How-to
How to Factory Reset Your iPhone or Android (Without Losing Anything)
Back up, sign out, then erase. On iPhone: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone. On Android: Settings → System or General management → Reset.
On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. On Android, go to Settings → System (or General management on Samsung) → Reset → Factory data reset. Back up first, and sign out of your accounts if you're selling or giving the phone away.
⚠️ Back up before you reset
A factory reset deletes everything: photos, messages, apps, passwords saved on the device. There's no undo. Back up first (steps below), and check the backup actually finished.
When you should factory reset
- You're selling, trading in or giving the phone away
- The phone is slow or buggy and restarting didn't help
- You're fixing a stubborn software problem
Just slow? Try freeing up storage first. It often fixes it without a reset.
Step 1: Back up your phone
- Connect to Wi-Fi and plug in.
- Open iCloud Backup. Settings → tap your name → iCloud → iCloud Backup.
- Tap Back Up Now. Wait until it shows "Last successful backup: just now".
- No iCloud space? Plug into a computer. On a Mac, use Finder. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app or iTunes. Choose "Back up all data" and tick "Encrypt local backup" to keep passwords and Health data.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and plug in.
- Google backup: Settings → Google → Backup (or Settings → System → Backup). Tap Back up now.
- Samsung: also run Settings → Accounts and backup → Back up data, or use Smart Switch to a computer.
- Photos: open Google Photos and make sure backup is on and finished.
- Messaging apps: WhatsApp and Signal back up separately. Do it inside each app.
Step 2: Remove your accounts (if the phone is leaving you)
This step matters. If you skip it, the next owner gets stuck on an activation lock screen and can't use the phone.
- Unpair your Apple Watch in the Watch app, if you have one.
- Sign out of your Apple Account. Settings → your name → Sign Out. Enter your password to turn off Find My and Activation Lock.
- Turn off iMessage if you're switching to Android: Settings → Messages → iMessage off.
- Remove your Google account. Settings → Passwords & accounts (or Accounts and backup → Manage accounts) → your Google account → Remove account.
- Samsung: also remove your Samsung account in the same menu.
- This turns off Factory Reset Protection, the lock that asks for the previous owner's Google login after a reset.
Step 3: Factory reset
- Open Settings → General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode and Apple Account password if asked.
- Wait. The phone restarts to the "Hello" screen when it's done. If you see Hello, it's ready for the next owner.
- Samsung: Settings → General management → Reset → Factory data reset.
- Pixel: Settings → System → Reset options → Erase all data (factory reset).
- Other Android: search Settings for "factory reset".
- Remove the microSD card if you have one. It isn't wiped.
- Confirm and wait. It's done when you see the welcome setup screen.
Forgot your passcode?
- iPhone: enter the wrong passcode until you see "iPhone Unavailable" and an Erase iPhone option (iOS 15.2 and later). Or put it in recovery mode and restore with a computer. You'll still need your Apple Account password afterward.
- Android: use Google's Find Hub (formerly Find My Device) on another device to erase it, or boot into recovery mode. You'll need your Google password after.
Selling it?
Once it's reset, you're ready to cash in. Get a quote in under a minute on our Sell your device page, and read how to get the most money.
FAQ
Does a factory reset delete everything?
Yes. It erases all apps, data and settings on the phone. Anything in iCloud or your Google account stays in the cloud. A microSD card isn't erased.
Does a factory reset remove Activation Lock?
Not by itself. Sign out of your Apple Account (iPhone) or remove your Google account (Android) first, or the next owner will be locked out.
How long does a factory reset take?
Usually 5 to 15 minutes. Backing up beforehand can take longer, depending on how much data you have.
Will a factory reset fix a slow phone?
Often, yes, especially if storage was full or apps were misbehaving. If the battery is worn, it won't help much. Check battery health too.
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