How to Factory Reset a Jailbroken iPhone/iPad Using iTunes

If you own a jailbroken iPhone or iPad and need to reset it to factory settings but not sure what’s the appropriate way of doing it without breaking the device, you’ve came to the right place.

There is one simple way of doing this. However, the catch is to carefully follow every step by letter and not miss anything. Else, you can face serious problems with your beloved iPhone.

Restore your iOS device with iTunes

Do you have a jailbroken iPhone and worried that factory resetting it might lose jailbreak? Worry not. We have an extremely easy hack for doing this. All you need to know beforehand is simple English so that you can carefully read and follow each step. The most technologically challenged person in the world can do this, too. Step one is to have the latest version of iTunes in your PC or Mac.

You might think you have the latest version but guess what? Updated versions of iTunes keep coming up on and off and it is better if you check than assume. After you are done with having the latest version of iTunes on your computer, connect your iPhone or iPad to the system.

This can be done by connecting one end of your USB charging port to the phone and the other to the computer. Next, your system will detect the device. Once it does, go under the devices list in iTunes and select it. That is pretty easy. But what if your system does not detect your iPhone? Relax, we have a plan B.

If iTunes does not detect your iPhone automatically, you need to put it in DFU mode.

How to Enter DFU Mode

You can do that by press and holding both the home and power button together for approximately ten seconds, and then releasing power button but not home button. As soon as this is done, your phone will be detected in iTunes. Consequently, it will be visible under the list of devices now so you can easily select it. Once selected, enter into the Summary tab.

Now let’s get back to it…

Summary tab will have a restore option and this is where you have to go next. After clicked, iTunes will show you different ways of recovery it provides. You have to follow the picture below and once you do, you will be given a choice for restoring your phone.

Here is the catch; because your phone is jailbroken, it is necessary to AVOID using backups. When it asks you if you want to back up your settings before factory resetting it, make sure you select the “don’t back up” option.

Next, it will reconfirm if you want to restore your iPhone. Click “Restore” and let it complete the process. Phone getting restarted is the part of this process so you need to stay calm when it restarts. It’s normal.

You shouldn’t unplug your iPhone yet. It needs to stay connected until it starts functioning normally. After restarting the first thing it will ask you is whether you want to restore it from previous backup or use it as new.

This question is linked with the previous one. Because you told it not to backup your iPhone because it’s jailbroken, you have to select the “Set up as new iPhone” option. You have finally performed factory reset without losing jailbreak in your iPhone.

Sudz Kar

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.