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A factory reset with Erase All Content and Settings deletes everything stored on an iPhone, because it destroys the encryption keys that protect the phone's data and leaves the remaining data unreadable. Every iPhone encrypts its storage by default. The erase removes apps, photos, messages, accounts, settings and the passcode. It does not delete data stored in iCloud, which stays with the Apple Account. When the Apple Account password is entered during the erase, the phone is also removed from the account and Activation Lock is turned off. An erased, unlocked phone is ready for Sell iPhone for Cash.
- Deleted from the phone: all apps, data, accounts, settings and the passcode.
- Kept in iCloud: iCloud backups, iCloud Photos, Messages in iCloud, contacts and notes.
- Recovery risk: data cannot be recovered after the keys are destroyed.
- Account effect: the phone leaves the Apple Account when the password is entered during the erase.
What does Erase All Content and Settings remove?
Erase All Content and Settings removes every item stored on the iPhone. The table lists the main categories.
| Category | Examples | Removed from the phone |
|---|---|---|
| Personal data | Photos, videos, messages, notes, files, voicemail | Yes |
| Apps and app data | Installed apps, saved sign-ins, game progress stored on the phone | Yes |
| Accounts | Apple Account, email, social and work accounts | Yes |
| Security data | Passcode, Face ID or Touch ID data, Keychain | Yes |
| Wallet | Apple Pay cards, passes, keys | Yes |
| Settings | Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, preferences | Yes |
| Cellular plan | eSIM | Optional; the erase screen offers to keep or remove it |
The phone returns to the Hello screen, the same state as a new phone. iOS itself stays installed at its current version. How to Factory Reset an iPhone Before Selling It covers the steps.
Can deleted data be recovered after a reset?
Data deleted by Erase All Content and Settings cannot be recovered with known methods, because the reset destroys the encryption keys rather than overwriting files one by one. The process works in 3 layers:
- Every iPhone encrypts its storage with keys held in a secure part of the hardware.
- The erase deletes those keys from the phone's effaceable storage.
- Without the keys, the encrypted data left on the storage chips is unreadable.
Apple describes this approach in its Platform Security Guide. Cryptographic erase is a recognized sanitization technique in NIST SP 800-88, Guidelines for Media Sanitization, which NIST revised as Rev. 2 in September 2025. Data Erasure Standards for Phones: NIST 800-88 Explained explains the standard.
Does a reset remove the iPhone from my Apple Account?
A reset from Settings removes the iPhone from the Apple Account when the Apple Account password is entered during the erase, which also turns off Find My and Activation Lock. A restore through recovery mode on a computer does not remove the phone from the account. The table compares the 2 methods.
| Method | Data erased | Removed from the Apple Account | Activation Lock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erase All Content and Settings, password entered | Yes | Yes | Off |
| Recovery mode restore | Yes | No | On until the password is entered |
| Erase from Find Devices | Yes | Only after Remove This Device | On until removed |
Check the account's device list at account.apple.com after the reset. How to Remove an iPhone From Your Apple Account Before You Sell covers that check.
What stays in iCloud after a reset?
Data stored in iCloud stays in iCloud after the phone is reset, because the reset deletes only the phone's local copy. iCloud keeps 7 common types of data:
- iCloud backups of the phone
- iCloud Photos
- Messages in iCloud
- Contacts, calendars and reminders
- Notes and iCloud Drive files
- Keychain passwords, when iCloud Keychain is on
- Health data, when synced to iCloud
Signing in on a new iPhone restores this data. The buyer of the old phone cannot see it, because the buyer signs in with a different Apple Account.
Do I need to delete photos and apps before resetting?
Deleting photos and apps before resetting is not necessary, because Erase All Content and Settings removes them all at once. Deleting photos manually while iCloud Photos is on can also delete them from iCloud and every other device, which causes data loss. Sign out of the Apple Account first, then erase. This order keeps iCloud data safe.
What should I do before a factory reset?
Complete 6 steps before a factory reset:
- Back up the iPhone to iCloud or a computer.
- Transfer data to the new phone and confirm it.
- Unpair the Apple Watch.
- Turn off iMessage and FaceTime when moving to a non-Apple phone.
- Remove Apple Pay cards, or rely on the sign-out to remove them.
- Move the eSIM to the new phone, or plan to remove it during the erase.
How to Prepare Your iPhone to Sell: 9-Step Checklist covers each step.
Is a factory reset enough for a sale?
A factory reset is enough for a sale when 2 conditions are true: the erase completed and showed the Hello screen, and Activation Lock is off. A phone at the Hello screen with Activation Lock off can be set up by a buyer. A phone that shows the Activation Lock screen after the erase still needs the Apple Account password, or removal at icloud.com/find, before it can be sold at a working-phone price.
How long does a factory reset take?
A factory reset usually takes 2–10 minutes, because the phone deletes keys rather than overwriting every file. Larger storage sizes do not add much time. The phone restarts and shows the Hello screen when the erase finishes. A reset that runs longer than 30 minutes may need a restart and a second attempt, or a recovery mode restore.
What is the difference between Reset All Settings and Erase All Content?
Reset All Settings and Erase All Content and Settings are different actions in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. The table compares them.
| Action | Settings reset | Data deleted | Suitable for a sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reset All Settings | Yes | No | No |
| Reset Network Settings | Network only | No | No |
| Erase All Content and Settings | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Only Erase All Content and Settings prepares the phone for a new owner.
