How to Erase and Factory Reset an iPhone 15

To wipe an iPhone 15, open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPhone, then tap Erase All Content and Settings and follow the prompts. The phone removes your apps, data and settings and restarts at the Hello screen, ready for a new owner or a fresh setup. Back up first, because the erase cannot be reversed.

Applies to: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max on a current version of iOS. Checked against Apple Support on October 6, 2026.

Which erase method should you use?

Apple documents three ways to erase an iPhone. Pick the one that matches your situation.

Your situation	Method	What you need
The iPhone works and you can unlock it	Erase All Content and Settings in the Settings app	Your passcode and your Apple Account password
You want a clean reinstall of iOS, or the Settings method will not finish	Restore with a Mac or Windows PC	A cable, a computer, and Find My turned off on the iPhone
The iPhone is lost, stolen or already handed over	Erase it remotely with Find Devices on iCloud.com	Your Apple Account sign-in and the iPhone online

An erase is different from a restart, a force restart or a settings-only reset, none of which delete your data. If your iPhone is only frozen or misbehaving, start with our guide to the other ways to reset an iPhone 15 before you wipe anything.

Before you erase your iPhone 15

Everything on the phone is removed, so spend a few minutes on these checks first.

• Back up the iPhone. For an iCloud backup, connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now. Stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes; the time of the last successful backup appears under Back Up Now. For a computer backup, connect the iPhone, open Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC, select the iPhone, and click Back Up Now. Select Encrypt local backup if you want Health and Activity data included, and keep that password safe, because Apple says an encrypted backup cannot be recovered without it.
• Know your passcode and Apple Account password. The erase asks for both. Activation Lock, the anti-theft feature that is turned on automatically with Find My, requires your Apple Account password before the phone can be erased or reactivated. If you have forgotten the password, reset it first.
• Move your data to the new phone first. If you are upgrading, finish the transfer to your new iPhone and confirm everything arrived before you erase the old one.
• Unpair your Apple Watch. In the Apple Watch app, open the My Watch tab, tap All Watches, tap the info button next to your watch, and tap Unpair Apple Watch.
• Turn off Stolen Device Protection if you are selling or giving the phone away. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, tap Stolen Device Protection and turn it off. Do this at home or work if you can. Away from a familiar location, Apple applies a one-hour Security Delay before the feature can be switched off.
• Plug the phone in. Keeping it on a charger avoids the battery running out partway through the erase.

If you are moving to a phone that is not an iPhone, Apple also recommends that you deregister iMessage so texts keep reaching your number. If the iPhone has an AppleCare plan, you can cancel it or transfer it to the new owner.

How to erase an iPhone 15 in Settings

This is the standard factory reset and the route Apple recommends before you sell, give away or trade in the phone.

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.
2. Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Tap Continue.
5. If the iPhone has an eSIM, choose whether to keep it or delete it. Keep it if you are going to keep using the phone on the same plan. Delete it if the phone is going to someone else. If you delete an eSIM, you have to contact your carrier to get a new one.
6. Enter your iPhone passcode when asked.
7. If the iPhone starts a backup at this point, wait for the backup to finish.
8. Enter your Apple Account password when asked, then tap the checkmark button on the keyboard.
9. Confirm the erase if you are asked to, then leave the phone alone while it resets. When the process completes, the Hello screen appears.

Apple’s own walkthrough is at How to factory reset your iPhone if you want to compare the steps with what you see on your screen.

How to erase an iPhone 15 with a Mac or Windows PC

Restoring from a computer erases the iPhone and installs the latest version of iOS. Use it when you want a completely fresh copy of the software, or when the Settings method will not complete.

1. Update your Mac, or install the latest version of the Apple Devices app on your Windows PC. Back up the iPhone if you have not already.
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 a cable. If the computer asks whether to allow the accessory to connect, click Allow.
4. Open Finder on the Mac or the Apple Devices app on the PC and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
5. If asked, click Trust on the computer, tap Trust on the iPhone, and enter the iPhone passcode.
6. Click Restore iPhone. If you are asked to create a backup, click Back Up or Don’t Back Up, then click Restore to confirm.
7. Click Agree to accept the terms. The computer downloads iOS, erases the iPhone and installs the software. Keep the cable connected until the Hello screen appears.

A computer restore does not delete an eSIM. If the phone is going to someone else, remove the plan before you restore: open Settings, tap Cellular, and tap Delete eSIM. If you have more than one plan, tap the plan and then tap Delete Plan. Apple’s full instructions are in Restore your iPhone to factory settings using a computer.

How to erase an iPhone 15 you no longer have

If the phone was lost or stolen, or you handed it over before wiping it, you can erase it from any web browser.

1. Go to icloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple Account.
2. Select the iPhone 15 in the list of devices.
3. Select Erase This Device and follow the onscreen instructions. For a lost phone you can add a phone number or message to show on its screen.

The erase starts right away if the iPhone is online. If it is offline, the erase begins the next time it connects to the internet, and until then you can cancel by selecting the device and choosing Stop Erase Request. Apple emails a confirmation to your Apple Account address.

