How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (2024)

Why can't I delete all content and settings with my iPhone? Here in this post, we have collected the reasons why you might be facing this problem along with various ways to fix this problem and alternative methods to hard reset your device.

How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (1) Joy Taylor Last updated: April 19, 2023

Whether you are dealing with a software bug or something elsesystem related issue on your iPhone, resetting your device is the most common method to try to fix it. But sometimes you see that "Erase All Contents and Settings" doesn't work!

In such cases, you will receive a server or validation error, or see no response even after pressing "Clear all content and settings" several times. Why do you get this error message? Why doesn't iPhone erase all contents and settings? And howerase an iPhone? You will find the answers to all these questions as you read on.

  • Why can't I delete all content and settings with my iPhone?
  • How to Fix Remove all content and settings that are not working
  • Erase all contents and settings from iPhone with iTunes
  • Erase all content and settings on Mac
  • What does Erase all content and settings mean?

Why can't I delete all content and settings with my iPhone?

There may be several reasons why you cannot delete all content and settings on your iPhone:

  • No internet connection: You may have turned off your Wi-Fi or mobile data before wiping your phone.
  • An iOS error: The most common reason why "Erase All Contents and Settings" doesn't work is an iOS error.
  • Wrong password: If you enter the wrong password or youriPhone passcode not working, you cannot reset your phone using this method.
  • No SIM Card: Not having your SIM card inserted into your iPhone can also prevent the iPhone from erasing all its contents and settings.Bypass iPhone SIM not supported 2023>

Whatever the cause, you can always solve the problem with some tried and tested quick fixes.

Ways to fix this Remove all content and settings that are not working

Below we have discussed some ways to fix the 'Erase all content and settings not working' issue:

1. Force restart your iPhone

If your iPhone doesn't erase all contents and settings, you can restart your device using the side buttons first. How to restart different iPhone models:

For iPhones 8, X, 11, 12 and newer

  • Short press the Volume Up button and do the same with the Volume Down button.
  • Now press and hold the Power button until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

  • Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 6 and earlier

  • Long press the home button and the power button (side/top) together until you see the Apple logo.

Force restarting your iPhone is known to fix most iOS errors and issues. But if it doesn't work, you can check whether internet is enabled on your device or not.

2. Check the internet connection

It is possible that you have consciously or unconsciously disabled the internet connection on your device. Therefore, check your iPhone's internet connection to rule out this possibility. To check if the Internet connection is enabled:

Until Wi-Fi

  • Go to "Settings > Wi-Fi" and see if the switch is turned off. If it is disabled, enable it.

How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (2)

Check WiFi connection

For mobile data

  • Go to "Settings > Cellular Data" and see if the switch is turned off.

If turning on the switches doesn't work or if they were already on, it's time to check if the SIM card is present.

3. Insert the SIM card

If you get a "Server Error" when you try to erase or reset your iPhone, your SIM card may not be in the iPhone. Insert your SIM card into the slot on the side of your iPhone to fix the problem. If that doesn't work or the SIM card is present and the error still occurs, try the next quick fix.

Here are some helpful tips to fix some SIM card errors on an iPhone:

  • How to Fix iPhone Invalid SIM Card >
  • How to Unlock SIM Card on iPhone for Use with Another/Any Carrier >

4. Update iOS

One of the most common reasons why your iPhone works or some of its features do not work is a possible software bug. Therefore, these errors are usually resolved by updating your iOS. How to update your iOS:

  • Go to "Settings > General > Software Update" and check if a new update is pending.
  • If an update is available, tap 'Download and Install'.

How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (3)

Download and install new iOS

Also read:How to fix iPhone stuck on verifying iOS update>

5. Reset the network settings

Another solution to solve the “Erase all content and settings not working” problem is to reset your network settings. This will delete all network settings from your device and disconnect Wi-Fi and mobile data connectivity. Once you're connected to the internet again, you'll hopefully be able to reset your iPhone without any problems. Reset network settings:

  • Go to 'Settings > General > Transfer or reset phone'.
  • Now tap “Reset > Reset Network Settings” and enter your password to continue.

