When an iPhone won’t factory reset, use Settings, a computer recovery, or iCloud erase to complete the reset.
What This Problem Looks Like
The wipe never starts, the bar stalls, or the phone restarts with data still on it. You may see prompts about Find My, a screen passcode, or a computer restore.
Quick Checks Before You Reset
Charge to at least 50% and join Wi-Fi. Remove VPN profiles. If you can open Settings, confirm the right Apple ID and the screen passcode. If the screen or buttons are broken, plan to use a computer to enter recovery mode with a cable.
Fast Triage Table
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Erase All Content and Settings” does nothing | Pending update or low storage | Update iOS, free space, then try again |
| “Find My iPhone must be turned off” prompt | Activation Lock is active | Turn off Find My with Apple ID, or erase via iCloud |
| Forgot screen passcode | Device locked | Use recovery mode restore on a computer |
| Error 4013/4014 in Finder or iTunes | Cable, port, or restore session | Swap cable/port, try another computer |
| “This device is managed” message | Work or school MDM | Ask the admin to remove management |
Iphone Not Resetting To Factory Settings: Fast Paths
Pick the route that matches your access. If you can open it with the passcode, start in Settings. If you forgot the passcode or the phone is stuck, use a computer. If the phone is far away or lost, use iCloud.
Reset From The Settings App
Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the prompts to back up, then enter your passcode and Apple ID to turn off Find My. The phone erases and shows the Hello screen.
See Apple’s step page: Erase iPhone guide.
Reset With Recovery Mode On A Computer
Use this when the passcode is unknown, the iPhone is disabled, or Settings fails. You need a Mac with Finder or a PC with iTunes. Connect with a cable. Enter recovery mode based on the button layout, then choose Restore on the computer. Firmware downloads and the device wipes.
Erase From iCloud.com
When the device isn’t with you, sign in at iCloud.com, open Find Devices, select the iPhone, and choose Erase. The wipe starts when the phone comes online. Afterward, remove the device from your account if you plan to sell or give it away.
Blockers That Stop A Factory Reset
Clear these blockers and the reset flows.
Find My And Activation Lock
Find My ties the phone to an Apple ID. If it is on, the device asks for that Apple ID during a reset. Turn it off in Settings > [your name] > Find My before you erase. If you already wiped with a computer and now see an Activation Lock screen, sign in with the linked Apple ID. If you bought a used phone, ask the seller to remove the device from their account remotely.
Guidance for that screen: remove Activation Lock.
Forgotten Screen Passcode
After too many wrong tries the phone shows a Security Lockout screen. At that point, only a recovery mode restore will finish a wipe. During setup you can load a backup from iCloud or a computer.
Low Storage Or A Stuck Update
A major iOS update or a nearly full device can stall a reset. Free space, then run the erase flow again. If an update loops, restore on a computer so the download happens there.
Fix Common Restore Errors
Finder and iTunes show alerts when a restore fails. Swap the Lightning or USB-C cable. Try a different USB port that connects right to the computer. Reboot both ends. If the download took hours, start a fresh restore so the firmware file is new. Try later. Also test another account on the same computer to rule out permissions.
Error Code And Message Table
| Code / Message | What It Means | What Works |
|---|---|---|
| 4013 or 4014 | Data link dropped during restore | New cable, different port, or another computer |
| 4005 | Could not finish restore | Reboot both ends, retry, switch USB port |
| 9 | USB connection broke mid-process | Avoid hubs, connect direct, replace cable |
| 14 | Firmware file issue | Download again or restore on a second computer |
| “This device isn’t eligible” | Wrong firmware build | Let Finder or iTunes fetch the correct version |
If a restore never reaches the Hello screen after tries on more than one computer, hardware service may be needed.
Data And Sign-In Steps That Help
Back up first if you can open the phone. In Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, run a manual backup. On a computer, plug in and run an encrypted backup so Health data and saved passwords return later.
Before sale or trade-in, unpair Apple Watch, remove eSIM, and clear car or Bluetooth pairings.
Model Notes For Recovery Mode
Face ID phones: press volume up, press volume down, then hold the side button until the recovery screen appears. iPhone 8 and SE (2nd and 3rd gen) follow the same pattern. iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: hold the side button and the volume down button until the recovery screen. iPhone 6s and the older SE: hold the Home and top (or side) button together until the screen appears.
Use the model steps listed here and retry if needed. Stay patient while Finder or iTunes downloads the firmware. The bar may sit for long stretches. That is normal on slow links. If the phone exits the recovery screen before the download ends, let the download finish, then reconnect and choose Restore again.
After The Reset
During setup you can pick Quick Start to bring settings, apps, and data from another iPhone, or sign in and pull an iCloud backup. If you plan to trade in the device, stop at the Hello screen and power it off. For a sale, leave the SIM tray empty or remove the eSIM from Settings.
Cable, Computer, And Network Tips
Restore traffic is heavy. A flaky link can crash a wipe mid-stream. Use the cable that shipped with the phone or an MFi-certified one. Plug straight into the computer, not a hub or a front panel. On laptops, keep the lid open so sleep does not cut power to the port. If the firmware download halts, switch to a faster or more reliable network and try again.
On Windows, update iTunes through the Microsoft Store or Apple’s installer. On macOS, check for a system update, then try the restore again in Finder. If the error repeats, delete the partial IPSW file and let the tool fetch a fresh copy on the next attempt.
When Find My Won’t Turn Off
Two things block the toggle: the wrong Apple ID, or no internet. Check the email shown at the top of Settings matches the account you use on other Apple gear. If the email is correct yet the switch still fails, join a known Wi-Fi network and try again. If you forgot the password, use account recovery on another device or at the web sign-in page, then return to the phone and retry the toggle.
Extra Tips That Save Time
- Let the battery sit near half or higher before you start a wipe or restore.
- On Windows, quit phone managers that might grab the USB link.
- If the download fails, use wired network or move closer to the router.
- Do not unplug during the first boot after a restore; the phone may restart more than once.
- If you use CarPlay, forget the car in Settings on the phone and in the car head unit after you set up again.
- For eSIM, open your carrier app right after setup to add the line back with fewer steps.
Main Takeaway
You have three working paths: Settings, a computer, or iCloud. Clear Activation Lock, pick the route that fits your access, and use a reliable cable and port. In nearly all cases that gets an iPhone that will not factory reset back to a clean Hello screen.