

Factory reset or hard reset deletes complete data and settings from your iPhone. All your photos, videos, contacts, call logs, passwords, messages, browsing history, calendar, chat history, notes, installed apps, etc., get deleted from the iOS device. It cleans your iPhone as new with no personal information at all.

View More ›
Top Articles
Configuring Business Central Web Server instance - Business Central
Netflix Organizational Change, Structure & Case Study 2022
Www.newjetnet.aa.com Login
Trigonometry Maze Answer Key Gina Wilson
Trump rally shooter Thomas Crooks: Neighbors, classmates, employer speak
Videos of police beating men at UK airport spark outcry as force reports itself to watchdog | CNN
Craigslist Knoxville Tn.
Sei Investments Co. Sells 2,601 Shares of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX)
Karen & Don Designers Upholstery
Pokemon Sapphire Evolution Chart
Webbest Storage
Everything Is New To Me Lyrics
Latest Posts
Best Summer Research Programs for High School Students 2022
How to Transfer Active Directory to a New Windows Server 2022/2019/2016 [Complete Guide]
Article information

Author: Jeremiah Abshire

Last Updated:

Views: 6048

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (54 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jeremiah Abshire

Birthday: 1993-09-14

Address: Apt. 425 92748 Jannie Centers, Port Nikitaville, VT 82110

Phone: +8096210939894

Job: Lead Healthcare Manager

Hobby: Watching movies, Watching movies, Knapping, LARPing, Coffee roasting, Lacemaking, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Jeremiah Abshire, I am a outstanding, kind, clever, hilarious, curious, hilarious, outstanding person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.