The easiest way to factory reset an iPhone is through the Settings app by going to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, entering your passcode and Apple ID password, and confirming, which wipes everything and prepares it for a new owner or setup, but always back up first. For a simple restart, use the volume buttons and side button to force a reboot, or for a settings-only reset (no data loss), choose Reset All Settings in the same menu.
Does a factory reset erase everything off your iPhone? A factory reset on your iPhone will erase nearly all data on your device. That's why it's important to make sure you're prepared to take such a big step.
A force factory reset wipes all data from a device, usually done through Settings > System > Reset > Erase all data (factory reset) if the phone works, or via Recovery Mode (Power + Volume buttons) if locked or unresponsive, to restore it to its original state, requiring a Google sign-in afterward. Always back up data first, as this process is irreversible.
Hard resetting your iPhone is also another option that you can do without a computer. Simply press and hold the Volume buttons and Home button at the same time. iPhone X, 8 & Newer: Press and hold the Volume up button, then the Volume Down button, and the side button at the same time.
Photos, videos, music, and documents stored on a memory card are not erased during a factory data reset.
Remotely erase your device or a family member's device
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.
*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.
Generally speaking, most resets should take between 30 minutes and an hour.
Sign In - Use the Google account that's linked to your locked phone. Locate Your Phone - The website will try to locate your device. Once it's found, you will have the option to “Erase Device.” Erase Device - This will wipe all the data, including the password, allowing you to set your phone up as new.
Option 2: Reset your phone with its buttons
You can erase your locked phone using its power and volume buttons. To learn how to reset your specific phone this way, visit your manufacturer's support site.
Open the Settings app, then search “Reset". Tap Erase all data (factory reset) in the results. Tap Erase all data (factory reset) on the Reset options screen, then tap Erase all data and enter your password or PIN to confirm your decision.
After a factory reset, the encryption key is deleted, rendering the remaining data unreadable. While not infallible, this makes data recovery extremely difficult.
To permanently delete files from a Windows computer and make them unrecoverable:
In summary, while MOBILedit Forensic offers powerful capabilities for data extraction and analysis, a factory reset on modern Android and iOS devices effectively prevents recovery due to encryption and secure erasure mechanisms.
To factory reset your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, which deletes everything and restores it to factory defaults after entering your Apple ID password. If your phone is unresponsive (a "force restart"), quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. For a locked phone, use Recovery Mode with a computer (Finder/iTunes) to restore it.
Here's the basic drill that works on most phones:
A factory reset, also known as hard reset or master reset, is a software restore of an electronic device to its original system state by erasing all data, settings, and applications that were previously stored on the device.