To remove a virus from your iPhone, first restart it and update iOS, then clear Safari's history and data, and delete any suspicious apps, but if issues persist, back up your data and perform a factory reset via Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, as malware usually comes from untrustworthy links or apps, not traditional viruses.
How to Get Rid of Viruses From an iPhone
Here's how you can check your iPhone for viruses and other malware:
You know your iPhone might have a virus or malware if you see unfamiliar apps, frequent crashes, rapid battery drain, overheating, excessive data usage, or persistent pop-up ads, especially if these symptoms appear together and your phone feels sluggish or acts unusually. While true viruses are rare on un-jailbroken iPhones, these signs point to malicious software, often from suspicious downloads, that can be detected by checking app behavior, data usage in Settings, and looking for unusual device management profiles.
How do I detect and remove malware on my Android phone?
Manual malware removal guide
Restart your phone normally & check apps
If your phone loses battery, runs slowly, eats up your data, or otherwise starts performing poorly, it could be a sign that someone has unauthorized access to it. Check out this video for the 5 most common warning signs your phone is hacked, then jump down below to see even more signs.
Common signs of malware, viruses and cyber threats on your device
The short answer is yes, in most cases. Viruses are typically embedded in malicious files or apps on your phone, and since a factory reset removes all of your files it will often remove the offending virus or malware, too. However, a factory reset isn't a guarantee that the virus will go away.
Three-finger gestures on iPhone primarily activate accessibility features like VoiceOver (for screen reading and navigation) and Zoom (magnification), allowing scrolling, zooming, and text manipulation (copy/paste/undo) with specific taps and drags, though some text actions work without VoiceOver enabled for quick editing. Common gestures include three-finger double-tap to toggle VoiceOver speech, triple-tap for the screen curtain, and pinching/spreading with three fingers for copy/paste actions, notes this YouTube video.
No, virus warnings on iPhones are not real. These pop-up notifications disguised as virus warnings are scams, typically including a link that will attempt to infect your phone if you click it. It's important to remember that iPhones block scams, viruses and bugs automatically without notifying the user.
Factory resetting is the most drastic way to clear viruses on iPhone or iPad devices. Not only will a factory reset clear malware from your iPhone, but it will clear everything else too. We recommend that you try all other steps before restoring your device to a like-new state.
macOS includes built-in antivirus technology called XProtect for the signature-based detection and removal of malware.
You know your iPhone might have a virus or malware if you see unfamiliar apps, frequent crashes, rapid battery drain, overheating, excessive data usage, or persistent pop-up ads, especially if these symptoms appear together and your phone feels sluggish or acts unusually. While true viruses are rare on un-jailbroken iPhones, these signs point to malicious software, often from suspicious downloads, that can be detected by checking app behavior, data usage in Settings, and looking for unusual device management profiles.
Step-by-step guide to securing your iPhone
To 100% remove a virus, the most reliable method is to back up your data, then erase your hard drive and reinstall the operating system, as some sophisticated malware can hide deeply. For less severe infections, use a reputable antivirus, boot into Safe Mode, run scans with multiple tools (like Malwarebytes, Microsoft Safety Scanner), delete temporary files, and check browser extensions before restarting and scanning again.
Symptoms of a viral infection depend on where you're infected, but some common ones include: Flu-like symptoms: fever, head and body aches, fatigue. Upper respiratory symptoms: sore throat, cough, sneezing. Digestive symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
You'll know your phone has a virus by symptoms like slow performance, rapid battery drain, high data usage, pop-up ads, strange apps, or unexpected messages to contacts, indicating malicious software is using your phone's resources or stealing data. To check, review your Settings > Apps for unfamiliar apps, monitor data/battery usage, and run a scan with a reputable mobile antivirus app like McAfee Security for Android from the Google Play Store or App Store.
For iOS, use Apple's Safety Check: To check if your iPhone has been hacked, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check. This tool helps you review and revoke the access you've granted to people, apps, and devices, which is a common way iPhones are compromised.
Start by deleting unknown apps, updating your software, and running a security scan. Change passwords to any affected accounts and turn on 2FA. If you believe your phone has been hacked, start by removing any suspicious apps, updating your phone, and getting access back to any hacked accounts.
Dial codes like *#21# or *#62# help check call forwarding settings, but they can't confirm if your phone is hacked. They're useful for spotting suspicious redirections, but use trusted antivirus apps for reliable threat detection.
*3001#12345#* on an iPhone activates the hidden Field Test Mode, a diagnostic tool for network engineers and power users to see detailed cellular data like signal strength (dBm), cell tower info, and network quality, accessible by dialing the code in the Phone app and pressing call, often after turning off Wi-Fi for accurate cellular readings.
On an iPhone, dialing *#21# is a USSD code used to check the status of your unconditional call forwarding, revealing if your calls, SMS, or data are being redirected and to which number, without actually changing settings; it's a simple privacy check to see if someone has secretly set your phone to forward everything, though it doesn't detect advanced spyware. Dialing this code brings up a message from your carrier about your call forwarding status, often showing "Disabled" or a specific number if it's active.