To hard reset an iPhone without losing anything, press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. That is a force restart. If you want to wipe the phone back to factory settings instead, go to Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Erase All Content and Settings.
In this article:
- Force restart (keeps your data)
- Force restart an older iPhone
- Factory reset in Settings
- Factory reset from a computer
- Which one to use
- FAQs
Force restart an iPhone (keeps your data)
A force restart is what most people mean by a “hard reset.” It shuts the phone off and turns it back on when the screen is frozen or an app won’t respond. Your photos, apps, and settings stay put. These steps come from Apple’s Force restart iPhone guide.
- Press and quickly release the volume up button.
- Press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Press and hold the side button (the button on the right edge).
- Let go when you see the Apple logo.
Keep holding the side button even if a slider shows up. The screen goes black, then the Apple logo appears. That usually takes about 10 seconds.
Result: The iPhone restarts with everything intact. If it doesn’t turn on, Apple suggests charging it for an hour and trying again.
Force Restart an Older iPhone With a Home Button
Apple’s If your iPhone won’t turn on or the screen is black article lists different buttons for older models:
- iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: press and hold the side button and the volume down button together until you see the Apple logo.
- iPhone 6s and earlier: press and hold the Home button and the side (or top) button together until you see the Apple logo, which takes about 10 seconds.
Result: The phone restarts. If it shows a low-battery screen instead, Apple recommends charging it for 30 minutes or until it starts.
Factory reset an iPhone (erases everything)
A factory reset removes your content and settings and puts the phone back the way it came out of the box. Back up your iPhone first so you can get your data back later. Apple lists these steps in its Erase iPhone guide.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode or Apple Account password if asked.
- Tap Continue to confirm.
If your phone uses an eSIM, you’ll be asked whether to keep it or erase it. If you erase it, you’ll need to contact your carrier to get your plan working again.
Result: The iPhone erases your content and settings, then restarts so you can set it up as new or restore from a backup.
Factory reset an iPhone from a computer
Use this if the phone won’t let you get into Settings.
- Connect the iPhone to your computer with a USB or USB-C cable.
- On a Mac, open a Finder window. On Windows, open the Apple Devices app (or iTunes if you don’t have Apple Devices).
- Select your iPhone, then click General (or Summary in iTunes).
- Click Restore iPhone, then click Restore to confirm.
Apple notes that you have to turn off Find My before the Restore button will work.
Result: Your computer erases the iPhone and reinstalls iOS, so you can set it up again.
Which one should you use?
- Phone frozen or acting strange: force restart. Nothing is deleted.
- Selling, giving away, or trading in the phone: factory reset.
- Just want settings back to default: use Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset, which keeps your content.
Need to shut the phone down the normal way? See how to turn off an iPhone. Setting up after a reset? See how to turn on and set up an iPhone.
Before you factory reset an iPhone you plan to sell or give away, turn off Find My iPhone so the next owner isn’t blocked by Activation Lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a force restart delete anything?
No. It only restarts the phone. Your apps, photos and settings stay put.
What if the iPhone still won’t turn on after a force restart?
Apple suggests charging it for an hour and trying again. If it still won’t start, it may need service.
Is “hard reset” the same as “factory reset”?
Not usually. Most people mean a force restart, which keeps your data. A factory reset erases everything.
Do I need to turn off Find My before a factory reset?
If you’re selling or giving away the phone, yes. Otherwise the next owner can be blocked by Activation Lock. See how to turn off Find My iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
It’s probably not a good idea to be using the hard reset option a lot if you don’t have to.