This is a lengthy guide, so let's make it easy to navigate!
Are you ready to give your iPhone a fresh start and potentially welcome a new owner, or simply prepare it for its next chapter with Verizon? Erasing your iPhone thoroughly and correctly is a crucial step, and this guide will walk you through every single detail. We'll cover everything from backing up your precious data to ensuring your device is completely wiped and ready for its new life.
Let's dive in!
Step 1: Before You Begin: The Essential Pre-Wipe Checklist
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Are you absolutely sure you want to erase your iPhone? This is not a reversible process! Once you initiate the erase, your data will be gone.
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Do you have a backup of your data? This is the single most critical step. If you skip this, you will lose all your photos, contacts, apps, messages, and more. We'll cover how to do this in the next step.
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Do you know your Apple ID and password? You'll need this to sign out of iCloud and disable Activation Lock. Without it, the iPhone will be bricked for the next user.
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Is your iPhone charged? The erasing process can take some time, and you don't want your device dying in the middle of it.
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Do you have access to a Wi-Fi network? A stable internet connection is helpful for backing up and other preliminary steps.
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| How To Erase Iphone To Turn Into Verizon |
Step 2: Backing Up Your Precious Data: Don't Skip This!
Before you erase anything, securing your data is paramount. You have a couple of excellent options for this:
Sub-heading: Option A: iCloud Backup (The Easiest Way)
This is often the most convenient method as it backs up directly to Apple's cloud servers.
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Connect to Wi-Fi: Ensure your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network.
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Open Settings: Tap the "Settings" app on your home screen.
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Tap Your Name/Apple ID: At the very top, tap on your name (or "Sign in to your iPhone" if you haven't already).
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Select iCloud: Scroll down and tap on "iCloud."
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Scroll to iCloud Backup: Find and tap "iCloud Backup."
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Enable iCloud Backup (if not already): Make sure the toggle next to "iCloud Backup" is green.
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Tap "Back Up Now": This will initiate a manual backup. Be patient, as this can take a while depending on the amount of data you have and your internet speed. Ensure the progress bar completes.
Sub-heading: Option B: Computer Backup (Using Finder/iTunes)
For those who prefer a local copy or have a very large amount of data, backing up to your computer is a solid choice.
QuickTip: Let each idea sink in before moving on.
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Connect your iPhone to your computer: Use a lightning cable to connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC.
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Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC):
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On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later: Open a Finder window. You should see your iPhone in the sidebar.
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On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or a PC: Open iTunes. Your iPhone icon should appear in the upper-left corner.
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Trust Your Computer (if prompted): If this is your first time connecting, you might see a "Trust This Computer?" prompt on your iPhone. Tap "Trust" and enter your passcode.
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Select Your iPhone: Click on your iPhone's icon or name in Finder/iTunes.
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Choose Your Backup Destination:
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Finder: Under "Backups," select "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac."
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iTunes: Under "Backups," select "This Computer."
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Encrypt Local Backup (Highly Recommended!): For added security, especially if you want to save health data, passwords, and HomeKit data, check the box for "Encrypt local backup." Remember your password! You'll need it to restore this backup later.
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Click "Back Up Now": Wait for the backup process to complete. You'll see a progress indicator.
Step 3: Disabling Find My iPhone and Signing Out of iCloud
This is a critical step to remove Activation Lock, which prevents anyone else from using your iPhone. Verizon will not accept an iPhone with Activation Lock enabled.
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Open Settings: Tap the "Settings" app.
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Tap Your Name/Apple ID: Tap on your name at the top.
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Tap "Find My": Scroll down and tap "Find My."
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Tap "Find My iPhone": Tap on "Find My iPhone."
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Toggle Off "Find My iPhone": Turn the toggle off (it will turn grey).
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Enter Your Apple ID Password: You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password to confirm. Enter it and tap "Turn Off."
Important: If you forget to do this, and you've already erased your iPhone, you can still remove Activation Lock remotely via
Step 4: Signing Out of All Services (iTunes & App Store, Messages, etc.)
While signing out of iCloud covers a lot, it's good practice to ensure you're logged out of other Apple services.
Sub-heading: Signing Out of iTunes & App Store
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Open Settings: Tap "Settings."
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Scroll Down and Tap "iTunes & App Store":
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Tap Your Apple ID at the Top: Your Apple ID email address will be displayed.