A remote erase leaves Activation Lock on, which is what you want for a lost or stolen phone: nobody can reactivate it without your Apple Account and password. If you sold or gave the phone away, also select Remove This Device on the same page so the new owner can activate it. Apple explains the remote steps in Erase a device in Find Devices on iCloud.com.

How to confirm the wipe worked

• The Hello screen appears. A fully erased iPhone starts at the Hello setup screen. If you see a passcode Lock Screen or your Home Screen, the phone has not been erased.
• No lock message appears. If the screen says iPhone Locked to Owner, or setup asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account, Activation Lock is still on. Buyers should not accept a phone in that state.
• The phone is gone from your account. Sign in at account.apple.com, open Devices, and check whether the iPhone 15 is still listed. If it is, select it and click Remove from Account. You can do the same from another Apple device in Settings by tapping your name, choosing the old iPhone in the device list, and tapping Remove from Account.

If you are passing the phone on, power it off at the Hello screen and hand it over. Do not go through setup yourself. If the phone uses a SIM card rather than an eSIM, take the card out, and contact your carrier if you need help moving service to a new phone.

Can you undo an erase?

No. Once the erase finishes, the data is gone from the iPhone. What you can do is restore a backup onto the erased phone or a new one. During setup, continue to the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen and tap From iCloud Backup, then sign in and choose a backup by its date and size. To use a computer backup instead, connect the iPhone, select it in Finder or the Apple Devices app, and click Restore Backup. Anything created after your last backup cannot be recovered.

Troubleshooting

You forgot your Apple Account password

Reset the password before you start; Apple’s steps are in If you forgot your Apple Account password. There is no supported way to remove Activation Lock without the account it is linked to. If you cannot regain access, Apple accepts Activation Lock support requests from owners who can provide proof of purchase.

You forgot the iPhone passcode

You cannot use the Settings method without the passcode. Apple’s official route is to put the iPhone in recovery mode and restore it with a computer, which erases the phone. It needs a Mac or Windows PC, a cable and an internet connection, and Apple says to allow up to 60 minutes. Follow Apple’s passcode reset instructions. You still need your Apple Account password to set the phone up afterward.

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

Stolen Device Protection is on and the iPhone is away from a familiar location such as home or work. In that state, erasing all content and settings requires Face ID with no passcode fallback. Use Face ID, or try again from a familiar location.

Find My iPhone will not turn off

Find My cannot be turned off while Stolen Device Protection is enabled. Turn off Stolen Device Protection first, in Settings under Face ID & Passcode, then go back and turn off Find My iPhone.

The computer does not show your iPhone, or the restore fails

Unlock the iPhone, respond to the Trust prompt, and make sure the Mac or the Apple Devices app is up to date. Apple has a separate checklist for when your computer does not recognize your iPhone. If the software download takes more than 15 minutes, the iPhone can leave the restore screen; let the download finish and then start the restore again.

The iPhone belongs to your work or school

A phone owned or managed by a business or school can have its own restrictions and its own Activation Lock arrangement. Contact your IT department before you erase it.

Frequently asked questions

Does a factory reset delete everything on an iPhone 15?

Yes. Erase All Content and Settings removes your apps, photos, messages, accounts and settings from the phone. It does not delete anything stored in iCloud or in a backup, and it only deletes your eSIM if you choose that option.

Do I need to sign out of iCloud before erasing?

On a current version of iOS, the erase itself asks for your Apple Account password, so a separate sign-out is not a required step in Apple’s factory reset instructions. If you prefer to sign out first, open Settings, tap your name, and tap Sign Out at the bottom. Either way, check your device list afterward to confirm the phone is no longer on your account. Our guide to turning off Find My on an iPhone 15 explains that setting on its own.

Should I keep or delete my eSIM?

Keep it if you will set the same iPhone up again and want your cellular plan to work right away. Delete it if you are selling, trading in or giving away the phone. Apple’s guidance for a device that is changing hands is to erase the eSIM along with everything else.

How long does it take to erase an iPhone 15?

Apple does not publish a fixed time for the Settings method. Allow extra time if the phone makes an iCloud backup first. A computer restore takes longer because it downloads iOS, and Apple notes that the download alone can take more than 15 minutes.

Will erasing my iPhone change the iOS version?

Restoring with a computer installs the latest version of iOS. Apple describes the Settings method only as erasing your content and settings, so do not count on it to update or downgrade the software.

Will a factory reset remove a problem app or bad settings?

It removes every app, profile and setting you added, so software problems caused by those usually go with them. If the same problem returns after you restore a backup, erase again and set the phone up as new instead of restoring.

Once your iPhone 15 shows the Hello screen and no longer appears in your Apple Account device list, it is ready to hand over or set up again. Apple’s checklist for what to do before you sell, give away or trade in your iPhone is worth a final look before the phone leaves your hands.

Related: how to factory reset an iphone 14.