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5 Min Read | tech Help | How To | Life Maze
Resetting an iPhone is a common fix for many issues, from performance problems to preparing a device for resale. Whether your iPhone is running slowly, freezing, or you simply want a fresh start, Apple provides several ways to reset your device depending on what you need to achieve.
This guide walks through all the main ways to reset an iPhone, explains what each option does, and helps you choose the right one.
Before resetting your iPhone, it’s important to understand one key thing:
Some resets erase data, others don’t
If you’re planning a full reset, you should back up your iPhone first.
You can back up using either:
iCloud:
Go to Settings → [your name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup → Back Up Now
Computer (Mac or PC):
Connect your iPhone with a cable and back it up using Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)
Once your data is backed up, you’re safe to proceed.
A soft reset is simply restarting your iPhone. This does not delete any data and is often enough to fix minor glitches.
Press and hold the Side button and Volume Up or Down
When the power slider appears, slide to turn off
Wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button again to turn it back on
Best for:
Apps freezing
Minor performance issues
Quick troubleshooting
If your iPhone isn’t responding at all, a force restart can help. This also does not erase data.
Quickly press and release Volume Up
Quickly press and release Volume Down
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears
Hold Volume Down + Power button until the Apple logo appears
Hold Home button + Power button until the Apple logo appears
Best for:
Frozen screens
iPhone stuck on Apple logo
Unresponsive device
This option resets system settings without deleting your apps, photos, or files.
Wi-Fi passwords
Bluetooth connections
Display and sound settings
Privacy and location settings
Go to Settings
Tap General
Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
Choose Reset
Tap Reset All Setting
Best for:
Wi-Fi or Bluetooth issues
Notification problems
Settings behaving incorrectly
A factory reset completely wipes your iPhone and restores it to its original state. All data will be deleted.
Selling or giving away your iPhone
Major software problems
Starting fresh
Go to Settings
Tap General
Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone
Select Erase All Content and Settings
Confirm and enter your passcode if prompted
Your iPhone will restart and display the setup screen once complete.
If your iPhone won’t turn on or reset normally, you can reset it using a Mac or PC.
Connect your iPhone to a computer with a cable
Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)
Put your iPhone into Recovery Mode
When prompted, choose Restore
This downloads the latest iOS version and reinstalls it.
Best for:
iPhone stuck in a boot loop
Software corruption
iPhone won’t start
After a reset, you’ll see the setup screen. From here, you can:
Restore from an iCloud backup
Restore from a computer backup
Set up the iPhone as new
Choose the option that best fits your situation.
Forgot Apple ID?
You’ll need the Apple ID used on the device to disable Activation Lock.
Battery too low?
Charge your iPhone before resetting.
Reset stuck?
Try force restarting or using a computer restore.
Resetting an iPhone can solve many common problems, but choosing the right type of reset is important. For small issues, a restart or settings reset is usually enough. For serious problems or resale, a factory reset is the best option.
If your iPhone still isn’t working properly after resetting, it may be a hardware issue and worth checking with Apple Support or a professional repair service.