Once your network settings have been reset, you can enter them all over again and try to erase all content and settings again. If this method doesn't work either, try disabling the Find My iPhone feature.

6. Turn off Find My iPhone

“Find My iPhone” is a useful feature from Apple that allows you to locate, lock or remotely erase your iOS device if it is lost or stolen. If you have enabled this feature, you may not be able to delete all content and settings. Therefore, try to disable it. This is how you do it:

  • Go to Settings > Apple ID > Find My and turn off the switch if it's on.

After you disable it, you can try deleting all content and settings and see if that works. If that doesn't help, sign out of Apple ID.

7. Sign out of Apple ID

Try signing out of your Apple IDand reset your iPhone if nothing else works. This is how you log out:

  • Go to "Settings > Apple ID" and click "Sign Out".
  • You will be asked if you want to keep a copy of your data on this iPhone?
  • Enable the data you want to keep and tap 'Sign Out' in the top right corner of the screen.

How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (4)

Sign out of Apple ID

Once you are logged out, you can try deleting all content and settings again. This method will likely solve the problem and you will be able to erase and reset your iPhone successfully. However, if the problem still persists, we have some alternative methods to remove all content and settings.

Erase all contents and settings from iPhone with iTunes

While it is quite worrying if your iPhone doesn't erase all its contents and settings, you can always reset it using iTunes on your PC. Here's how to erase all content and settings on your iPhone with iTunes:

  1. The first step is to disable "Find My iPhone" on your iPhone using the steps mentioned earlier.
  2. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a lightning cable and launch iTunes. Make sure you have the latest version.
  3. If you get the message 'Enter password' or 'Trust this computer', select the option you want.
  4. On your iPhone, click at the top of iTunes, then go to "General."
  5. Click "Restore iPhone" and you will receive a message to confirm your choice. Click "Restore" again.

This will erase and reset all content and settings from your iPhone. You can reset it as a new device.

Erase all content and settings on Mac

If you're using macOS, you can erase your iPhone directly from the Finder. Here are the steps for it:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a Lightning cable.
  2. Launch Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
  3. Click "General" at the top of the window.
  4. Now click on "Restore iPhone", after which you will get a prompt asking you to confirm your choice.

And that's how you erase all contents and settings from your iPhone with Mac. After you reset it, you can set it up as new.

What does Erase All Content and Settings do?

If you are selling, giving away, or trying to troubleshoot a system problem with your iPhone, we recommend that you reset it by erasing all content and settings. However, clearing all content and settings will delete all data from your iPhone, including:

  1. To e-mails-konti
  2. Dit Apple ID
  3. System settings
  4. Downloaded apps and their settings
  5. To the media

Therefore, if you want to keep your data safe, we recommend that you backup your iPhone before deleting all content and settings.

Is Erase All Content and Settings the same as Factory Reset?

Yes, erasing all content and settings is the same as factory reset as it will erase all settings, apps and media from your device and restore it to its original state when you first turned it on.

In short

There can be many reasons to reset your iPhone includingexperiencing a software erroror when you give your device away to someone else. However, sometimes you may encounter the error message 'Delete all content and settings not working'. So we have shared some tips and tricks to solve this problem, which worked for many users. We have also included how to reset it using alternative methods. I hope this article will be helpful if you encounter this problem.

How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (5)

Joy TaylorHow to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (6)How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (7)

Senior writer of iMobie team and an Apple fan likes to help multiple users solve different types of iOS and Android related issues.

Product related questions?Contact our support team for a quick solution >

How to fix Delete all content and settings not working 2023 (2024)

FAQs

Why is my iPhone not letting me erase all content and settings? ›

If erase all content and settings not showing on iPhone or iPad, reset network settings. This will remove all the networks and VPN settings on your device, disconnecting you from cellular data or Wi-Fi. Then you can connect to the Internet and use Erase All Content and Settings to factory reset your device.