Does a factory reset remove the eSIM?
A factory reset can remove the eSIM, and the erase screen asks whether to keep or erase it on phones with an active eSIM. Erasing the eSIM is the right choice for a sale once the number has moved to the new phone. Keeping it leaves the cellular plan on the phone, which a buyer cannot use. Contact the carrier when unsure whether the plan has moved. What to Do With Your eSIM Before Selling Your iPhone explains the options.
Does a factory reset remove a carrier lock?
A factory reset does not remove a carrier lock, because the lock is set by the carrier and stored in carrier records linked to the phone's IMEI. Only the carrier can unlock the phone. The lock status appears in Settings > General > About under Carrier Lock. How to Tell If Your iPhone Is Unlocked Before Selling explains the check.
Does a factory reset remove device management?
A factory reset removes a manually installed management profile, but a company iPhone enrolled through Apple Business Manager re-enrolls in management during setup after the erase. The organization must release the phone from Apple Business Manager before it can be sold. How to Check an iPhone for an MDM Profile explains how to confirm.
Does a buyback erase the phone again?
A buyback erases every phone again during testing, as a second safeguard after the seller's own erase. The seller's erase remains essential, because the seller's sign-out removes Activation Lock. Phones that arrive signed in cannot be tested at a working grade until the seller removes them from the account.
Can a reset fix a slow or glitchy iPhone?
A factory reset can fix software problems such as slow performance, app crashes or battery drain caused by software, because it removes all apps and settings. It does not fix hardware faults, such as a failing battery, a broken screen or a bad charging port. A phone with hardware faults can be sold with those faults declared in the quote form.
What if the reset asks for a password I do not know?
A reset that asks for an unknown Apple Account password stops until the password is entered, because the password is required to turn off Find My. Reset the password at iforgot.apple.com, then finish the erase. When the account belongs to someone else, ask that person to remove the phone from their account at icloud.com/find. How to Sign Out of iCloud Without a Password covers account recovery.
How do I confirm the reset worked?
Confirm the reset worked with 4 checks:
| Check | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Screen after restart | The Hello screen in several languages |
| Activation Lock | Setup continues past the Wi-Fi step without asking for the old Apple Account |
| Apple Account device list | The phone no longer appears at account.apple.com |
| Find Devices | The phone no longer appears at icloud.com/find |
Stop at the Hello screen after the checks, because setting up the phone again signs it back in to an account.
Does a reset delete data on a broken iPhone?
A reset deletes data on a broken iPhone only when the erase can run. A phone with a dead screen can be erased remotely through Find Devices at icloud.com, which runs the erase when the phone connects to the internet. A phone that does not power on cannot run the erase, but its data stays encrypted and unreadable without the passcode. Remove the phone from the Apple Account so Activation Lock is off, and declare the fault in the quote form. Selling an iPhone That Won't Turn On: Your Options explains the options.
Does a reset affect other devices on my Apple Account?
A reset of one iPhone does not affect other devices on the same Apple Account, such as an iPad, a Mac or an Apple Watch paired to a different phone. iCloud data stays available on those devices. Only the erased iPhone loses its local data and leaves the account's device list.
Should I remove the SIM card before a reset?
Remove a physical SIM card before or after the reset, because the erase does not delete a physical SIM and the card belongs to the seller's cellular plan. Keep the SIM for the new phone, or return it to the carrier.
Frequently asked questions about factory resets
Does a factory reset delete everything on an iPhone?
A factory reset with Erase All Content and Settings deletes everything stored on the iPhone, including apps, photos, messages, accounts, settings, Wallet cards and the passcode. It destroys the encryption keys that protect the data, so the remaining data is unreadable. Data stored in iCloud stays with the Apple Account and is not deleted.
Can someone recover data after an iPhone factory reset?
Data cannot be recovered after Erase All Content and Settings with known methods, because the iPhone encrypts its storage and the erase deletes the encryption keys. This method, called cryptographic erase, is a recognized sanitization technique in NIST SP 800-88, Guidelines for Media Sanitization, revised as Rev. 2 in September 2025.
Does a factory reset remove my iCloud account from the iPhone?
A reset from Settings removes the Apple Account from the iPhone and turns off Activation Lock when the account password is entered during the erase. A recovery mode restore through a computer does not remove the account, so Activation Lock stays on until the password is entered or the phone is removed at icloud.com/find.
Will a factory reset delete my iCloud photos?
A factory reset does not delete iCloud Photos, because the photos are stored in iCloud and the reset deletes only the phone's local copy. Deleting photos one by one before the reset, while iCloud Photos is on, can delete them from iCloud. Sign out of the Apple Account first, then erase the phone.
Is a factory reset enough before selling an iPhone?
A factory reset is enough before selling when the erase finishes at the Hello screen and Activation Lock is off. Back up and transfer data first, unpair the Apple Watch and move the eSIM. A phone that shows the Activation Lock screen after the reset needs the Apple Account password before it is sold.
Sources and references
- Apple Platform Security Guide: data protection and erasing the device.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): SP 800-88 Rev. 2, Guidelines for Media Sanitization (September 2025).
- Apple Support: how to erase your iPhone, and what to do before you sell it.