Start Fresh: How to Factory Reset an iPhone or Android Device (2024)

You're selling or donating an old iPhone, iPad, or Android device and want to make sure that other people can’t access your personal information. For that reason, you’ll want to wipe all traces of yourself and your data before you get rid of your device.

By performing a factory reset, you will erase all personal information, applications, and content from your device, so a new owner can't snoop through your gadget. Once you take this step, you can then safely sell your iPhone or Android device, or even dispose of your old tech.

Before you erase your device, make sure that you’ve backed up or transferred any information you need to keep. The steps for wiping your phone differ between operating systems, but it's quite easy with a little guidance.

How to Reset Your iPhone or iPad

(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)

Before you reset your Apple device, make sure you back up the data to your computer or to iCloud. You can also transfer files, settings, and other information directly to a new iPhone. In order to reset any Apple device, you must first disconnect it from integral services such as Find My and iCloud before finally erasing your data.

You can sign out of both at once if you sign out of your iCloud account entirely. To do this, tap your name at the top of the Settings screen, then scroll down the Apple ID screen and tap the Sign Out link. Make sure Health, Keychain, and Safari are also turned off, then tap Sign Out and choose Sign Out again for one final confirmation.

By signing out of iCloud, Apple's Find My services are automatically turned off. You should also receive an email informing you that Find My has been disabled on your device.

(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)

You then need to erase your personal data from the device. Head to Settings > General and tap the Transfer or Reset iPhone link at the bottom of the page. Tap Erase All Content and Settings and then tap Continue. You may then need to enter your passcode to confirm your action.

Finally, tap the Erase iPhone command to reset the phone. Your device will then be wiped and restored to factory conditions. After the reset, your device restarts and places you at the setup screen. You can now power it down so that it's ready for disposal or a new owner. The same process can be used to reset your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

How to Reset Your Android Device

(Credit: Lance Whitney / Google)

Before you erase your Android device, make sure you back up all your data. With a service like Google One, you are able to back up app data, call history, contacts, settings, SMS messages, pictures, and videos to the cloud.

You may want to first encrypt the data on your device. While this isn't necessary, it does provide an extra layer of protection just in case someone somehow manages to sneak past the wipe and gain access to your information.

In order to encrypt your Android device, go to Settings and find the Security menu. There should be an option to enable encryption on your device. If you have trouble finding the right menu, search for the word "encryption" in Settings.

Assuming your device is not already encrypted, you can start the encryption process. Your device will need to be plugged in or fully charged, and you won't be able to use your device until its finished. This will ensure that your personal data and other information are unreadable

Once finished, your phone or tablet will restart. You can then go back to the Encryption settings screen to verify that encryption is now active.

(Credit: Lance Whitney / Google)

Now you have to hunt down the right option to reset your device. Since this is Android, the process will vary by manufacturer, device, and OS version. Go to Settings and seek out options for Backup & reset, General Management, or System. If you can't locate it, search for "Reset" in the Settings screen.

Select an option called Factory Data Reset or Erase all data (factory reset) to see what the reset will erase across your signed-in accounts. Tap the Reset button, then you're asked to enter your password and then confirm the action.

Tap Erase Everything or Delete All to wipe your data and restore the device to factory conditions. After the reset, your device should display the Welcome screen. You can now power it down and prepare for its departure.

What If My Phone Won't Turn On?

These processes will work as long as your phone is operating as expected. If there's a problem with your phone, and it won't turn on, there are alternative ways to reset your mobile device, like connecting your phone to a computer or entering Recovery Mode to reset the device.