Laatste update: 22 juli 2025

How to Clear iPhone: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

How to Wipe Your iPhone: The Ultimate Guide to a Clean Start

Feeling like your iPhone is starting to fill up? Or maybe you’re planning to sell or give away your old iPhone to a friend or family member. Whatever your reason, completely wiping your iPhone can feel like a daunting task. You want to make sure that all of your personal data is safely erased, without risking losing important memories. No one wants to lose their precious photos or important messages. But don’t worry, we understand exactly what you’re going through! We all know the fear of accidentally deleting something important or not knowing exactly what steps to follow. Maybe you’re worried that your iPhone will crash during the process, or that you’ll spend hours trying to find reliable information. The good news is that we’re here to guide you through the process, step by step, so you can clean up your iPhone with peace of mind.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Erase Your iPhone

Okay, let’s get started! Follow these steps to completely wipe your iPhone.

Step 1: Back Up Your Data

Before you start erasing your iPhone, it is essential to back up all your important data. This will ensure that you don’t lose any valuable photos, contacts, or other data.

iCloud Backup: Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now .
Back up via iTunes/Finder: Connect your iPhone to your computer. Open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS Catalina and later). Select your iPhone and choose Back Up .

This way you can be sure that all your data is stored safely and can easily be restored to a new device later.

Step 2: Sign out of iCloud, iTunes, and the App Store

It is important to log out of all your accounts to avoid potential activation lock issues.

Go to Settings and tap on Your Name .
Scroll down and tap Log out .
Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off .

Step 3: Turn Off "Find My iPhone"

This prevents the new owner from having any problems activating the iPhone.

Go to Settings > Your Name > Find My .
Tap Find My iPhone and turn it off.
Enter your Apple ID password to confirm.

Step 4: Restore Factory Settings

Now that you've logged out and created a backup, you can restore your iPhone to factory settings.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or reset .
Select Erase All Content and Settings .
Enter your access code when prompted.
Confirm by tapping Clear Now .

Your iPhone will now reboot and all data will be erased. This may take a few minutes.

Step 5: Check if Everything is Removed

After resetting you will come to the welcome screen, like when you first bought the iPhone. This means that all data has been deleted.

If the iPhone immediately asks for a language choice, the device has been successfully erased.
If you still see data, repeat the steps above.

Step 6: Remove Your iPhone From Your Apple ID Devices List

For added security, you can remove your iPhone from the list of devices associated with your Apple ID.

Go to appleid.apple.com and sign in with your Apple ID.
Scroll down to Devices and select your iPhone.
Click Remove from Account .

Helpful Tips to Speed Up the Process

Ensure Full Battery: The reset process may take some time. Ensure your iPhone is sufficiently charged or connect it to a power source.
Check for Updates: Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version for optimal performance during the reset.
Remove Personal Accessories: Don't forget to remove your SIM card and any memory cards when transferring them.

Upgrade to a Newer iPhone with Leapp

Now that you've cleaned up your old iPhone, this might be the perfect time to consider upgrading to a newer model. At leapp, we offer a wide range of refurbished Apple products that are just as reliable as new ones, but at a more friendly price. Our devices are carefully tested and certified, so you can be assured of quality. Curious about our collection? Take a look at our [website](https://leapp.nl/) and discover which iPhone suits you best! At leapp, we are passionate about Apple products and believe in extending their lifespan. By choosing a refurbished iPhone, you contribute to a more sustainable world without compromising on quality or performance.

How Leapp Helps You Further

We understand that technology can be challenging at times. That’s why we’re here to support you, whether you need help clearing your iPhone or are looking for advice on which product is best for you. Our passion for Apple products goes hand in hand with our dedication to our customers. Are you ready for the next step? Our refurbished iPhones and other Apple products are ready for you at [leapp.nl](https://leapp.nl/).