Why wont my iPhone let me erase all content and settings verification failed? ›

Summary: The error verification failed when trying to erase the iPhone error occurs due to poor internet connectivity, incorrect Apple ID credentials, etc. Try to force reset your device, turn off 'Find My iPhone,' or reset the Network Setting to see if the verification failed issue is fixed.

Why do I not have Erase all content and settings? ›

If you can't use Erase All Content and Settings

Erase All Content and Settings is only available in macOS Monterey or later, and only on a Mac with Apple silicon or a Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip.

How do you reset all settings or erase all content and settings on iPhone? ›

Erase your iPhone or iPad and restore it to factory settings
  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase all Contents and Settings.
  2. Enter your passcode or Apple ID password.
  3. Wait for all content to be safely removed from your device.
Oct 24, 2022

Why is my iPhone not deleting things? ›

If your iPhone is not letting you delete photos, try restarting your iPhone, checking if the photos are synced from other devices, ensuring the photos are not set to read-only, or deleting some photos to free up storage space. For more solutions, read this article.

How do you hard reset an iPhone? ›

To hard reset any iPhone, quickly press the volume up button and the volume down button and hold the power button until the device powers off–which usually takes at least five seconds. The appearance of the Apple logo confirms the restarting of the phone.

How do I unlock my iPhone to erase all content and settings? ›

To unlock an iPhone without password:
  1. On your computer, go to iCloud.com and sign in with the Apple ID and password you use on your iPhone.
  2. Choose "Find iPhone" among the options.
  3. Click "All Devices" and select the locked iPhone.
  4. Choose "Erase iPhone" to factory reset the locked iPhone without iTunes.
Feb 27, 2024

How many failed attempts before iPhone reset? ›

Erase data after 10 failed passcodes

Set iPhone to erase all information, media, and personal settings after 10 consecutive failed passcode attempts. Go to Settings , then do one of the following: On an iPhone with Face ID: Tap Face ID & Passcode. On an iPhone with a Home button: Tap Touch ID & Passcode.

Is factory reset erase all content and settings? ›

Important: A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. If you're resetting to fix an issue, we recommend first trying other solutions. Learn how to troubleshoot Android issues. To restore your data after you reset your phone, you must enter security info.

What will I lose if I erase all content and settings? ›

When you tap Erase All Content and Settings, it completely erases your device, including any credit or debit cards you added for Apple Pay and any photos, contacts, music, or apps. It will also turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.

Why is Erase all content and settings grayed out? ›

It may be because of a software bug so iPhone erase all content and settings not showing up. Outdated operating system has all kinds of problems, which is why Apple always advises users to update iOS to the latest version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check if there is an update available.

How do you soft reset an iPhone? ›

Perform a soft reset

Press and quickly release the Volume up button > press and quickly release the Volume down button > press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

Does reset all settings delete eSIM? ›

On iOS, you will be able to select the option to 'erase data and keep eSIMs' during your factory reset. On Android devices, you will also be able to select the option to erase your eSIMs (note that this options is unselected by default — so if you leave it unchecked, the eSIMs will not be erased).

Why won't my iPhone factory reset? ›

Whether you're connecting through the network or through your USB cable to iTunes, if there's a hardware problem and the connection isn't working, you may be unable to do a factory reset. An error with iOS or iTunes. Sometimes there are just bugs that prevent you from being able to reset your phone.

How do I reset my iPhone to default settings without erasing content? ›

How to restore default iPhone settings without erasing content
  1. Open Settings, swipe down and tap General.
  2. Swipe to the bottom and choose Reset.
  3. To restore all settings to the default without deleting your content, tap Reset All Settings (note this does remove Apple Pay cards) tap Reset All Settings again.
Aug 2, 2019

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