You can restore an iPhone without iTunes in four ways: erase it from the iPhone’s own Settings app, use Finder on a Mac, use the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC, or erase it remotely from iCloud.com. The simplest is on the phone itself. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, then restore your data from an iCloud backup when the setup screens appear.
iTunes was retired on the Mac in macOS Catalina, and Windows now has the Apple Devices app, so most people don’t need iTunes at all anymore. Here’s which method fits your situation and the steps for each one.
Before you restore: back up your iPhone
Restoring erases everything on the iPhone. Make sure you have a recent backup first.
- iCloud: Go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.
- Mac: Connect the iPhone, select it in Finder, and click Back Up Now.
- Windows: Connect the iPhone, open the Apple Devices app, and click Back Up Now.
You’ll also need your Apple Account password, because Activation Lock asks for it after the restore if Find My is turned on.
Method 1: Restore from the iPhone’s Settings
Use this when the iPhone works normally and you want a fresh start or to fix software problems.
- Open Settings and tap General.
- Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings, then Continue.
- Enter your passcode and Apple Account password if asked. The iPhone erases itself and restarts.
- Follow the setup screens. On the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, choose From iCloud Backup, sign in, and pick your most recent backup.
This reinstalls the current version of iOS that’s already on the phone and puts back your apps, photos, messages and settings from the backup.
Method 2: Restore with Finder on a Mac
On macOS Catalina and later, Finder handles everything iTunes used to do for iPhones.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable.
- Open Finder and click your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar. Tap Trust on the iPhone if asked.
- On the General tab, click Restore iPhone.
- If Find My is on, Finder asks you to turn it off on the iPhone first, in Settings > your name > Find My.
- Click Restore to confirm. Your Mac downloads the latest iOS and installs it.
- When the iPhone restarts, click Restore Backup in Finder to put your data back, or set it up as new.
Method 3: Restore with the Apple Devices app on Windows
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, Apple’s free Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store replaces iTunes for managing iPhones.
- Install Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store and open it.
- Connect your iPhone with a cable and tap Trust on the phone if asked.
- Select your iPhone in the app’s sidebar and go to General.
- Click Restore iPhone and confirm.
- After the restore, use Restore Backup in the same screen to bring back a computer backup, or restore from iCloud during setup.
Method 4: Erase your iPhone from iCloud.com
This works when you don’t have the iPhone with you, or when you’ve forgotten the passcode, as long as Find My was turned on.
- On any computer or device, go to icloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple Account.
- Select your iPhone from the list of devices.
- Click Erase This Device and confirm.
- When the iPhone is online, it erases itself. Set it up again and restore from an iCloud backup.
On iOS 17 and later, you can also reset a locked iPhone from the Lock Screen. After several wrong passcode attempts, tap Forgot Passcode? in the corner, then Start iPhone Reset, and enter your Apple Account password.
If your iPhone won’t turn on or is stuck on the Apple logo
Use recovery mode with Finder or the Apple Devices app:
- Connect the iPhone to your computer and open Finder or Apple Devices.
- On iPhone 8 or later, press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button. Keep holding through the Apple logo until you see the recovery mode screen with a computer and cable.
- On your computer, choose Update first. This reinstalls iOS without erasing your data.
- If Update doesn’t work, repeat the steps and choose Restore.
Which method should you use?
| Situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| iPhone works, you want a clean start | Erase All Content and Settings |
| You want a fresh copy of iOS installed | Finder on Mac or Apple Devices on Windows |
| Forgot your passcode | Forgot Passcode on the Lock Screen, or iCloud.com |
| iPhone lost or with someone else | iCloud.com Erase This Device |
| Stuck on the Apple logo or won’t start | Recovery mode with a computer |
Related: back up an iPhone to a Windows computer.
Frequently asked questions
Will restoring my iPhone delete everything?
Yes. A restore erases all content and settings. Your data comes back only if you restore from a backup afterward.
Do I need a computer to restore an iPhone?
No, as long as the iPhone turns on. Erase All Content and Settings and an iCloud backup restore are done entirely on the phone. You need a computer only for recovery mode.
Can I restore an iPhone without the Apple Account password?
You can erase it, but Activation Lock will ask for the Apple Account password before you can use it again. Recover the password at iforgot.apple.com first.
Are third-party iPhone restore tools safe?
Apple’s own tools (Settings, Finder and Apple Devices) can do everything most people need. Third-party tools often charge for the same features, so try the free options first.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.