Other Why does an iphone battery replacement cause a factory reset?

[alphanumericcharacter]

According to Apple support, there is a high chance of data loss when removing and replacing a battery on an iphone. They said it will basically factory reset your phone and anything you have written such as notes will be lost.

Would someone please explain to me the physical electrical reason why when an iphone battery is removed and replaced that the iphone is automatcially factory reset?

Is this done by design or by policy?

1. Is this an engineering flaw/feature as in: there is no way at all to physically remove and replace a battery without the factory reset happening automatically?

2. Or is it simply Apple's policy to factory reset the phone when the battery is removed or replaced, i.e. there's some type of security reason for doing so?

This seems something singular to iphones. If other types of computers have a battery failure, there is usually a way to recover data.

 

[3166792]

I think it's simply just legalese to cover them in case of loss of data should something go wrong with the battery replacement and they need to replace the phone. When you bring it into the Apple store for a replacement, they check that you've done a backup first and warn you that data loss could occur.

That said, I had my battery done in February and received my phone back in an hour exactly as I had brought it in. No data loss, no factory reset.

 

[ovbacon]

I'm pretty sure they say this with all devices that need to go in for extensive repair or replacement. I've had it with laptops and even with an iMac and with phones and most of the time it came back the way it was. So I would say it is said as a policy but not necessarily done.

 

[chrfr]

According to Apple support, there is a high chance of data loss when removing and replacing a battery on an iphone. They said it will basically factory reset your phone and anything you have written such as notes will be lost.

Would someone please explain to me the physical electrical reason why when an iphone battery is removed and replaced that the iphone is automatcially factory reset?

Is this done by design or by policy?

1. Is this an engineering flaw/feature as in: there is no way at all to physically remove and replace a battery without the factory reset happening automatically?

2. Or is it simply Apple's policy to factory reset the phone when the battery is removed or replaced, i.e. there's some type of security reason for doing so?

This seems something singular to iphones. If other types of computers have a battery failure, there is usually a way to recover data.

If they break something during the repair process they want to ensure that you’re aware and that you acknowledge that there’s a risk you will lose data. I recently had the battery in my iPhone 13 Pro replaced by a local Apple Store and all my data was there when I got the phone back.

 

[Apple_Tiger]

I believe they just say that to cover their bases and in the event that something goes wrong in the process, they will replace you a new unit so it's generally always a good idea to make a back up before you even send it in for repair.

 

[cutienoua]

I did 4 battery replacements on iphones over the years at apple store.
2 without issues, 2 they had to give me a replacement phone due to issues during the process.
Every time I went there with the phone erased, just in case!
Now I am even more careful due to eSim. I have 2 eSims stored on the phone. after I buy an iphone 15 and transfer the e-sim I will take the iphone 13 pro for battery replacement.

 

[1BadManVan]

I was told the same warning but they said it’s rare to happen. Got my sons iPhone 11 battery replaced and went perfectly fine

 

[Andeddu]

Got my Gold SE 2016’s battery replaced by Apple in January 2023 and there was no issue.

You just have to sign a waiver in the rare occurrence something unexpected happens to your device during the repair.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

When removing the battery, there’s a little “Pull strip” to remove the tape under it. If that strip breaks while removing it, Apple will just set your iPhone aside and swap you out for a remanufactured model, and send yours in to have the battery removed & the phone be remanufactured for someone else. It’s not common, but it happens - so Apple makes sure everyone is aware, your data may not survive.

 

[winxmac]

Replacing a battery does not lead to factory reset/data erasure unless the one who performed it screwed up and led to hardware issue that your phone is no longer usable or they manage to replace the battery and your data is still intact but they decide anyway to factory reset/erase the data on your phone...

Because of this, I prefer to go to non-Apple authorized repair center for you can have the battery replaced while you wait and you can watch while they do it... Same reason that I went to them when the LCD of my iPad got damaged to have it replaced... It may never be as good as repaired by Apple but I find it better this way than lose the stored data... I have a backup but still, it is going to be an extra/unnecessary step to start over...

 

[kevink2]

Legalese, I agree.
Early this year I sent in a Macbook Pro for battery repair. At some point, I had replaced the SSD with larger, third party one.

One that the original OS couldn't see. They did a sanity check on the computer, booting off their drive, and complained that the drive didn't work so refused to repair unless I bought an expensive OEM drive. I refused, so they sent it back.

