How to Factory Reset an iPhone 14

To factory reset an iPhone 14, open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, and then tap Erase All Content and Settings. Tap Continue, enter your passcode and your Apple Account password, and wait for the Hello screen. Everything on the phone is removed, so back it up first.

Applies to: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max running a current version of iOS. Checked against Apple Support on October 6, 2026.

What a factory reset does

A factory reset erases your content and settings from the iPhone and returns it to the Hello setup screen, the same screen a new iPhone shows. Your photos, messages, apps and accounts are removed from the phone itself. Anything already stored in iCloud or in a backup stays there, which is why a backup is the only way to get your data back afterward.

A factory reset is different from a restart. Restarting turns the phone off and on again and removes nothing, so if your iPhone 14 is only frozen or slow, restart your iPhone 14 first and keep the factory reset as the last resort.

Before you erase your iPhone 14

Go through this short list before you start. Each item prevents a common problem after the reset.

• Back up the phone. Connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, and then tap Back Up Now. Stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes. The date and time of the last backup appear under the button, so you can confirm it worked. Our guide on how to back up an iPhone is written for the iPhone 15, but the backup steps are the same on an iPhone 14. Apple also explains how to back up with iCloud.
• Know your passcode and your Apple Account password. The erase asks for both. If you forgot the Apple Account password, reset it at Apple’s iforgot.apple.com page before you erase anything.
• Unpair your Apple Watch. If a watch is paired with this phone, open the Apple Watch app, go to the My Watch tab, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to the watch, and tap Unpair Apple Watch. Apple says unpairing this way erases the watch and removes its Activation Lock.
• Decide what to do with your eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM stored inside the phone. During the erase you choose whether to keep it or delete it. Keep it if you will continue to use this phone. If you delete it, you have to contact your carrier to reactivate your cellular plan.
• Plug the phone in if the battery is low, so it does not shut off partway through.

How to factory reset an iPhone 14 from Settings

Use this method when the phone turns on, you can unlock it, and you know your passcode. You do not need a computer.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. This is the option that removes everything, so stop here if you have not backed up yet.
5. Tap Continue.
6. Choose to keep or delete your eSIM when you are asked.
7. Enter your iPhone passcode.
8. Wait for the backup to finish if the phone starts one.
9. Enter your Apple Account password and tap the done button on the keyboard. This turns off Find My and Activation Lock for this phone.
10. Wait for the iPhone to reset. The process is finished when the Hello screen appears.

These steps follow Apple’s own instructions for how to factory reset your iPhone.

How to factory reset an iPhone 14 with a Mac or Windows PC

Choose this method if you prefer to use a computer, or if you want the computer to install the latest version of iOS as part of the reset. You need a cable that connects the phone to the computer. On a Mac you use the Finder. On a Windows PC you use the Apple Devices app.

1. Update your Mac or PC, and back up the iPhone.
2. On the iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, tap Find My, tap Find My iPhone, and turn it off. Enter your Apple Account password to confirm.
3. Connect the iPhone to the computer with the cable. If the computer asks whether to allow the accessory to connect, click Allow.
4. Open the Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a PC, and select your iPhone when it appears.
5. If the phone asks for its passcode or asks whether to Trust This Computer, follow the steps on the screen.
6. Click Restore iPhone.
7. Click Restore to confirm. The computer erases the iPhone and installs the latest version of iOS. The Hello screen appears when it is done.

Apple notes that restoring an iPhone with a computer does not delete your eSIM. The full procedure is in Apple’s article on restoring an iPhone to factory settings using a computer.

How to reset an iPhone 14 if you forgot the passcode

There are two official routes when you cannot unlock the phone. Both erase everything. Activation Lock is tied to Find My and your Apple Account, not to the passcode, so expect to need the Apple Account password as well.

Reset from the lock screen without a computer

This works when the iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later, Find My was turned on before you were locked out, the phone has a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and you know the Apple Account password.

1. Enter a passcode on the lock screen until the iPhone Unavailable screen appears.
2. Tap Forgot Passcode?. This option only appears when the phone has an active connection and Find My is on.
3. On the Security Lockout screen, tap Start iPhone Reset.
4. Enter your Apple Account password to sign out of your account on the phone.
5. Tap Erase iPhone to delete all of your data and settings.
6. Choose to keep or delete your eSIM, and then follow the setup screens when the phone restarts.

Use recovery mode with a computer

If the lock screen option is not offered, use recovery mode. Recovery mode is a special startup screen that lets a computer erase and reinstall iOS. Apple lists a Mac or Windows PC, a charging cable and an internet connection as requirements, and says the process can take up to 60 minutes.

