How to back up and reset iphone

iPhone Seller's Guide

"How do I backup my iPhone?" It's a question we get a lot, and we’re ready to help walk you through the steps.

There are three main backup scenarios for iPhone users. First, you have important data you want to protect, and the second is when you upgrade to a new iPhone model, and want to ensure that your data can be easily transferred to your new phone. The third scenario is when you want to backup your iPhone before a reset. Luckily, we can help you protect your information throughout all these situations.

Methods of iPhone Backup

There are a few ways iPhone users can back up data. One option is to move your data to the cloud. Follow these three easy steps:

1. Tap Settings, then choose your Apple ID and tap iCloud
2. Next, tap iCloud Backup
3. Choose Back up Now
   

Sometimes you’re too busy to back up important items. Consider automating your iPhone backup this way:

1. Tap Settings, then choose your Apple ID and tap iCloud
2. Next, tap iCloud Backup
3. Turn on iCloud Backup

Keep in mind that you can always backup iPhones the old-fashioned way, by transferring your data to a computer.

1. Use Apple's USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer
2. Launch iTunes, then in the top left corner, choose the device icon
3. Select “Back Up Now” from the right-click menu

Backup iPhone Contacts

Your biggest concern, we’d wager, is losing the names, phone numbers, and maybe even email addresses of your most cherished contacts. Want to spend a week re-creating that list? Didn’t think so. The good news, for iPhone users, is that your contacts are being backed up automatically to the cloud, at least they’re supposed to be. To make sure, go to Settings, tap on Apple ID, choose iCloud, and confirm that Contacts is turned on. Same thing happens when you sync through iTunes – a backup of phone contacts happens by default. To make sure your iTunes is automatically backing up your contacts:

1. Launch iTunes
2. Click on the device icon in the top left corner
3. Look under Settings on the left side of the iTunes window for a list of content categories
4. Select the “Info” tab
5. Confirm that “Sync Contacts” has been checked

Now you know how to back up your iPhone, but knowledge isn’t worth much if we don’t use it. Commit to always backing up, but at the same time, always moving forward.

Disclaimer: Gazelle is not responsible for any loss of data or damages incurred from the directions given. These directions are continually updated to align with the most recent iOS update. Please make sure you follow the backup guide correctly if you need to backup your phone first and make sure your phone has enough storage space to perform a backup before proceeding. Gazelle is not affiliated with the manufacturers of the items available for trade-in.

Intermittently, you may need to do a factory reset of your iPhone in case it is glitching or experiencing technical errors. Doing so may help with troubleshooting some issues.

A factory reset is also necessary if you plan to sell your iPhone and want to wipe all personal data from the device. When you reset your iPhone, it will be an empty slate—void of contacts, downloaded applications, pictures, playlists, password memory, or anything else. This is a hard reset option that returns the iPhone to its initial configuration, and restores it to original factory settings.

Therefore, it is necessary to be mindful of the factory reset process before you commence so as to prevent the unfortunate loss of important data. 

How to factory reset an iPhone

A factory reset removes everything on the iPhone,  and deletes all stored data. Before you reset your iPhone, it is important to follow the steps described below.

Backup your iPhone

If you plan on factory-resetting your iPhone, you will need to create a backup of the data stored on the device in case you need to access it at some point in the future. When you purchase your next phone or iPhone, you can restore your data by transferring it from the saved backup.

The easiest method of backing up data on your iPhone is by using iCloud.

1. To access iCloud, open the Settings app and click on your Apple ID right at the top of the page.

2. When your Apple ID page opens up, click on the iCloud tab.

3. From there, scroll down and select iCloud Backup.

4. Click on the Back Up Now tab to commence backing up to iCloud.

You also have the option of backing up your device on your Mac.  For this, you just need to plug your iPhone into the computer and click the Finder sidebar on your Mac. At the top of the Finder window, click General, then select “Backup all the data on this iPhone to this Mac.” You can also encrypt your backup data and protect it with a password. For this, select “Encrypt local backup.” Finish off by clicking Back Up Now.

Unpair your Apple Watch 

Before resetting your iPhone, it is important that you unpair your Apple Watch (if you had one paired with your iPhone).  For this, you need to access the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, while your Apple Watch sits in close proximity.

1. To begin, head over to the My Watch tab and from there select your watch.
2. Choose the information icon next to the watch that you plan to unpair. Select the Unpair Apple Watch tab.
3. Next, you will be asked for confirmation to unpair the Apple Watch successfully.

Before your watch is erased, the iPhone will create a backup of your Apple Watch data. You can easily use this backup to restore your Apple Watch if you plan on pairing it with a new iPhone.

Turn off your iMessage

If you are moving to a non-Apple phone, you will be required to deregister iMessage prior to resetting your iPhone. It is important to note that you are not required to deregister iMessage if you are moving to an Apple phone. 

1. Begin by making sure that you are connected to a cellular data network.
2. Head over to the Settings page of the iPhone, and choose the Message tab.
3. From there choose to turn off iMessage.

Toggle off Find My iPhone

The next step is to turn off the Find My app.

1. Head over again to the Settings page of the iPhone.
2. Choose the iCloud tab and select Find My iPhone.
3. Toggle off the Find My iPhone feature.

Look for application licenses

If you have had any third-party applications installed on your iPhone, it is important that you take note of associated licenses or serial numbers. This will prevent you from paying again when you reinstall these applications on your new device or even the same device.

Export 2FA settings

Make sure your two-factor authentication (2FA) settings are all exported. Crypto designer Paul Stamatiou underscored the importance of this step on Twitter: “If you’re setting up a new iPhone today, DO NOT RESET THE OLD PHONE UNTIL YOU CONFIRM YOUR TWO FACTOR AUTH APP WORKS! If you use Google Authenticator you need to manually export/scan a series of QR codes for it to transfer.”

If you fail to do this, you will find that you are no longer able to access your old 2FA apps, which could prevent you from getting into websites or apps that used that previous 2FA app. Some 2FA apps like Authy will back up your 2FA settings to the web, so you can recover them that way. Google Authenticator does not!

Finally, factory reset your iPhone

Once you have made the aforementioned checks and saved your valuable data, you can proceed to a reset of your phone, which to be honest is quite a simple process. Let’s have a look at the main stages involved.

1. To begin, tap Settings and then General. A little scroll-down will show you the Transfer or Reset iPhone option. Unlike the previous models of the iPhone, the new one displays a change. The “Reset All Settings” option has been moved to “Transfer or Reset iPhone.” 

2. Next, tap Reset at the bottom of the screen. The Transfer or Reset iPhone menu opens.

3. Choose Reset All Settings.

4. The Enter Passcode dialog opens. Enter your device passcode here. After you enter your passcode, you’ll see a message at the bottom saying, “This will reset all settings. No data or media will be deleted.”

5. Tap Reset All Settings again to confirm the reset. 

The reset process when kickstarted can span a couple of minutes.  After it has been completed, you will see the phone welcome screen. Congratulations! You have successfully managed to factory reset your iPhone!

[Header image by Szabo Viktor on Unsplash]

Marria has more than 10 years of experience in content creation, having written for online and print media publications on a diverse range of verticals including travel, design, technology, education , marketing, and management. She is part of the Blade Ronner Media writers network.

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