As of November 2026 you don’t need iTunes to reset or restore an iPhone. On the phone itself, use Settings. On a Mac, use Finder, which took over device management in macOS Catalina in 2019. On Windows, use Apple’s free Apple Devices app, which has been on the Microsoft Store since February 2024. The current release is iOS 27.2.1, out on 9 November 2026. Before you start, make a fresh backup and have your Apple Account password ready, because Find My and Activation Lock still apply after a restore.
When Apple first launched the iPhone, connecting it to a computer running iTunes was the main way to reset or restore it. Since 2019, Mac users have had no iTunes: macOS Catalina split it into the Music, TV and Podcasts apps and moved iPhone management into Finder. On Windows, iTunes is still available, but Apple now steers PC users to the Apple Devices app. This guide covers resetting or restoring an iPhone from the phone’s Settings, from Finder on a Mac and from a Windows PC, plus what third-party tools can and can’t do.
iPhone Reset vs. iPhone Restore
People often treat “reset” and “restore” as the same thing, but they are two different processes. A reset is the lighter option. Depending on which reset you pick, it may delete data, but it never touches the firmware or the version of iOS on the phone.
A reset also gives you more choices. You can erase all content and settings, or you can return just some settings to their defaults and keep your data. The options are network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home Screen layout, or location and privacy settings.
A restore is for serious problems. For example, the iPhone might be stuck in Recovery mode or Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode, or it might keep showing restore or update errors. The error numbers people report most often are 9, 4013, 4014 and 3194. Apple says errors 9 and 4014 can appear when the device disconnects during an update or restore. Error 3194 usually means the computer can’t reach Apple’s update server.
A restore erases all your data and reinstalls iOS from scratch. It has two stages: first you get the iPhone working again with no data on it, then you bring your data back from a backup.
How to Reset an iPhone Without Using iTunes
If your iPhone still works, you can reset it from the Settings app with no computer. In iOS 27 the menu is still in the same place it has been since iOS 15:
- Turn on your iPhone and unlock it.
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- To wipe all your data and return the iPhone to factory settings, tap Erase All Content and Settings. To reset only some settings, tap Reset and pick the option you need.
- Follow the prompts. Depending on the option, you may be asked to back up to iCloud, sign out of your Apple Account (called Apple ID until 2024) or enter your passcode. You then confirm on the Erase This iPhone screen.
Erasing the iPhone does not remove your eSIM unless you choose to erase it as well. If you’re selling the phone or giving it away, decide whether to keep the eSIM or delete it before you start.
If the iPhone won’t start, won’t unlock or is stuck on a screen, the Settings route won’t work. Use one of the computer methods below instead.
If you forgot your passcode
You don’t need iTunes for this either. On iOS 15.2 and later, after several wrong passcode attempts, the Lock Screen offers to erase the iPhone with your Apple Account password. On iOS 17 and later the option is labelled “Forgot Passcode?”. It needs a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. You can also erase the phone remotely through Find My at iCloud.com. If neither option works, Apple’s official route is to restore the iPhone in recovery mode from a computer. That erases the passcode along with everything else.
How to Restore an iPhone on a Mac Without iTunes
On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, Finder does the job iTunes used to do, with the same steps. Macs on macOS Mojave or earlier still use iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
- Open Finder and select your iPhone in the sidebar, under Locations.
- If asked, tap Trust on the iPhone and enter your passcode.
- In the General tab, click Restore iPhone to erase the device and reinstall iOS. To bring back data from a backup saved on that Mac, click Restore Backup instead.
- Confirm the restore when asked.
If Find My is turned on, you have to sign out of it on the iPhone before Restore will work.
If the iPhone won’t respond, put it into recovery mode. The button sequence depends on the model, so follow Apple’s instructions for yours. Finder will then offer Update or Restore. Update tries to reinstall iOS without erasing your data, so try it first. Restore erases the phone. DFU mode is a deeper recovery state that skips the iPhone’s normal startup. It’s only needed when recovery mode fails, and repair technicians use it most.
How to Restore an iPhone on a Windows PC Without iTunes
On Windows, Apple’s own Apple Devices app now restores iPhones, so third-party software is no longer needed. Apple released it in February 2024 as part of splitting up iTunes. It’s free from the Microsoft Store. Apple’s guide asks for Windows 10 or later, and reporting puts the exact minimum at 64-bit Windows 10 version 22H2. If your PC can’t run it, iTunes for Windows is still available as a fallback.
- Open the Microsoft Store, search for “Apple Devices” and install it.
- Connect your iPhone with a USB cable. The app does not restore over Wi-Fi.
- Select your iPhone in the app’s sidebar and click General.
- Click Restore iPhone to return it to factory settings, or Restore Backup to bring back a backup saved on that PC. If the backup is encrypted, you’ll need its password.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
As on a Mac, Find My has to be turned off before a restore. If the phone is stuck on a white screen or won’t boot, put it into recovery mode first. The Apple Devices app will then offer to update or restore it.
When the old version of this page was written, the usual advice for Windows users without iTunes was a third-party tool such as Tenorshare ReiBoot, Wondershare dr.fone or FonePaw. Those tools are still sold, but Apple’s free app now covers the main restore jobs.
