Erase All Content and Settings not working on iPhone? Why and how to fix it

You tapped Erase All Content and Settings and nothing happened. Or it asks for a password again and again. Or it hangs on the Apple logo. This is stressful, especially when you are about to sell the phone or send it for repair. The good news is that there are only a few real causes, and each has a clear fix.

Back up first, then read this warning

Erasing is permanent. Apple says that when you tap Erase All Content and Settings, your device is completely erased. That includes photos, contacts, music, apps and any cards you added for Apple Pay. Services such as iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime turn off too. Your content is not deleted from iCloud, but anything that lives only on the phone is gone.

Back up the phone before you try any fix below. If you need help, read how to back up your iPhone. If you are erasing to start fresh and want your data later, restoring an iPhone from a backup explains the next step.

Erase All Content and Settings not working: what does it look like?

The symptom points to the cause. Use this table to pick a fix.

How to erase an iPhone the normal way

Start by confirming you are using the right path. Apple gives these steps for a current iPhone:

On iOS 14 and earlier the option sits under Settings, General, Reset instead. If your menu looks different, search for Erase in the Settings search bar.

Fix 1: Restart, charge and update

Start with the simple things. A restart clears a stuck process, and an update fixes known bugs. Keep the phone plugged in, because a phone that runs out of power in the middle of a reset can cause new problems.

• Restart the iPhone, then try the erase again.
• Plug in the phone and connect to Wi-Fi.
• Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update, and install any update.
• Try the erase once more.

If the update itself is stuck, see our guide on an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo.

Fix 2: Turn off Find My and sign out of your Apple Account

This is the most common block when selling a phone, and most guides never explain it. Find My and Activation Lock tie the iPhone to your Apple Account so a thief can't wipe and use it. Apple says that when you erase your iPhone, Find My and Activation Lock turn off. So the phone often asks for your Apple Account first, to prove it is really you.

You can also turn Find My off by itself. Our guide to turning off Find My iPhone shows each way, including what to do if the phone is not with you. Do not skip this step on a phone you plan to give away, because the next owner can't use a phone that is still locked to your account.

Fix 3: Check your passcode and Apple Account password

The erase asks for your iPhone passcode or your Apple Account password. If it rejects what you type, slow down and check which one it wants. The passcode is the number you use to unlock the phone. The Apple Account password is the one you use for iCloud and the App Store.

• Forgot the passcode: read how to reset an iPhone without the passcode. If the screen says iPhone Unavailable, see what to do when the iPhone is unavailable.
• Forgot the Apple Account password: see how to reset your Apple Account password. If the account is locked, read about an Apple Account that is locked.

If you have Stolen Device Protection on, Apple says changing your password at an Apple Store is likely to have a one hour security delay. Plan for that if you are trading in the phone the same day.

Fix 4: Check the eSIM prompt

If your iPhone uses an eSIM, the erase asks whether to erase the eSIM or keep it. Apple's guidance is clear on both choices:

• Erase the eSIM: choose this if you are selling or giving the phone away. Apple says to pick the option that erases the device and the eSIM profile.
• Keep the eSIM: choose this if you are keeping the phone.

Apple adds that if you erase the eSIM, you need to contact your carrier to reactivate your plan later. If you are moving to a new phone, do the carrier step first. Our guide on transferring an eSIM to a new iPhone covers it.

Fix 5: Erase from a computer

If the phone still won't erase from Settings, use a computer. This works even when the screen steps fail. Apple's steps use Finder on a Mac and the Apple Devices app on Windows. Use iTunes only if your Mac runs macOS 10.14 or earlier, or your Windows PC does not have the Apple Devices app.

Here is the catch. Apple says that if you are signed in to Find My, you need to sign out before you can click Restore. That is why Fix 2 comes first. If the phone shows a prompt to trust the computer, unlock it and tap Trust.

Fix 6: Use iOS Recovery on iOS 27

iOS 27 adds a way to erase without a computer. Apple's page says iOS Recovery is available on iOS 27 and offers guided options on the phone itself. One option is Erase All Content and Settings. Apple says it erases the device without connecting to a computer and requires your passcode.

Apple says the power button exits iOS Recovery if you change your mind. Recovery Assistant tries to fix problems first, and it needs your passcode and Wi-Fi. If you are not sure, try that before you erase.

Fix 7: Use recovery mode if it is stuck on the Apple logo

Apple says to use recovery mode when the Apple logo stays on screen for several minutes with no progress bar, or when your computer does not recognize the phone. This is a bigger step, so use it only if the earlier fixes failed.

Apple also warns that if the software download runs longer than 15 minutes, the phone may leave the recovery screen. If that happens, let the download finish, then repeat the steps. For older iPhones, the button steps are different, so check Apple's page for your model.

Is the iPhone owned by a school or company?

If a school or employer gave you the phone, they may control it. I could not find Apple wording that lists this as a cause, so treat it as a possibility. Ask the administrator before you try more steps.

Selling or trading in? Extra checks

A failed erase hurts most when a buyer is waiting. Before you hand the phone over, check these:

• Activation Lock is off. Apple says erasing the iPhone turns off Find My and Activation Lock. If you can't erase it, the lock may still be on.
• The eSIM is erased. Choose the erase option if you sell a phone that uses an eSIM.
• Your Apple Account is signed out. A buyer can't use a phone that still asks for your sign in.
• Repairs are finished. Apple says if you can't finish a repair, you can't trade in your device.

For the full process, see how to sell your iPhone safely. If your trade-in offer comes in lower than quoted, our article on Apple trade-in value lower than quoted explains why.

Common mistakes

• Skipping the backup. Erasing can't be undone.
• Erasing the eSIM by mistake. Erase it only if you are selling or giving the phone away.
• Forgetting the Apple Account password. You will need it to set the phone up again.
• Using a paid eraser tool from a random site. You do not need one. Apple's own steps are free.
• Selling the phone before checking Activation Lock. A locked phone is useless to a buyer.

Which iPhones and versions does this cover?

The Settings path above matches Apple's current iPhone guide. On iOS 14 and earlier, the erase option is under Settings, General, Reset. iOS Recovery is an iOS 27 feature, so older versions use the computer route. The recovery mode button steps above are for iPhone 8 and later. Older iPhones use different buttons.

When should I contact Apple Support?

If recovery mode will not start, a button is stuck, or the restore fails again and again, Apple says you may need service. A repair store can also check for hardware trouble. Do not pay for a tool that promises to bypass Activation Lock. That is not a safe or legitimate route, and many of them are scams.

A short summary

Back up, restart, update, sign out of your Apple Account, and try again. If that fails, erase from a computer, or use iOS Recovery on iOS 27.