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User profile for user: DarthBibble
DarthBibble Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

My iPhone will not restore to factory settings

I've purchased a new iPhone. I wish to restore my previous phone to factory settings. If I do the method via the iPhone. I'm prompted to upload Data to iCloud, my new phone is fully up to date so I select Skip Backup as I do not require this - the process just hangs indefinitely.


I try the method via iTunes, and it tells me it is downloading software (why?), but again just hangs indefinitely.


I need to restore my old phone to factory settings in order to return it as part exchange.


Could someone please let me know how to do this?

Thank you

iPhone XR

Posted on May 10, 2022 11:15 AM

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
User level: Level 10
212,396 points

Posted on May 10, 2022 1:57 PM

Then the phone you wish to erase has already been removed from your Apple ID. And yes, it will hang for a while as it erases the phone.


It doesn’t matter how up-to-date the phone is; restoring to factory settings means “put a new copy of the device’s software on it”. The alternative would be to scan the software on the phone to see if it deviated in any way from the factory version, which would take forever and would be pointless.


To save time the easiest for you would be to restore to factory settings using iTunes. As no other way works to your satisfaction if you actually want to reset the phone that is the only thing that makes sense→Restore your iOS device to factory settings - Apple Support

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User profile for user: Lawrence Finch
Lawrence Finch
User level: Level 10
212,396 points

May 10, 2022 1:57 PM in response to DarthBibble

Then the phone you wish to erase has already been removed from your Apple ID. And yes, it will hang for a while as it erases the phone.


It doesn’t matter how up-to-date the phone is; restoring to factory settings means “put a new copy of the device’s software on it”. The alternative would be to scan the software on the phone to see if it deviated in any way from the factory version, which would take forever and would be pointless.


To save time the easiest for you would be to restore to factory settings using iTunes. As no other way works to your satisfaction if you actually want to reset the phone that is the only thing that makes sense→Restore your iOS device to factory settings - Apple Support

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User profile for user: DarthBibble
DarthBibble Author
User level: Level 1
6 points

May 10, 2022 12:56 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thank you for responding


The software on the phone is already fully up to date.


The Settings/General/Transfer or Reset Phone/Erase all content & Settings method is one that has been hanging for some time


The Log in to https://icloud.com/find, choose the device from the device list, and click Erase Phone - this does not locate the phone I wish to erase


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My iPhone will not restore to factory settings

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