Oh No! Is Your iPhone 5s Acting Up?
Has it become slower than a sloth on valium? Are apps crashing more often than your New Year's resolutions? Does it look like your phone went through the washing machine with your jeans?
Fear not, fellow iPhone 5s owner! There's a way to get your trusty steed back in tip-top shape: a factory reset.
But before we dive in, a word of caution: A factory reset is like a digital detox for your phone. It will erase all your data, apps, photos, music, and basically everything that makes your phone uniquely yours.
Think of it as pressing the restart button on life, but for your phone. Except, hopefully, your social life won't be completely wiped clean after a reset (unless you've really messed up...).
If you're ready to take the plunge and recapture the glory days of your iPhone 5s, then let's get this iPhone party started! Here's how to factory reset your iPhone 5s:
The Great Erasure: How to Factory Reset Your iPhone 5s
There are two main ways to factory reset your iPhone 5s: from the phone itself or through iTunes on a computer. We'll tackle both methods, so you can choose your digital detox adventure.
Method 1: The Phone Solo Act
- Back up your iPhone (unless you're feeling adventurous). This way, if you have a sudden attack of nostalgia for that embarrassing ringtone you used in 2013, you can get it back. There are instructions for backing up your phone on Apple's website https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/back-up-iphone-iph3ecf67d29/ios.
- Tap on Settings > General > Reset. It's like going into your phone's attic and pulling out the old reset button.
- Select "Erase All Content and Settings." This isn't a drill. This is the point of no return (unless you have that backup we mentioned).
- Your phone will kindly ask you to confirm you're sure. It's giving you a chance to back out before things get permanently deleted. Think carefully about any hilarious cat videos you might be sacrificing.
- If you're sure you're sure, enter your passcode and go for it! Your phone will then display a progress bar, kind of like watching the life drain out of a sandcastle at the beach.
- Once the reset is complete, you'll be greeted by the familiar "Hello" screen. Welcome back to iPhone basics!
Method 2: The iTunes Duet
- You'll need a computer with iTunes installed and a USB cable to connect your iPhone. Dust off that old computer you keep meaning to recycle!
- Open iTunes and connect your iPhone. iTunes should recognize your phone, even if it is acting a little wonky.
- If your iPhone isn't recognized straight away, you might need to put it into recovery mode. Don't worry, it's not as scary as it sounds. There are instructions for doing this on Apple's website https://support.apple.com/en-us/118106.
- Once iTunes recognizes your iPhone, you'll see a message saying "There is a problem with [device name] that requires it to be updated or restored." Click "Restore."
- iTunes will warn you that this will erase your iPhone and install the latest iOS. Again, back up your phone if you're not a fan of starting fresh.
- Click "Restore" again to confirm. Then sit back and relax (or maybe catch up on some of those embarrassing ringtones you backed up) while iTunes works its magic.
Wiping the Slate Clean
And there you have it! Your iPhone 5s should now be back to factory settings, hopefully running as smoothly as it did in its youth. Just remember, with great power (and a shiny new reset phone) comes great responsibility. Back up your phone regularly, and maybe avoid downloading any more apps that crash like those New Year's resolutions.
