Resetting an iPhone to factory settings

Justastray · 22-06-2016, 20:07

Having recently bought a new iPhone, I'm trying to sell my old model, but in order to do so I first want to erase all my old data from my phone. I have a few questions around this, and I'd be grateful if anyone could help me with the following:

1) In order to take my old phone back to factory settings, do I have to take the sim out of my new phone and put in back into the old one to do the job? is there any way I can reset to factory settings without the use of sim?

2) If the answer to the above is 'yes' (I need to use the sim) how can I be sure that the data on my new phone will be unthreatened by the deletion of the old ie If I am unable to back up all the data from the old phone, will it also be deleted from the new?

3) Assuming I am happy that no essential data will be lost, do I just delete everything in 'Settings' and then leave it at that, or is there something else I have to do after that?

Regards and thanks
Graham

moox · 22-06-2016, 20:15

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201351 is Apple's guide on this.

If you factory reset the phone (make sure you turn off find my iPhone first) then there is no way that anyone can get your data back. You do not need to have a SIM inserted into the phone

Broken Hope · 22-06-2016, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201351 is Apple's guide on this.

If you factory reset the phone (make sure you turn off find my iPhone first) then there is no way that anyone can get your data back. You do not need to have a SIM inserted into the phone

Erase all content and settings will automatically disable find my iPhone as part of the process.

Justastray · 23-06-2016, 07:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201351 is Apple's guide on this.

If you factory reset the phone (make sure you turn off find my iPhone first) then there is no way that anyone can get your data back. You do not need to have a SIM inserted into the phone

Every time I try to erase it, I get a pop up screen asking me for my Apple ID and password. Surely in it's doing that it's trying to contact ICloud to back up all my data, so how can it be possible to reset the phone without that? I'm very confused!

Broken Hope · 23-06-2016, 08:04

It's asking for your iCloud password so it can disable find my iPhone.

DevonBloke · 23-06-2016, 11:05

Yes, find my iPhone needs to be disabled first and so that not just anyone could disable it it's asking for your Apple ID.

22-06-2016, 20:07	#1
Justastray Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 74	Resetting an iPhone to factory settings Having recently bought a new iPhone, I'm trying to sell my old model, but in order to do so I first want to erase all my old data from my phone. I have a few questions around this, and I'd be grateful if anyone could help me with the following: 1) In order to take my old phone back to factory settings, do I have to take the sim out of my new phone and put in back into the old one to do the job? is there any way I can reset to factory settings without the use of sim? 2) If the answer to the above is 'yes' (I need to use the sim) how can I be sure that the data on my new phone will be unthreatened by the deletion of the old ie If I am unable to back up all the data from the old phone, will it also be deleted from the new? 3) Assuming I am happy that no essential data will be lost, do I just delete everything in 'Settings' and then leave it at that, or is there something else I have to do after that? Regards and thanks Graham

22-06-2016, 20:15	#2
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201351 is Apple's guide on this. If you factory reset the phone (make sure you turn off find my iPhone first) then there is no way that anyone can get your data back. You do not need to have a SIM inserted into the phone

22-06-2016, 21:33	#3
Broken Hope Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Nottingham Posts: 314	Quote: Originally Posted by moox https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201351 is Apple's guide on this. If you factory reset the phone (make sure you turn off find my iPhone first) then there is no way that anyone can get your data back. You do not need to have a SIM inserted into the phone Erase all content and settings will automatically disable find my iPhone as part of the process.

23-06-2016, 07:17	#4
Justastray Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 74	Quote: Originally Posted by moox https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201351 is Apple's guide on this. If you factory reset the phone (make sure you turn off find my iPhone first) then there is no way that anyone can get your data back. You do not need to have a SIM inserted into the phone Every time I try to erase it, I get a pop up screen asking me for my Apple ID and password. Surely in it's doing that it's trying to contact ICloud to back up all my data, so how can it be possible to reset the phone without that? I'm very confused!

23-06-2016, 08:04	#5
Broken Hope Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Nottingham Posts: 314	It's asking for your iCloud password so it can disable find my iPhone.

23-06-2016, 11:05	#6
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Yes, find my iPhone needs to be disabled first and so that not just anyone could disable it it's asking for your Apple ID.

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Resetting an iPhone to factory settings