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. The same button sequence works on iPhone 8 and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) and every Face ID iPhone. 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.
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.
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.
Selling, trading in, or giving the phone away? Before you erase it, back it up, unpair any Apple Watch, and go to Settings > [your name] > Sign Out to turn off Find My, so the next owner isn’t blocked by Activation Lock. When asked about the eSIM, erase it, and take out any physical SIM card. If you’re moving to Android, deregister iMessage too. Erasing the phone doesn’t cancel your carrier plan. Apple’s before-transfer checklist lists every step.
- 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.
The iPhone erases your content and settings, then restarts so you can set it up as new or restore from a backup.
Factory Reset on iOS 14 or Earlier
For an older iPhone running iOS 14 or earlier, the menu is Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Apple’s transfer guide explains how this differs from the Transfer or Reset menu in iOS 15 and later. Back up first, enter your passcode and Apple Account password when asked, and wait for the Hello screen to appear.
Factory reset an iPhone from a computer
Use this when you know your passcode and want a computer to reinstall iOS. If you forgot the passcode, see Forgot your passcode? below.
- 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.
Your computer erases the iPhone and reinstalls iOS, so you can set it up again.
Forgot your passcode? You can’t use the Settings method. On iOS 17 or later, if you changed the passcode in the last 72 hours, tap Forgot Passcode? on the iPhone Unavailable screen and choose Enter Previous Passcode, as described in Apple’s Passcode Reset page. Otherwise, use Apple’s on-device reset or its computer reset guide, which uses recovery mode. Both erase the iPhone, and you’ll need your Apple Account password to get past Activation Lock afterward.
If the Computer Cannot Recognize the iPhone
For a device that remains unrecognized or stuck at the Apple logo, use Apple’s recovery-mode instructions. Connect it by USB and open an updated Finder or Apple Devices app. For iPhone 8 or later, quickly press volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Connect to computer screen. For iPhone 7, hold side and volume down together. For iPhone 6s or earlier, hold Home and the top or side button together. Keep holding through the Apple logo for recovery mode.
Select the device on the computer. Try Update first if the goal is to repair startup while preserving data; Restore reinstalls iOS and erases the phone. Check your backup and account access before choosing Restore. If downloading takes over 15 minutes and recovery mode ends, let the download finish and repeat the button sequence. A restore does not bypass Activation Lock. If buttons fail or recovery cannot finish, seek service.
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.
After a reset, you can put your data back by learning how to restore an iPhone from a backup.
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 is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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It’s probably not a good idea to be using the hard reset option a lot if you don’t have to.