Home / iPhone repair / How to reset an iPhone
There are two kinds of reset. A force restart fixes a frozen or glitching iPhone and deletes nothing. A factory reset wipes the iPhone completely, for when you’re selling it or starting over. Pick the one you need.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Frozen screen, stuck app, no signal | Force restart (deletes nothing) |
| Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or settings acting up | Reset settings (keeps your data) |
| Selling it, giving it away, starting fresh | Factory reset (deletes everything) |
| Forgot your passcode | Reset from the lock screen (deletes everything) |
Option 1 · deletes nothing
Use this when the screen is stuck, an app won’t close, or you’ve lost signal. It takes about 15 seconds and nothing on the phone is deleted. Press Play to see it done on an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
iPhone 17 Pro Max
A quick tap — don’t hold it.
Straight after, another quick tap.
Keep holding. The “slide to power off” screen appears — ignore it and don’t let go. The screen goes black, then the Apple logo appears (about 10 seconds in total). Then let go.
Once you see the lock screen, check the problem: signal, the app, the screen. Nothing on your phone has been deleted.
Which iPhones? This exact method works on iPhone 8 and every newer iPhone — including all Face ID models, the iPhone 16 and 17 range, and iPhone SE (2nd & 3rd gen). iPhone 7: hold Volume Down and the Side button together until the Apple logo. iPhone 6s & SE (1st gen): hold the Home button and the Side (or Top) button together.
Still not right after a restart? Then it’s most likely hardware — battery, screen, charging port or the board. That’s our job: free diagnosis, flat published prices, same day in most cases.
Option 2 · keeps your data
Open Settings › General › Transfer or Reset iPhone › Reset, then choose:
Option 3 · deletes everything
Back up first. A factory reset can’t be undone. Back up to iCloud or a computer, and check the backup finished before you continue.
Buying a second-hand iPhone? If it still asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account after a reset, it’s locked to them. Don’t pay until it’s cleared. We can check the IMEI and lock status for you before you buy.
Locked out
You can reset the iPhone from the lock screen, but it erases everything. Keep entering a passcode until you see iPhone Unavailable, then tap Forgot Passcode? and follow the steps. The iPhone needs Wi-Fi or mobile data and Find My switched on. Afterwards you’ll need your Apple Account password to set it up again.
No “Forgot Passcode?” option? The iPhone can be reset with a computer instead. If you’re the owner and need the data, talk to us before you erase anything: data and access recovery is for verified owners only.
Questions
No. A force restart only switches the iPhone off and on again. Your photos, apps and messages stay exactly as they were.
A force restart turns a frozen iPhone off and on and deletes nothing. A factory reset (Erase All Content and Settings) wipes everything on the iPhone and returns it to how it came out of the box. Only factory reset an iPhone after backing it up, or when you are selling or giving it away.
Back it up first. Then open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your passcode and your Apple Account password when asked.
Yes, but it erases the iPhone. Keep entering a passcode until the iPhone Unavailable screen shows, then tap Forgot Passcode? (the iPhone needs Wi-Fi or mobile data and Find My turned on). You will need your Apple Account password afterwards to set it up again.
Only if you enter the Apple Account password during the reset, which signs the iPhone out of Find My. Without that password the iPhone stays locked to the owner's account. MobiDokta helps verified owners only.
If a force restart and a reset don't fix it, the fault is most likely hardware: battery, screen, charging port or the board. Bring it to MobiDokta in Danville, Pretoria West for a free diagnosis, or WhatsApp 078 154 1350.
Steps checked against Apple Support: Force restart iPhone · Factory reset · Forgot your passcode.
Then it’s most likely hardware. Free diagnosis, flat published prices, most repairs done the same day. Shop 6, Madeira Isles, Danville, Pretoria West. Open daily 10am–9pm.