iOS offers a simple path to a new beginning, whether you’re getting ready to sell an iPhone or you’re troubleshooting some significant issues you’ve been having lately. When transferring ownership in the first case, you should make sure that all of your data, settings, and files have been completely deleted.
However, if you’re troubleshooting, you might not want to perform a complete reset before trying to identify the problem in another way. For instance, it’s always worth trying a completely new start if your device is running slowly or acting erratically and you can’t figure out why before you decide to start the warranty and repair process through Apple.
Two important options can be found in the iPhone settings: resetting and erasing and resetting. Although they all appear to be very similar, what does each choice actually do to your phone? Which one ought you to pick? We’ll describe the distinction.
Resetting an iPhone
Resetting your iPhone restores it to a factory-like state, but all of your apps, files, and data remain. When troubleshooting an issue, we recommend that you first reset your iPhone’s settings. This option can be found by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset. You’ll notice that there are several sub-options from here. You may:
- Reset all settings.
- Reset network settings.
- Reset the keyboard dictionary.
- Reset the home screen layout.
- Reset location & privacy settings.
The first function will essentially bundle everything else, but if you’ve narrowed down the source of your problems, you can try resetting these individual settings. This is an excellent option if you believe your device has become slow or if you are experiencing frequent crashes. These should also help if you’re having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi or cellular networks, if your battery life is draining faster than usual, or if you’re experiencing other suspicious behavior that you haven’t been able to resolve with other measures.
Resetting and erasing an iPhone
If you’re planning to sell or trade in your iPhone, you’ll probably want to select the option to erase and reset it. This can be found in the same menu where you would reset your iPhone: Erase All Content and Settings in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
If you select this option, your iPhone will be completely restored to its factory settings. This includes removing all apps and data from the device, removing your Apple ID login, removing the Find My Lock, and removing all cards and accounts from Apple Wallet. After that, you can hand it off to someone else without fear of them gaining access to your sensitive information.
If you decide to perform a complete erasure, you should back up your data first, whether you do it manually on your own storage device or through a cloud service. For photos, videos, and files, you could use Google Drive or Dropbox, but iCloud is the most convenient option because it automatically backs up everything, including settings and app data. Even if your plan doesn’t include enough iCloud storage to hold all of your files, Apple will provide you with a temporary, 21-day expansion that gives you just enough space to hold everything until your new phone arrives.