Is "reset all content and settings" just as effective as restoring via iTunes?

[kylera]

I would like to nuke my iPhone and start from scratch because of some issues I'm noticing, but I don't want to update to iOS 8.3 because of the iFunBox block. Would "reset all content and settings" from the iPhone settings work just as well as doing a restore via iTunes?

 

[Shikaka]

I've been having a problem with the camera freezing in 60fps mode. Tech support told me that restoring from iTunes does a more thorough job of wiping the phone than resetting all content from the device.

I haven't tried putting the phone in DFU mode. Hopefully someone who has more experience can compare that with the other restore methods.

 

[crashoverride77]

I would like to nuke my iPhone and start from scratch because of some issues I'm noticing, but I don't want to update to iOS 8.3 because of the iFunBox block. Would "reset all content and settings" from the iPhone settings work just as well as doing a restore via iTunes?

I don't think it will, dpending on what kind of issue you have.
A reset all content and settings will delete your apps/ data and reset your settings but it will not remove iOS.
A iTunes restore will wipe your HD and than will than download the latest full version of iOS and install it from scratch, just like formatting your PC. It's much more likely to fix system deep bugs or corruption issues.

 

[Nothlit]

"Erase All Content and Settings" completely wipes the user partition. I think that should be sufficient for your purposes. It's unlikely that anything on the system partition is messed up, since that's generally only ever mounted read-only, and nothing you do via apps or settings causes changes on the system partition.

But if you want to restore via iTunes (which will also restore the system partition), iOS 8.2 is still being signed as of right now, so you could download it and option-click on the Restore button in iTunes to select that specific ipsw file. Apple could stop signing it at any moment, so this may not remain an option for much longer.

 

[Brian Y]

"Erase All Content and Settings" completely wipes the user partition. I think that should be sufficient for your purposes. It's unlikely that anything on the system partition is messed up, since that's generally only ever mounted read-only, and nothing you do via apps or settings causes changes on the system partition.

But if you want to restore via iTunes (which will also restore the system partition), iOS 8.2 is still being signed as of right now, so you could download it and option-click on the Restore button in iTunes to select that specific ipsw file. Apple could stop signing it at any moment, so this may not remain an option for much longer.

Actually, it does even less than that. All it does these days is delete the encryption key, it doesn't actually *erase* anything.

iTunes will do a more thorough job - it will completely erase everything on the phone, then re-upload the firmware and software required. If you're having technical issues, a full restore is always recommended.

 

[pooleman]

Actually, it does even less than that. All it does these days is delete the encryption key, it doesn't actually *erase* anything.

iTunes will do a more thorough job - it will completely erase everything on the phone, then re-upload the firmware and software required. If you're having technical issues, a full restore is always recommended.

The OP said that we doesn't want to upgrade to the latest firmware 8.3. If he does an iTunes restore he will be forced to update.

 

[NikeTalk]

So iCloud restore and iTunes restore are different? And normally with any issues they usually just come right back once you restore unless you start as new which means you lose everything.

I had some type of battery bug that followed all my backups until I just gave up and had to restore as new all over smh.