1. Turn the iPhone 14 off: press and hold the side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears, and then drag the slider.
2. Connect the cable to the computer first. Then press and hold the side button on the iPhone while you plug the cable into the phone, and do not let go.
3. Keep holding the side button while the Apple logo shows. Release it only when you see an image of a computer and a cable.
4. On a Mac, open the Finder and select the iPhone in the sidebar. On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app, select the iPhone, and select General.
5. When you get the choice to Restore or Update, select Restore, and follow the instructions on the screen.
6. Wait for the Hello screen, disconnect the phone, and set it up.

If the software download takes more than 15 minutes, the phone can leave recovery mode. Let the download finish, and then turn the phone off and start again. Apple’s instructions are in how to reset an iPhone when you forgot the passcode.

How to erase an iPhone 14 you no longer have

If the phone is lost, stolen or already handed to someone else, you can erase it from a browser as long as Find My was on.

1. Go to icloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple Account.
2. Select the iPhone 14 in the device list.
3. Click Erase This Device and follow the prompts.

If the phone is offline, the erase begins the next time it goes online, and Apple sends a confirmation email to your Apple Account address. Activation Lock stays on after a remote erase, so nobody can set the phone up without your Apple Account and password. If you find the phone before the erase starts, select it again and choose Stop Erase Request.

Selling, trading in or giving away your iPhone 14

When the phone is going to a new owner, erase it from Settings with the main method above. Apple states that erasing this way turns off Find My and Activation Lock, which is what lets the next person activate the phone. A few extra steps finish the job:

• Unpair your Apple Watch and back up the phone before you erase it.
• If you are moving to a phone that is not an iPhone, deregister iMessage so that text messages reach your new phone.
• If the phone does not use a SIM card, contact your carrier for help transferring service.
• Remove the old iPhone from your Apple Account list of trusted devices.

Apple’s full checklist is in what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone.

How to confirm the reset worked

The reset is complete when the iPhone 14 shows the Hello screen. If you are keeping the phone, follow the setup screens and choose to restore from your iCloud backup or your computer backup to bring your data back. If the phone is going to someone else, stop at the Hello screen and turn the phone off so the new owner can set it up.

A factory reset cannot be undone. The only way to return your apps, photos and settings is to restore a backup that was made before the erase.

Troubleshooting

The erase asks for Face ID and will not accept the passcode

This is Stolen Device Protection. When it is on and the phone is away from familiar locations such as home or work, erasing all content and settings requires Face ID, with no passcode alternative. Try again at home or at work. You can also turn the feature off in Settings under Face ID & Passcode, in the Stolen Device Protection section, although a security delay applies if you are away from a familiar location.

The Apple Account password is rejected

Reset the password at iforgot.apple.com, sign in with the new password, and then start the erase again. Recovery mode is not a way around a forgotten Apple Account password, because Activation Lock is tied to that account.

The phone shows iPhone Locked to Owner after the reset

Activation Lock is still on. It turns on automatically with Find My and is tied to the Apple Account that was signed in. Sign in with that account to continue. If you bought the phone used, ask the previous owner to remove the device from their account in a browser. If the phone is yours and you have proof of purchase, you can start an Activation Lock support request with Apple.

The computer does not offer Restore, or the phone leaves recovery mode

Check that the cable is connected at both ends and that you kept holding the side button until the computer and cable image appeared. If the download ran longer than 15 minutes, wait for it to finish and enter recovery mode again.

The iPhone belongs to a company or school

A phone that is managed by an employer or a school can have its own restrictions on erasing and on setup afterward. Contact that organization’s IT administrator before you reset it.

Frequently asked questions

Does a factory reset delete everything on an iPhone 14?

It removes all of your content and settings from the phone. It does not delete your Apple Account, the data stored in iCloud, or any backup you made. You choose separately whether the eSIM is kept or deleted.

Can I factory reset an iPhone 14 without the passcode?

Yes, with the Forgot Passcode? option on the lock screen or with recovery mode and a computer. Both erase the phone, and you still need the Apple Account password that was used on it.

Can I factory reset an iPhone 14 without a computer?

Yes. The Settings method, the lock screen reset and the remote erase at icloud.com/find all work without a computer. Only recovery mode and the Restore iPhone option need a Mac or a Windows PC.

Will I lose my phone number or cellular plan?

Not if you choose to keep your eSIM during the erase. If you delete the eSIM, contact your carrier to reactivate the plan.

Does a factory reset remove Activation Lock?

Erasing from Settings and entering your Apple Account password turns off Find My and Activation Lock. A remote erase at icloud.com/find leaves Activation Lock on, and your Apple Account and password are required to reactivate the phone.

Can I get my data back after a factory reset?

Only from a backup. During setup, choose to restore from the iCloud backup or the computer backup that you made before erasing.

Once the Hello screen appears, either restore your backup during setup or hand the phone to its new owner. If you are keeping it, make a fresh backup after setup so the next reset is just as safe.