How to Factory Reset Your iPhone or iPad

Support Article | University PC Care

A factory reset erases all content and settings from your iPhone or iPad, returning it to a like-new state. This is essential if you're preparing to sell, trade in, give away, or troubleshoot your device.

Follow the steps below to safely reset your device and protect your data.

Before You Begin

Make sure to complete these important steps first:

Back up your data using iCloud or a computer if you want to keep your photos, contacts, and apps.
Turn off Find My iPhone/iPad — required to disable Activation Lock.
Sign out of your Apple ID to prevent issues for the next owner.

How to Turn Off Find My and Sign Out

Open the Settings app.
Tap your name at the top (Apple ID).
Select Find My, then tap Find My iPhone or Find My iPad.
Toggle it off and enter your Apple ID password.
Then return to the Apple ID screen and scroll down to Sign Out.

Important: Do not skip this step. Activation Lock will prevent anyone else from using the device if not turned off.

How to Factory Reset Your iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app.
Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your device passcode when prompted.
Tap Continue and confirm.
Your device will begin erasing and restart when finished.

Once the reset is complete, your device will show the welcome screen, just like when it was first purchased.

Need to Reset Using a Computer?

If your device is locked or unresponsive:

Connect your iPhone/iPad to a Mac or Windows PC using a USB cable.
Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows).
Put your device into Recovery Mode:
- For iPhones with Face ID: Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery screen.
- For iPhones with Home button: Press and hold Home + Power until you see the recovery screen.
On your computer, select Restore.

This will download the latest iOS version and perform a full reset.

Need Help?

Not sure if you're ready to reset your device? Need help backing up or disabling Find My?

📍 Visit us at University PC Care
📞 Call: (252) 558-1280
📧 Email: support@universitypccare.com