How to Format Your iPhone Completely: Step-by-Step

Formatting your iPhone erases everything and brings it back to factory settings. We’ve done this on multiple iPhones over the years, and the whole process takes about 5-10 minutes depending on which method you pick.

Whether you’re selling your phone, fixing software bugs, or just want a clean start, this guide covers every way to format an iPhone completely. We tested all four methods on an iPhone 14 running iOS 18.3 and an iPhone SE (2022) on iOS 17.6.

#What Does Formatting an iPhone Actually Do?

Formatting (also called factory resetting) wipes your iPhone back to its original state. Every photo, app, message, and setting gets deleted. iOS reinstalls fresh.

Here’s what gets erased:

• All photos, videos, and music stored locally
• Apps, app data, and game saves
• Contacts, messages, call logs, and voicemail
• Wi-Fi passwords, VPN settings, and Bluetooth pairings
• Apple Pay cards and Health data
• Safari history, bookmarks, and saved passwords

According to Apple’s support page on erasing iPhone, formatting removes your personal data and resets all settings to defaults. The process is irreversible once confirmed.

Your iCloud data stays safe in the cloud. Anything synced to iCloud (photos, contacts, notes) can be restored after you set up the phone again. But anything stored only on the device is gone for good.

If you’re unsure what restoring an iPhone means compared to formatting, the short answer is that they accomplish the same thing through different routes.

#How to Back Up Before You Format

Don’t skip this step. We’ve seen people lose years of photos because they assumed everything was in iCloud.

iCloud backup:

1. Open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
2. Tap Back Up Now and wait for it to finish (usually 10-30 minutes).

Mac backup (macOS Catalina or later):

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
2. Open Finder, select your iPhone, and click Back Up Now.

Windows backup:

1. Open iTunes, connect your iPhone via USB, and click the phone icon.
2. Click Back Up Now under the Summary tab.

Apple recommends keeping at least one encrypted backup, which also saves your Health data and saved passwords. We tested a full backup on an iPhone 14 with 87 GB used, and it took about 25 minutes over USB.

#Format an iPhone From the Settings App

This is the fastest method and doesn’t require a computer. It works on any iPhone running iOS 15 or later.

1. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings.
2. Enter your passcode and Apple ID password, then tap Erase iPhone.

Your iPhone will show an Apple logo with a progress bar. Expect about 3-5 minutes.

After the erase finishes, your iPhone boots to the “Hello” setup screen. From here you can set it up as new or restore from a backup.

If you’re just changing your iPhone’s location settings or troubleshooting GPS issues, a full format isn’t necessary. Try a network settings reset first, since it takes about 30 seconds and doesn’t delete your apps or photos.

#Formatting an iPhone With a Computer

Using Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows gives you more control over the process. This method also downloads and installs the latest iOS version automatically.

On Mac (macOS Catalina or later):

1. Connect your iPhone via USB, open Finder, and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
2. Click Restore iPhone and confirm when prompted.

On Windows:

1. Open iTunes, connect your iPhone, and click the device icon in the top-left corner.
2. Go to Summary, click Restore iPhone, and confirm.

Based on Apple’s Finder restore documentation, the computer method downloads a fresh copy of iOS during the process. This means it takes longer (15-30 minutes depending on your internet speed) but gives you a completely clean install.

We ran this on our iPhone SE, and the download plus install took about 18 minutes on a 100 Mbps connection.

#How to Format in Recovery Mode When Your iPhone Is Locked

If you can’t unlock your iPhone because you forgot the passcode, Recovery Mode lets you format without entering it. This also works when your iPhone is frozen or unresponsive.

For iPhone 8 and later (including SE 2nd/3rd gen):

1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC, then quickly press and release Volume Up followed by Volume Down.
2. Hold the Side button until the Recovery Mode screen appears, then click Restore in Finder or iTunes.

For iPhone 7:

1. Connect to a computer.
2. Hold the Volume Down and Side button together until Recovery Mode appears.

For iPhone 6s and earlier:

1. Connect to a computer.
2. Hold the Home button and Side button together until Recovery Mode appears.

Recovery Mode formatting completely erases your device and installs the latest compatible iOS version. According to Apple’s Recovery Mode guide, this process can take up to 15 minutes.

If you’re dealing with an iCloud-locked device, keep in mind that Activation Lock will still require the original Apple ID after formatting.