Since the battery was swollen I bought the cheapest Air, fought through the storage issues (much smaller drive) using Onedrive, etc. I was upset so I didn't buy a pro model for over $2000.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Replacing a battery does not lead to factory reset/data erasure unless the one who performed it screwed up and led to hardware issue that your phone is no longer usable or they manage to replace the battery and your data is still intact but they decide anyway to factory reset/erase the data on your phone...

Because of this, I prefer to go to non-Apple authorized repair center for you can have the battery replaced while you wait and you can watch while they do it... Same reason that I went to them when the LCD of my iPad got damaged to have it replaced... It may never be as good as repaired by Apple but I find it better this way than lose the stored data... I have a backup but still, it is going to be an extra/unnecessary step to start over...

I had a battery replaced at an Apple Store and it took just an hour. Off course I already had it booked in prior.

 

[Momof2.1107]

I’ve had several batteries replaced and only 2 iPhones had to be swapped out for a refurbished device. I always make sure I have a backup in iTunes and one in the cloud, in case my phone is swapped out. For the times that my iPhone wasn’t damaged, I still had my data on it.

 

[winxmac]

I had a battery replaced at an Apple Store and it took just an hour. Off course I already had it booked in prior.

When you quoted/replied, I was expecting for you to say that Apple replaced the battery but the data was still intact... I guess not...

Samsung authorized service center also performs factory reset/data erasure even when it can be avoided in battery replacement... I don't know why they do it when phone software is not the issue at all...

 

[Ledsteplin]

I was told in 2018 they would replace my iPhone 6s Plus battery, and keep it on iOS 10.1.1. Yeah, I know. I had reasons at the time. Anyway, they broke the torch and camera, and couldn't fix it. So they gave me a brand new (not a refurb) 6s Plus. But it was on iOS 11.x.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

When you quoted/replied, I was expecting for you to say that Apple replaced the battery but the data was still intact... I guess not...

There was no reset of any sorts, my data was untouched. My point really was just the one hour waiting period as you had mentioned, was also possible at Apple. If pre-booked off course.

 

[saber32au]

Same as most other folks here: I've had iPhone batteries replaced at Apple before; no issues regarding the removal of data from my phone. Nonetheless I still backup my data via itunes before a battery swap.

 

[ericg301]

is it like replacing a car battery and you lose all your radio presets?

 

[RRC]

They will tell you this as it’s worst case scenario, or they can’t replace it and just give you a white box replacement. Majority of the time all your data will be there exactly how you handed it over.

 

[ignatius345]

According to Apple support, there is a high chance of data loss when removing and replacing a battery on an iphone. They said it will basically factory reset your phone and anything you have written such as notes will be lost.

None of this is an issue if you're backing up your phone -- which is trivially easy at this point.

 

[alphanumericcharacter]

Replacing a battery does not lead to factory reset/data erasure unless the one who performed it screwed up and led to hardware issue that your phone is no longer usable or they manage to replace the battery and your data is still intact but they decide anyway to factory reset/erase the data on your phone...

Because of this, I prefer to go to non-Apple authorized repair center for you can have the battery replaced while you wait and you can watch while they do it... Same reason that I went to them when the LCD of my iPad got damaged to have it replaced... It may never be as good as repaired by Apple but I find it better this way than lose the stored data... I have a backup but still, it is going to be an extra/unnecessary step to start over...

If I understand correctly, you're saying Apple doesn't allow you to be there during the battery replacement, while other places may let you watch?

 

[Alpha Centauri]

If I understand correctly, you're saying Apple doesn't allow you to be there during the battery replacement, while other places may let you watch?

There are places like that. But probably as there are so many dodgy mobile places, that letting you watch, guarantees that they can be trusted. Just a theory.

 

[Brooke795]

I had one person reply in another thread but did anyone have their original screen protector removed/damaged when they took their phone in for a battery replaced? I suspect I’ll be taking my 14 pro max in when the time comes

 

[Böhme417]

None of this is an issue if you're backing up your phone -- which is trivially easy at this point.

Restoring from a backup is a huge issue. Yes, performing backups is trivially easy, but I loathe having to erase and restore a phone. It takes FOREVER.

 

[Andeddu]

If I understand correctly, you're saying Apple doesn't allow you to be there during the battery replacement, while other places may let you watch?

Apple carry out their repairs/battery replacements in a back room away from the public so you won’t be able to watch them do it.

I had one person reply in another thread but did anyone have their original screen protector removed/damaged when they took their phone in for a battery replaced? I suspect I’ll be taking my 14 pro max in when the time comes

No, I had a screen protector on when I took my last phone in for a battery replacement and the screen protector was returned in the same condition I left it.