In today’s digital age, our smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. We store our personal and professional data, memories, and sensitive information on these devices. But what happens when your iPhone starts malfunctioning, or you want to sell or trade it in? One solution is to reset your iPhone, but the big question is: does resetting iPhone delete everything?
Understanding iPhone Reset Options
Before we dive into the implications of resetting your iPhone, it’s essential to understand the different reset options available. Apple provides two reset options: Reset All Settings and Erase All Content and Settings.
Reset All Settings
This option resets your iPhone’s settings to their default values, but it does not delete your data, apps, or media. It’s ideal for troubleshooting issues like battery drain, Wi-Fi connectivity problems, or faulty app settings. When you choose this option, your iPhone will:
- Reset all settings to their default values
- Delete saved Wi-Fi networks and paired Bluetooth devices
- Reset location and privacy settings
- Reset notification preferences
All your data, including contacts, photos, music, and apps, will remain intact. This option is a relatively safe and non-destructive way to troubleshoot issues without losing your valuable data.
Erase All Content and Settings
This option is more drastic and will erase everything on your iPhone, including your data, apps, and settings. It’s suitable when you’re selling or trading in your iPhone or if you want to start from scratch. When you choose this option, your iPhone will:
- Delete all data, including contacts, photos, music, and messages
- Remove all apps and their associated data
- Reset all settings to their default values
- Erase all content from the iPhone’s storage
This option is a complete wipe, leaving your iPhone in its factory-fresh state.
What Happens to Your Data When You Reset Your iPhone?
Now that we’ve discussed the reset options, let’s explore what happens to your data when you reset your iPhone.
Synced Data
If you’ve enabled iCloud or iTunes syncing on your iPhone, your data is likely backed up to the cloud or your computer. This includes:
- Contacts: Stored in iCloud or iTunes, and can be restored from a backup
- Calendar events: Synced with iCloud or iTunes, and can be restored from a backup
- Photos: Stored in iCloud Photo Library or iTunes, and can be restored from a backup
- Music and media: Stored in iCloud Music Library or iTunes, and can be restored from a backup
When you reset your iPhone, this data will not be deleted from the cloud or your computer. You can restore it from a backup after setting up your iPhone again.
App Data
App data, on the other hand, is a different story. When you reset your iPhone, app data is deleted, including:
- Game progress: Lost, unless you’ve synced it with the game’s cloud service or have a separate backup
- Login credentials: Lost, unless you’ve enabled password syncing through iCloud Keychain or another password manager
- App settings: Lost, unless you’ve synced them with the app’s cloud service or have a separate backup
To avoid losing app data, make sure to sync your data with the app’s cloud service or have a separate backup before resetting your iPhone.
Messages and Chats
When you reset your iPhone, your messages and chat history will be deleted. However, if you’ve enabled Messages in iCloud, your messages will be synced with the cloud and can be restored from a backup.
iCloud Data
If you’ve enabled iCloud on your iPhone, your data is stored in the cloud. When you reset your iPhone, your iCloud data remains intact, including:
- iCloud Keychain: Passwords and credit card information are stored in iCloud Keychain and can be restored from a backup
- Find My iPhone: This feature remains active, and you can still locate your iPhone remotely or erase it using Find My iPhone
- iCloud Backup: Your iCloud backups are stored separately from your iPhone data and can be restored from a backup
How to Back Up Your iPhone Data Before Resetting
To avoid losing your valuable data, it’s essential to back up your iPhone before resetting it. Here’s how to do it:
Backing Up with iCloud
To back up your iPhone with iCloud:
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup
- Toggle on iCloud Backup
- Tap “Back Up Now” to initiate a manual backup
Backing Up with iTunes
To back up your iPhone with iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes
- Select your iPhone from the top left corner of the iTunes window
- Click “Back up now” to initiate a manual backup
Resetting Your iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you’ve backed up your data, it’s time to reset your iPhone. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Resetting Your iPhone with the Settings App
To reset your iPhone using the Settings app:
- Go to Settings > General > Reset
- Choose “Erase All Content and Settings”
- Enter your Apple ID password to disable Activation Lock
- Tap “Erase Now” to initiate the reset process
Resetting Your iPhone with iTunes
To reset your iPhone using iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes
- Select your iPhone from the top left corner of the iTunes window
- Click “Restore iPhone” to initiate the reset process
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process
Conclusion
In conclusion, resetting your iPhone can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to data loss. However, by understanding the different reset options and taking the necessary steps to back up your data, you can ensure a smooth and stress-free experience. Remember to sync your data with the cloud or your computer, and consider using a password manager to store your login credentials. By following these guidelines, you can reset your iPhone with confidence, knowing that your valuable data is safe and secure.