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Tap "Sign Out":
Sub-heading: Signing Out of Messages (iMessage)
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Open Settings: Tap "Settings."
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Scroll Down and Tap "Messages":
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Tap "Send & Receive":
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Tap Your Apple ID:
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Tap "Sign Out":
Step 5: Erasing Your iPhone: The Grand Finale
Tip: Check back if you skimmed too fast.
Now for the main event! This will completely wipe all data and settings from your device.
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Open Settings: Tap "Settings."
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Go to General: Scroll down and tap "General."
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Scroll Down and Tap "Transfer or Reset iPhone": This is a new option in recent iOS versions. If you have an older iOS, you might see "Reset" directly.
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Tap "Erase All Content and Settings":
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Review the Confirmation Screen: You'll see a summary of what will be erased (apps, data, Apple ID, etc.). Read this carefully!
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Tap "Continue":
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Enter Your Passcode: If you have a passcode set, you'll be prompted to enter it.
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Confirm Erase: You might get one final "Erase iPhone" prompt. Tap "Erase iPhone" again to confirm.
Your iPhone will now begin the erasing process. You'll see the Apple logo and a progress bar. This can take several minutes, sometimes longer. Once complete, your iPhone will restart and present you with the "Hello" setup screen, just like it was brand new out of the box.
Step 6: Preparing for Verizon (Physical & Account)
Once your iPhone is erased, you're almost ready for its Verizon journey.
Sub-heading: Physical Preparation
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Clean the Device: Give your iPhone a good wipe-down. A clean device is always more appealing, whether for trade-in or gifting.
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Remove SIM Card: If you're turning it in for trade, it's generally a good idea to remove your physical SIM card. The new Verizon user will likely use their own, or an eSIM.
Sub-heading: Verizon Account Considerations
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Do you need to pay off your device? If your iPhone was purchased on a payment plan with another carrier, you'll need to pay it off completely before it can be activated on Verizon.
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Is your iPhone unlocked? For a seamless transition to Verizon, your iPhone should be factory unlocked or unlocked by your previous carrier. Most carriers will unlock a device once it's paid off. If it's still locked to another carrier, Verizon may not be able to activate it.
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What is the IMEI number? Verizon will need the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to activate your iPhone on their network. You can find this on the original box, in the SIM tray, or by dialing *#06# on the phone (if it's not erased yet). If it's already erased, the box or tray are your best bets.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to back up iPhone to iCloud?
Tip: Take notes for easier recall later.
To back up to iCloud, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then toggle on iCloud Backup and tap "Back Up Now."
How to back up iPhone to a computer?
To back up to a computer, connect your iPhone to your Mac (Finder) or PC (iTunes), select your device, and then choose "Back Up Now" under the Backups section.
How to turn off Find My iPhone?
To turn off Find My iPhone, navigate to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and toggle the setting off, then enter your Apple ID password.
How to sign out of Apple ID on iPhone?
To sign out of your Apple ID, go to Settings > [Your Name], scroll to the bottom, and tap "Sign Out," then follow the on-screen prompts.
How to check if iPhone is unlocked?
You can usually check if your iPhone is unlocked by inserting a SIM card from a different carrier. If it connects to the network, it's likely unlocked. Alternatively, contact your current carrier to inquire about its unlock status.
Tip: Train your eye to catch repeated ideas.
How to find IMEI number on iPhone?
You can find the IMEI number by going to Settings > General > About, or by dialing *#06# on the phone's dialer, or by checking the SIM tray or original packaging.
How to erase iPhone without Apple ID password?
You generally cannot erase an iPhone with Activation Lock enabled without the Apple ID password. If you forgot it, you'll need to reset it via iforgot.apple.com. If you're selling or giving away the device, you must disable Activation Lock.
How to prepare iPhone for trade-in to Verizon?
To prepare your iPhone for trade-in to Verizon, ensure it's fully backed up, Find My iPhone is disabled, all data is erased, and if possible, that it's unlocked and paid off with your previous carrier.
How to wipe iPhone completely?
To wipe your iPhone completely, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, and confirm the erase.
How to activate an erased iPhone on Verizon?
After erasing, to activate on Verizon, you'll need to contact Verizon or visit a store, provide them with the iPhone's IMEI number, and they will guide you through their activation process. You'll likely need to insert a Verizon SIM card or set up an eSIM.
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