I recently bought a used iPhone 6s. It turns out that the previous owner of the smartphone was unable to delete the data from the iPhone and some of their data is showing up for me. How can I delete all the data from the phone and make it like new if I don't have a computer and the 'Erase Content and Settings' function doesn't work?"
iPhone 6s, iOS 15
Please make sure that you select and use the instructions for iOS 15.
If you are asked to enter the Apple ID and Password, you will likely need to obtain that information from the previous owner.
It is likely too late now........but the previous owner should have completed the steps in the Apple Support document linked below.......before.....they sold the phone to you. In other words......the previous owner did not properly prepare the phone for sale.
What to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
If the previous owner cannot provide the information that you need to reset the phone, your best option would be to return the phone for a refund.
Is this phone by any chance, Activation Locked? That is, displaying a screen saying something like "Locked to Owner" when you try to reset it?
If so, you will need that owner's help to clear the lock. Then they should properly reset the phone as outlined in the Support Article to which Mr. Timmons linked. If the phone is Activation Locked and the person to whom it is locked cannot or will not help you, the phone will remain locked – essentially, a "brick."
You will need a laptop to try to complete the process. That could be a friend's laptop or an Apple Service shop could help out with the process. But, there are no guarantees that this will work.
You can find a list of authorized shops using this link:
If the phone still will not erase.......(I suspect this will likely be the case)......this confirms that the previous owner did not prepare the phone correctly for sale. The phone will not work correctly for you until the previous owner corrects their mistakes.
Based on what you have told us so far, my advice would be to return the phone for a refund rather than continue to fight what will very likely be a losing battle.
hojimurod34 wrote:
I recently bought a used iPhone 6s. It turns out that the previous owner of the smartphone was unable to delete the data from the iPhone and some of their data is showing up for me. How can I delete all the data from the phone and make it like new if I don't have a computer and the 'Erase Content and Settings' function doesn't work?"
There are two ways to erase iPhone:
ref: Erase iPhone - Apple Support
Thank you, but when I delete using the settings, since I don't have a laptop, the phone just restarts and the data doesn't get deleted.
Thank you, but when I delete using the settings, since I don't have a laptop, the phone just restarts and the data doesn't get deleted.
Why doesn't the 'Erase Content and Settings' function work on the iPhone 6s?