#Remote Formatting Through iCloud

Lost your phone? You can erase it remotely through iCloud.com or the Find My app on another Apple device.

Using iCloud.com:

1. Go to iCloud.com/find, sign in, and select your iPhone from All Devices.
2. Click Erase iPhone and confirm with your Apple ID password.

Using Find My on another Apple device:

1. Open the Find My app and tap Devices.
2. Select your iPhone and tap Erase This Device.

The remote erase starts the next time your iPhone connects to the internet. If the phone is offline, the erase command queues and executes when it reconnects.

This is the best option if your phone is stolen. After the erase, Activation Lock stays on (tied to your Apple ID), so nobody else can set it up. You can also locate a lost phone that’s turned off using the Find My network.

#Formatting a Used or Second-Hand iPhone

If you bought a second-hand iPhone, format it before using it. This removes the previous owner’s data and accounts.

Before formatting a used phone:

• Ask the seller to sign out of their Apple ID. This disables Activation Lock so you can set up the phone after formatting.
• Check the IMEI at Settings > General > About. A blacklisted iPhone will have limited functionality even after formatting.
• Remove the old SIM card and insert your own SIM or eSIM before setting up.

After the previous owner signs out, format the phone using the Settings method described above, then set it up fresh with your own Apple ID and restore your iCloud backup if you have one from a previous device.

If you’re planning to unlock a carrier-locked iPhone, do that before or after formatting. The lock status is tied to the carrier, not the phone’s software.

#Does Formatting Affect Your Phone Number or Carrier Plan?

No. Formatting erases data stored on the iPhone itself. Your cellular plan, phone number, and carrier account are completely separate.

After formatting:

• Your SIM card or eSIM keeps working.
• Your phone number stays the same.
• Your data plan remains active.
• You’ll need to reconnect to Wi-Fi networks since saved passwords get deleted.

If your iPhone uses a physical SIM, it stays in the tray during formatting and reconnects automatically. For eSIM users on iOS 17 and later, Apple added an option to keep your eSIM during the erase process. On older iOS versions, you might need to re-download your eSIM from your carrier.

#Bottom Line

Start with the Settings method. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. It’s the fastest option, and it works on every iPhone running iOS 15 or later. If your phone is locked or unresponsive, use Recovery Mode through a computer instead.

Back up first, and sign out of your Apple ID before handing the phone to someone else. Done in under 10 minutes.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#How long does it take to format an iPhone?

The Settings method takes about 3-5 minutes on iPhones with 64-128 GB of storage. Using a computer takes longer because it downloads a fresh copy of iOS. Expect 15-30 minutes for the computer method on a typical internet connection.

#Will formatting delete my iCloud data?

No. Formatting only erases local data. Everything synced to iCloud stays safe in your account.

#Can I format my iPhone without a computer?

Yes. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. This erases everything directly from the phone. You don’t need a Mac, PC, or any cables.

#Is formatting the same as factory resetting?

They’re the same thing. “Format,” “factory reset,” “erase all content and settings,” and “restore” all describe wiping your iPhone back to its original state. Apple’s official term is “Erase All Content and Settings,” but the result is identical regardless of what you call it. The difference between a full erase and just resetting your iPhone is that a reset only changes specific settings without deleting your data.

#Can I undo a format after it’s done?

No. Once you confirm the erase, all local data is permanently deleted. The only way to get your data back is to restore from an iCloud or computer backup that you created before formatting.

#Does formatting remove Activation Lock?

It depends on the method. Formatting through Settings or a computer prompts you to enter your Apple ID password, which disables Activation Lock. Recovery Mode without an Apple ID sign-in keeps the lock on.

#Will formatting fix a slow iPhone?

In most cases, yes. A fresh iOS install removes accumulated cache files, background processes, and app data that slow things down. We formatted our iPhone 14 after noticing lag on iOS 18.2, and the phone felt noticeably faster afterward. If the slowness is caused by a hardware issue like a degraded battery, formatting won’t help with that.

#What iOS versions support the Transfer or Reset option?

Apple introduced the “Transfer or Reset iPhone” menu in iOS 15 (released September 2021). All iPhones running iOS 15, 16, 17, or 18 have this option. Older devices on iOS 14 or earlier use a slightly different path: Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.