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Tutorial to Reset iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/8 Plus/7/7 Plus and Earlier from Computer

Even though you can reset iPhone in the Settings app, it is unfeasible when your phone is frozen, crashed or locked out. Is there any other methods to reset iPhone from computer? iTunes may be an alternative option. Besides buying music and other contents, you can reset your iPhone from computer with iTunes too. Therefore, we are going to talk about how to reset iPhone from computer in this tutorial. Resetting iPhone is to erase all personal content and settings from a handset. So it is quite necessary to back up the iPhone before resetting and learn about how to restore iPhone after that.

Reset iPhone from Computer

Part 1: Backup iPhone before you reset iPhone from computer

No matter how you factory reset iPhone, before you do that, you would better create a new backup. Both iTunes and iCloud can do you a favor. If you decide to back up your iPhone to your computer, iTunes could help you do it. On the other hand, iCloud is able to save iPhone data to cloud server wirelessly.

Method 1: How to backup iPhone with iCloud

Step 1. Turn on Wi-Fi connection or cellular on your iPhone. You can find it in Control Center.

Step 2. Launch the "Settings" app and tap on your Apple ID at top of the screen. Then touch the "iCloud" option to open it.

Note: You can find iCloud in Settings app directly if you are using iOS 10 or earlier.

Step 3. Tap on the iCloud Backup option and then hit "Back Up Now". Then you iPhone will start executing your command immediately.

Since iCloud uses internet connection, it takes a while to complete the whole process.

Backup iPhone with iCloud

Method 2: How to backup iPhone with iTunes before you reset iPhone

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. Make sure that you have installed the latest update of iTunes.

Tip: You'd better use the original USB cable to back up your iPhone. And iTunes does not ask for internet connection to back up an iPhone.

Step 2. Unfold your iPhone name at upper left corner and go to the "Summary" tab.

Step 3. Locate the "Manually Back Up and Restore" section on right panel and then click the "Back Up Now" button.

Backup iPhone with iTunes

Part 2: How to reset iPhone from computer using iTunes

Now iTunes has become a necessary service among iPhone users. People cannot only purchase digital content in iTunes, but also reset iPhone from computer.

Step 1. Run the latest version of iTunes on your computer and hook up your iPhone to the computer too.

Step 2. Click on the "Device" icon and navigate to the "Summary" window. Then press the "Restore iPhone" button. When iTunes prompts you to enter your Apple ID, follow the on-screen instructions and start factory reset iPhone from computer.

Step 3. When the process is complete, your iPhone will reboot and pop up the welcome screen as you just bought it.

iTunes is not working or without computer? Factory reset iPhone without computer here.

Reset iPhone with iTunes

Part 3: How to reset iPhone from computer via a third-party tool

You should understand that resetting iPhone from computer with iTunes is only to erase data and settings on iPhone. There are still chances to get them back. If you want to permanently format an iPhone, you have to use a third party tool, such as iPhone Eraser. It uses advanced algorithm to overwrite iOS devices.

Step 1. Install iPhone reset tool on your computer

Start iPhone Eraser after installed it on your computer. Link your iPhone to your computer with a USB cord. If you have more than one iDevice to reset, you can connect them to the program at the same time.

iPhone Eraser

Step 2. Select an erasing level

When the connection is successful, you will face three erasing options, "Low", "Middle" and "High". Read the onscreen instructions carefully and choose an appropriate erasing level.

Choose Erasing Level

Step 3. Reset iPhone from computer in one click

Click on the "Start" button; then enter "0000" to confirm the erasing. You can click "Erase" button to start resetting iPad to factory settings. And what you need to do is just to wait for the process to finish.

Start Factory Resetting an iPad

You can also check this video tutorial to reset your iPhone:

Erase All Content and Settings on iPhonePlay

Part 4: How to restore iPhone after the reset

After resetting iPhone from computer, you can set up it as a new one. But there is no data on your phone anymore. If you want to get some important files back, iPhone Data Recovery could help you. Its key features include:

  • 1. Restore lost data from iTunes backup or iCloud backup in one click.
  • 2. Open iTunes backup and iCloud backup for selectively restoring.
  • 3. Use physical connection to restore iPhone data safer and faster.
  • 4. Retrieve data from backup to your phone in original conditions.
  • 5. Compatible with all iPhone models, including iPhone 14/13/12/11/XS/XR/X/8/8 Plus/7/7 Plus and earlier.

In short, iPhone Data Recovery is the ultimate solution to restore iPhone after resetting.

How to restore iPhone from iTunes backup

Step 1. Launch iPhone Data Recovery on your computer and plug your iPhone to it with USB canble. Click the Recover from iTunes Backup File option on main interface.

Step 2. Look at the iTunes backup files on right panel and select the latest one according to date. Click the Start Scan button to extract data from the iTunes backup.

Step 3. On the result window, you can preview data and select any one to restore. Click on the Recover button, the program will save the selected data to iTunes folder and restore to your iPhone.

Restore iPhone from iTunes Backup

How to restore iPhone from iCloud backup

Step 1. The first step will be the same, start the iPhone data restore program on your computer when you need to restore lost data to iPhone. But this time, you need to click the Recover from iCloud Backup File option on left sidebar.

Step 2. Enter your Apple ID to access iCloud backup files. Select the latest file and hit the Download button next to the backup; then you will be taken to the detail window.

Step 3. Here you can select specific data or all data and click Recover button to get them back. And then you can restore the files to your iPhone after set up.

Restore iPhone from iCloud Backup

Conclusion

It is a hard decision to reset iPhone from computer. But in some cases, you have to do it, such as software update failed, system crashed, or other unexpected errors happened on your iOS device. We hope our step-by-step guide could help you execute iPhone reset from computer easier. On the other hand, we also shared several tips to prevent from data loss after iPhone resetting from computer. Of course, you should be familiar with backing up iPhone with iTunes and iCloud. But restoring specific data from iTunes backup or iCloud backup to iPhone after setting up is another story. iPhone Data Recovery streamline the process and help you restore iPhone easily.

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