For whatever reason you may have, you might want to erase your iPhone. Erasing your iPhone means completely wiping the device (data).
The technical term for this is factory data reset. You don’t need to manually delete every data from your iPhone. Apple offers the option to reset your iPhone with a single command.
But what do you do when your iPhone decides not to factory reset? You’re unable to erase your iPhone, and now you’re wondering why. See the reason below.
In this article, you will learn why you encounter difficulties erasing your iPhone. You will also learn what can be done to solve the issue.
Why Can’t I Erase My iPhone?
iTunes [old version]
If you’re trying to erase your iPhone using iTunes and it is not working, check if your iTunes is up-to-date. An outdated iTunes may cause this issue.
Running the old version on your computer means there’s probably a bug which is why your iPhone can’t be erased.
Cable Issue
The cable with which you have connected your iPhone to your computer is also another factor.
If it is not properly connected to both devices, the chances of you erasing your iPhone are zero. If it is faulty in any way, the chances remain the same.
Hardware Issue
If your iPhone cannot enter Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU) mode using iTunes, it will not be formatted. This happens when it is connected to your computer.
This may be because there is a hardware problem on your device. Factory data reset can also be done on the iPhone itself.
Technical Issue
If you get stuck on any step during the process, there may be a technical glitch. If your phone refuses to format, there is likely a bug in the software of your iPhone.
How to Fix “Can’t Erase iPhone”
If you’re not able to reset your iPhone because of some issue on your device, these are what to do.
Fix 1: Update your iPhone
Download the latest version of iOS on your mobile device before you begin to format it.
iOS updates are made available periodically to fix the technical glitches and bugs in the software of your iPhone.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Choose General. Choose the second option: Software Update. Wait while the device checks if there are any new updates available. Select the latest one and wait while it downloads and installs.
Fix 2: Factory Reset iPhone
If you’re not able to erase your iPhone device with iTunes or Finder, try resetting the phone from the Settings app.
To factory data reset your iPhone, open Settings. Scroll and select General. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Select Continue. Enter your passcode. Confirm your decision for the phone to begin the formatting process.
Fix 3: Restart your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone if it is unable to format should do the trick. There may be temporary glitches in the phone’s software, but restarting your iPhone will speed up the process.
To restart your device, simply turn it off and turn it on again. For models below the iPhone X, hold down the power button for a few seconds. iPhone X models later require holding down the power button and the volume down button for a few seconds. The shutdown menu will appear on the screen. Slide the power icon to turn the phone off. After the phone shuts down, press and hold down the power button to turn it back on.
Fix 4: Turn off Find My iPhone
If your device has its Find My iPhone enabled, then this will hinder you from formatting your device.
Find My iPhone is a feature that when enabled on Apple devices, will help you track their location. Having it ON interferes with the formatting process, so we recommend you turn it off.
Select the Settings app on your iPhone. Then choose your Apple ID. Finally, select the Find My and toggle it off.
Alternatively, you can download the Find My iPhone on the App Store, log in with your iCloud, and disable it.
Fix 5: Remove devices from iCloud
Your iCloud being logged in on many devices may cause it to be unable to erase.
Sign out of your iCloud account from all the devices except the one you wish to format.
You can do this by signing out of all the devices using your designated phone.
Open the Settings app. Then, click on your name. The devices logged in with your iCloud will appear. Sign out of them by selecting each device and choosing sign out.
After signing out, try formatting your device again.
Conclusion
Factory resetting your iPhone does not always mean you are wiping all data from your device.
If your apps or screens freeze, consider erasing your iPhone. You should also consider this if you see a blank screen, have a glitchy touchpad, or hear unusual sounds. Wiping it clean is guaranteed to fix all these issues.
