To put it in perspective, it will delete everything and the changes you have added to your iPhone since the day you purchased it. It will take the iPhone back to the factory settings to how it looked and with the pre-installed data it had when you bought it. Everything that you added after that will be gone.
Let’s understand it in detail:
- Personal data like photos, videos, music, contacts, documents, etc: Everything will be deleted from the iPhone unless it’s backed up on iCloud.
- Apps: All the third-party apps you have installed will be removed, along with their data. Only the pre-installed apps from the iPhone will be restored without backup.
- Email accounts: All the added email accounts will be removed. It can be Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.
- Settings: The changes you have made to your settings will be reset to default values. For instance, saved Wi-Fi networks will be deleted, privacy and notification settings will be reset, etc.
- Home screen customization: You will lose the changes you have made to your home screen, such as folders, custom app icons, pages, etc.
- Apple Pay: Added debit or credit cards will be deleted.
- Services: iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and Find My services will be turned off.
- iCloud data: Erasing your iPhone will not delete data from iCloud or other devices, such as a connected iPad or MacBook.
- Other devices: Other phones or devices linked to the same iCloud account are unaffected. So, if you erase content and settings from your iPhone, it will not affect your iPad.
- Operating system (iOS): Erasing the iPhone will not roll back the operating system. Your iPhone will run the last installed operating system. For instance, if you are on iOS 17 and you erase your iPhone, the OS will not go back to iOS 15 or 16; it will stay on the latest version of iOS 17.
- Phone number: Factory resetting your iPhone will not affect your phone number. If you were thinking that you might have to reactivate it, that’s not the case.
In a nutshell, erasing all content and settings is the combination of all the reset settings offered by your iPhone. That is, it will reset all settings, network settings, keyboard dictionary, home screen layout, location and privacy settings, and your data too.
FAQs
1. How to back up your iPhone?
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > tap on Back Up Now. Also, know the difference between sync and backup.
2. What is the difference between Erase all settings and Erase all content and settings on iPhone?
The former, also known as Reset All Settings, will only restore the settings to default values without erasing any content. On the other hand, Erase all content and settings will delete both settings and data among other things.
3. If I erase my old iPhone, will it affect my new one?
No, nothing will happen to the new phone.
4. When to factory reset your iPhone?
You should reset it when selling it or when troubleshooting if you have tried all fixes.
Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for iOS/iPadOS, Android, social media, and web apps.
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