How to check your iPhone for a virus (and remove it)
Real iPhone viruses are rare. Most “virus” problems are fake pop ups, bad profiles or calendar spam, and all are easy to remove.
The fix
Check and clean in this order
- 1
Remove unknown profiles.
Settings › General › VPN & Device Management.
- 2
Delete apps you do not remember installing.
- 3
Clear Safari data.
Settings › Apps › Safari › Clear History and Website Data.
- 4
Remove calendar spam.
Settings › Apps › Calendar › Accounts › Subscribed Calendars.
- 5
Check app permissions in Settings › Privacy & Security.
- 6
Update iOS.
- 7
Change your Apple Account password if you clicked a suspicious link.
- 8
Back up, then erase the iPhone if issues remain.
Frequently asked questions
Safari says my iPhone has a virus. Is it true?
No. Websites cannot scan your phone. Close the tab, do not tap anything, and clear Safari history and website data.
Do I need an antivirus app on iPhone?
Not for scanning. Apps cannot scan iOS. Some security apps help block bad links, but updates and care matter more.
Related guides
Back up your Android phone
Back up your Android phone to Google with Google One, back up photos with Google Photos, or use Samsung Cloud, Smart Switch or a computer. Step by step.
Block a number on Android
Block a number on your Android phone from Recents or Phone settings on Samsung and Pixel. Also how to block texts, add a number by hand and unblock later.