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How to 'properly' reset an iPhone/iPad?

S

sammy-boy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 2, 2013
183
0
Staffordshire, UK
When browsing eBay or the forums here the iPhone or iPad that asks for a previous owner's iCloud password crops up a lot. Some no doubt have been stolen or 'found', but surely not all of them?

Is it ok to merely do a factory reset when selling an iPhone/iPad, or do you need to disable find my iPhone, or something else first?

Sorry if this is a silly question, I tend to buy secondhand a lot and want to be able to ask sellers if they have reset the device properly.
 
sammy-boy said:
When browsing eBay or the forums here the iPhone or iPad that asks for a previous owner's iCloud password crops up a lot. Some no doubt have been stolen or 'found', but surely not all of them?

Is it ok to merely do a factory reset when selling an iPhone/iPad, or do you need to disable find my iPhone, or something else first?

Sorry if this is a silly question, I tend to buy secondhand a lot and want to be able to ask sellers if they have reset the device properly.
Click to expand...

When your resetting your iphone from settings it will tell you to enter your Apple ID so you can turn find my iphone of. Then it will reset
 
That was what I was wondering - whether just doing a full factory reset would be enough and if that would automatically turn off find my iPhone and related settings.

Wasn't sure if you had to manually turn those off before the reset or not :)
 
If you go to reset and erase all content and settings, that will remove everything including Find My iPhone.
 
*~Kim~* said:
If you go to reset and erase all content and settings, that will remove everything including Find My iPhone.
Click to expand...

As posted above it will prompt for your iCloud password to turn find my friends off.
 
Merkie said:
Not necessary. Erase all contents and settings and you're fine.
Click to expand...

There have been bugs resulting from not unlinking FT and iMessages in the past and those may have been fixed. However, each new iOS version introduces new bugs so it's a good idea to unlink them before resetting just in case.

As already said, iOS7 will prompt you to turn off Find My iPhone prior to erasing.
 
*~Kim~* said:
If you go to reset and erase all content and settings, that will remove everything including Find My iPhone.
Click to expand...

That is false.
The find my iphone feature will still be there if you don't turn it off by entering your icloud password before you do the erase all.
Then when it boots up again it will ask for the Apple ID and password before it lets you do anything.

Merkie said:
Not necessary. Erase all contents and settings and you're fine.
Click to expand...

That is incorrect if find my iphone was setup on that particular iphone.
It will NOT remove that feature and you'd be stuck with an activation locked iphone.
 
Applejuiced said:
That is false.
The find my iphone feature will still be there if you don't turn it off by entering your icloud password before you do the erase all.
Click to expand...

Actually, Apple's advice on this matter appears to suggest that with iOS7 installed and Find My Phone enabled, your Apple ID and password will be required in order to Erase All Content and Settings. At which point the device will be removed from your account so that the next owner can activate it...

What's the truth?
 
It is my experience with my iPhone 4, which I am in the process of selling (it's been a real learning experience for me), that you would need to be logged into your iCloud account for Find My iPhone to work. If there is an iCloud account set up, just delete the account. I would think that is all you would need to do.

Also for iTunes and App Store in settings, for me it showed that I was still logged in even after restoring my phone (for the new buyer). It allowed me to log off and that cleared the field for the Apple ID.

HTH
 
Last edited:
Applejuiced said:
That is false.
The find my iphone feature will still be there if you don't turn it off by entering your icloud password before you do the erase all.
Then when it boots up again it will ask for the Apple ID and password before it lets you do anything.



That is incorrect if find my iphone was setup on that particular iphone.
It will NOT remove that feature and you'd be stuck with an activation locked iphone.
Click to expand...

No it won't. Try it. It'll make you turn off find my iphone before resetting it.
 
There's conflicting views here, but I guess if Apple themselves are saying it logs you out of iCloud and find my iPhone when you do a factory reset that's the recommended method?

I'm asking really as at some stage I'd like to upgrade my iPhone 4S to a secondhand 5 or 5c if funds allow and don't want to get stung with an activation-locked handset. There's an awful lot of those on eBay, don't know if it's because a lot are found or stolen ones or if it's people merely not resetting their device properly. I can then ask the question about if the iPhone's been reset properly and removed from find my iPhone.
 
LV426 said:
Actually, Apple's advice on this matter appears to suggest that with iOS7 installed and Find My Phone enabled, your Apple ID and password will be required in order to Erase All Content and Settings. At which point the device will be removed from your account so that the next owner can activate it...

What's the truth?
Click to expand...

What you just said which is the information behind the link. Personally I go ahead and activate the phone which demonstrates it's no longer locked and allows the buyer to immediately start using it (at least as an iPod). :)

sammy-boy said:
There's conflicting views here, but I guess if Apple themselves are saying it logs you out of iCloud and find my iPhone when you do a factory reset that's the recommended method?
Click to expand...

Correct.

sammy-boy said:
I'm asking really as at some stage I'd like to upgrade my iPhone 4S to a secondhand 5 or 5c if funds allow and don't want to get stung with an activation-locked handset. There's an awful lot of those on eBay, don't know if it's because a lot are found or stolen ones or if it's people merely not resetting their device properly. I can then ask the question about if the iPhone's been reset properly and removed from find my iPhone.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure there's anything you can do to *guarantee* you won't receive an activation locked device other than shop responsibly (seller's feedback rating, iPhones don't sell for $25, etc.). I'm interested hearing other's opinions on the matter.
 
sammy-boy said:
There's conflicting views here, but I guess if Apple themselves are saying it logs you out of iCloud and find my iPhone when you do a factory reset that's the recommended method?
Click to expand...

Follow Apple's instructions, and you should be fine:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Note Step 5: "Erasing all content and settings will delete all the data from your device, including songs, videos, contacts, photos, calendar information, and any other data. All device settings are restored to their factory condition.

Note: If Find My iPhone is enabled, you need to turn it off in Settings > iCloud before you can erase your device."
 
scaredpoet said:
Follow Apple's instructions, and you should be fine:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Note Step 5: "Erasing all content and settings will delete all the data from your device, including songs, videos, contacts, photos, calendar information, and any other data. All device settings are restored to their factory condition.

Note: If Find My iPhone is enabled, you need to turn it off in Settings > iCloud before you can erase your device."
Click to expand...

The link already posted has conflicting information and both are dated 10/18. From it:

2. Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

  • This will completely erase your device and turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.
  • If you are using iOS 7 and have Find My iPhone turned on, your Apple ID and password will be required. After you provide your password, the device will be erased and removed from your account so that the next owner can activate it.

The point is you don't have to turn it off manually, but you can turn it off manually if you want. And Apple needs to update their KB. :)
 
PNutts said:
The link already posted has conflicting information and both are dated 10/18. From it:

2.Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

  • This will completely erase your device and turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.
  • If you are using iOS 7 and have Find My iPhone turned on, your Apple ID and password will be required. After you provide your password, the device will be erased and removed from your account so that the next owner can activate it.

The point is you don't have to turn it off manually, but you can turn it off manually if you want. And Apple needs to update their KB. :)
Click to expand...

Correct, but I think it's hilarious that there are so many so called "old timers" that still believe this must be done manually. Keep up with the times.
 
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