Will I Lose All My Photos and Videos if I Reset My iPhone?
If you reset your iPhone, all of the data on your device will be erased, including your photos and videos. This means that you will lose access to these files unless you have backed them up elsewhere. It’s essential to regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes to ensure that your precious memories are safe.
If you have enabled iCloud Photo Library, your photos and videos will be stored in iCloud and will not be affected by the reset. You can also restore them from iCloud backup after the reset. Additionally, if you have synced your photos and videos to your computer or other devices, you can also restore them from those sources.
What Happens to My Contacts and Calendars?
When you reset your iPhone, all of your contacts and calendars will be deleted from the device. However, if you have synced your contacts and calendars with iCloud, they will still be available on iCloud.com and can be restored to your iPhone after the reset.
You can also restore your contacts and calendars from an iCloud or iTunes backup. If you have synced your contacts with other services like Gmail or Exchange, they will still be available on those platforms and can be synced back to your iPhone after the reset. It’s essential to ensure that your contacts and calendars are up to date and synced with multiple sources to avoid any data loss.
Will I Lose My Music and Apps?
Yes, when you reset your iPhone, all of the music, apps, and other content that you have downloaded or purchased will be deleted from the device. However, if you have purchased music or apps from the iTunes Store or App Store, you can re-download them for free after the reset.
You can also restore your music and apps from an iCloud or iTunes backup. If you have synced your music library with iCloud Music Library or Apple Music, your music will still be available in the cloud and can be streamed or downloaded to your iPhone after the reset. Make sure to note down the list of apps you have installed, so you can easily re-install them after the reset.
What About My Messages and Chat History?
When you reset your iPhone, all of your messages and chat history will be deleted from the device. However, if you have enabled Messages in iCloud, your messages and chat history will be stored in iCloud and can be restored to your iPhone after the reset.
You can also restore your messages and chat history from an iCloud or iTunes backup. If you have synced your messages with other devices using the same Apple ID, they will still be available on those devices. However, if you have deleted messages or chat history on all your devices, they will be lost permanently.
Will I Lose My iPhone’s Watermark?
When you reset your iPhone, any watermarks or Activation Locks associated with your device will be removed. This means that if your iPhone was previously locked to your Apple ID, it will no longer be locked after the reset.
However, if you have enabled Find My iPhone, you will need to disable it before resetting your iPhone to avoid any issues. You can disable Find My iPhone remotely by signing in to iCloud.com and removing the device from the list of trusted devices.
Can I Cancel the Reset Process?
Once you have started the reset process, you cannot cancel it. The reset process will continue until it is complete, and all of the data on your iPhone will be erased. Therefore, it’s essential to make sure that you have backed up your data and are certain that you want to reset your iPhone before starting the process.
If you are sure that you want to cancel the reset process, immediately disconnect your iPhone from the internet and turn it off. However, this may not always work, and you may still lose some or all of your data.
How Do I Restore My iPhone After a Reset?
After resetting your iPhone, you can restore it from an iCloud or iTunes backup. To restore from iCloud, go to the Apps & Data screen during the setup process and select “Restore from iCloud Backup”. Sign in with your Apple ID and select the backup you want to restore.
To restore from iTunes, connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes. Select your iPhone and click “Restore Backup”. Select the backup you want to restore, and iTunes will automatically transfer the data to your iPhone. Make sure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS and that your backup is up to date to ensure a successful restore.