Tenorshare ReiBoot Restore Instructions
Tenorshare ReiBoot is a paid repair utility for Windows and Mac. Its best-known free feature is entering or leaving recovery mode with one click. Reviews in 2026 say the free version is mostly limited to that, and that the actual repairs need a Pro license. Those repairs include its standard and deep repair modes, iTunes error fixes and factory reset. Prices vary by region and sale, so check Tenorshare’s own store.
Only download it from the developer’s official site. Mirror download sites have a history of bundling unwanted software. The general process works like this:
- Install ReiBoot and open it.
- Connect your iPhone with a cable. It doesn’t work over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
- If needed, use the one-click option to put the iPhone into recovery mode or take it out.
- Choose a reset option. Factory Reset is the thorough troubleshooting choice, but it erases all data on the device. General Reset just points you to the Settings app to reset the phone yourself.
- After choosing Factory Reset, download the latest firmware for your iPhone, then follow the onscreen steps.
No restore tool removes Activation Lock, and that includes Apple’s own apps. After a restore, the iPhone will still ask for the Apple Account password that was signed in before. If you’re stuck at that screen, Apple Support is the only legitimate route, and you’ll need proof of purchase.
How to Recover Data from an Erased iPhone
Realistically, you can only get data back from a backup. When you erase a modern iPhone, the encryption keys that protect its storage are destroyed. That’s why software that promises to pull deleted files straight off an erased iPhone rarely delivers. Your best sources are iCloud Backup, a backup on your Mac in Finder, or a backup on your PC in Apple Devices or iTunes.
Tenorshare sells a separate recovery app called UltData for Mac and Windows. Older advice described it as free. It is now a paid product, sold as monthly or yearly licenses. Its useful feature is selective recovery: you can browse an iTunes, Finder or iCloud backup and pull out single items, instead of restoring the whole backup at once. The basic steps are:
Use the UltData app
- Install UltData and open it.
- Pick Recover from iOS Device, Recover Data from Backup or Recover Data from iCloud, depending on where your data is.
- Click Scan to see what can be recovered.
- Choose the files you want and restore them.
Third-Party Apps vs. Apple’s Own Tools
Third-party apps add some convenience, but Apple’s free tools now cover the jobs that matter most. Settings, Finder and Apple Devices handle resets, factory restores, recovery-mode restores and full backup restores at no cost.
ReiBoot’s one-click recovery mode saves you from button combinations, and UltData’s selective recovery can save time if you only need one photo or chat from a large backup. Use Apple’s route first. Pay for a third-party tool only if it does something specific that Apple’s tools don’t.
| Method | Works when | Erases data | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone | iPhone is working | Optional | Free |
| Lock Screen “Forgot Passcode?” (iOS 17+) | Passcode forgotten, phone online | Yes | Free |
| Finder on Mac (Catalina or later) | Working or in recovery mode | Restore: yes; Update: no | Free |
| Apple Devices on Windows | Working or in recovery mode | Restore: yes; Update: no | Free |
| Tenorshare ReiBoot | Stuck or unresponsive devices | Factory Reset: yes | Free tier, paid Pro |
FAQ
Can you factory reset an iPhone without a computer?
Yes. If the iPhone works, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings. If you’ve forgotten the passcode, iOS 15.2 and later let you erase the phone from the Lock Screen with your Apple Account password, or you can erase it remotely through Find My at iCloud.com.
Does restoring an iPhone remove Activation Lock?
No. Activation Lock is tied to the Apple Account that was signed in, so it survives a restore. After setup, the iPhone asks for that account’s password. If you bought the phone second-hand and can’t reach the seller, Apple Support with proof of purchase is the only legitimate route.
Is iTunes still available on Windows?
Yes. iTunes for Windows can still be downloaded, but Apple now points PC users to the Apple Devices app for backups, restores and updates. Apple Devices is free on the Microsoft Store and needs Windows 10 or later.
What is the difference between recovery mode and DFU mode?
Recovery mode uses the iPhone’s normal startup process and lets Finder or Apple Devices either update or restore iOS. DFU mode skips that process and loads firmware directly, which can help when recovery mode fails. For most problems, recovery mode is enough.
Will updating in recovery mode delete my data?
Choosing Update tries to reinstall iOS and keep your data, so try it first. If the update fails or the problem comes back, Restore erases the phone, and you then bring your data back from a backup.
Which iOS version will be installed after a restore?
A restore installs the latest version of iOS that Apple is still signing for your model. As of November 2026 that is iOS 27.2.1 on supported iPhones. You generally can’t restore to an older version once Apple stops signing it.
Sources
- Apple Support: Restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod to factory settings using a computer
- Apple Support: Apple Devices for Windows user guide (install, back up and restore, factory settings)
- Apple Support: If you forgot your iPhone passcode or your iPhone is disabled
- Apple Support: Apple security releases
- MacRumors: Apple Releases iOS 27.2.1 With Bug Fixes (9 November 2026)
- MacRumors: Apple Announces iOS 27 Release Date
- Wikipedia: Apple Devices
- Stellar: How to Fix iPhone Restore and Update Errors
About this article
- Fact-checked before publication.
- Published · Updated
