Choose the right reset
Reset All Settings restores system preferences but leaves photos, messages, apps, and documents on the iPhone. It is not a privacy wipe for the next owner. Erase All Content and Settings removes personal information and Apple Pay cards from the device and restores it to factory settings.
If you are troubleshooting Wi-Fi or another setting, restart and diagnose that issue before considering an erase. If you forgot the passcode, use the separate passcode-recovery path instead of assuming you can open Settings.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column →
| Goal | Operation | Effect on personal content |
|---|---|---|
| Troubleshoot settings | Reset → Reset All Settings, only if needed | Photos and apps stay; some preferences need setup again |
| Sell, gift, or trade in | Erase All Content and Settings | Local content is removed; back up or transfer first |
| Forgot passcode | Follow passcode recovery | An erase may be required; recovery depends on an existing backup |
Verify the backup and transfer before erasing
Make a backup and transfer information to the replacement phone before handing over the old one. Check the time of the last successful backup, then sample important photos, contacts, messages, and apps on the new device. iCloud Photos synchronization and a whole-device backup are separate; success in one does not prove the other is complete.
Do not manually delete photos one by one while still signed in to iCloud. Apple warns that deletions can propagate to iCloud and other connected devices. If moving to a non-Apple phone, deregister iMessage as Apple directs.
- Confirm a completed iCloud or computer backup and record its date.
- Transfer to the new phone and verify a few irreplaceable items.
- Unpair an Apple Watch if paired; check whether an AppleCare plan should be canceled or transferred.
- Have your own device passcode and Apple Account credentials available; never give them to the buyer.
Erase the old iPhone in Settings
Open Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings. Review the list of items the phone will remove. You may need the device passcode or Apple Account password; if Find My is on, account verification is part of removing Activation Lock. Sign-out screens vary by iOS version, so follow the current on-device prompts and Apple's version-specific instructions.
For a sale involving eSIM, Apple says to erase the device and eSIM profile when prompted. If you are resetting a phone you will keep with the same number, Apple's erase flow can retain the eSIM; deleting it may require carrier help to reactivate service. Handle a physical SIM according to the carrier and transfer arrangement.
- Verify backup and transfer, then sign out of your Apple Account as needed.
- Select Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
- Review the erase summary and complete passcode or Apple Account verification.
- Choose the eSIM option based on whether the number stays with you; do not leave your own eSIM on a phone you sell.
- Wait for the Hello screen and do not sign back into your account.
Check Activation Lock before handover
Apple says erasing the device through Erase All Content and Settings turns off Find My and Activation Lock. Confirm the Hello screen while the phone is still with you, then remove the old phone from your trusted-device list. Signing out of one store, removing a SIM, or resetting settings is not the same check.
If you already gave away the phone without erasing it, contact the new owner and follow Apple's instructions. For a lost or stolen device, use the remote erase options in Find Devices. Changing your Apple Account password alone does not erase personal content already stored on the old phone.
What is deleted from iPhone versus iCloud?
A device erase removes the iPhone's local content, but Apple says it does not delete content stored in iCloud. In contrast, manually deleting synchronized photos or contacts while still signed in can remove them from iCloud and other devices. Back up and verify, then erase the whole device.
If you plan to keep using this iPhone, confirm your backup and decide whether to retain the eSIM. This guide is for a legitimate reset or handover; it does not bypass the passcode, Apple Account, or Activation Lock. We have not performed a device-specific erase test.