How to set up your iPhone or iPod touch as a new device
Summary
In some cases you may want to erase all data on your iPhone or iPod touch, and set it up as a new device. Example: After purchasing a new device, you decide to give the previous device to a family member, friend, or another person for their use.
Follow the steps in this article to erase all content on your device and set it up as if it were a new device.
Products Affected
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod touch (Late 2009), iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iTunes 8 for Windows, iTunes 8 for Mac
There are two ways to erase your iPhone or iPod touch:
Restore your iPhone and set up as new
- Launch iTunes and connect your device.
- Select the device in the source list.
- In the Summary tab, click the Restore button.
- Wait until iTunes has completed the restore process. If you encounter any restore errors, please see Update and restore alert messages on iPhone and iPod touch.
- When iTunes provides the Set Up Your iPhone/iPod touch screen, choose Set Up As New.
Note: If you want to keep the device in factory condition to sell or give to another person, disconnect the device when the restore is complete (when the device displays the "Connect to iTunes" screen). Do not select Set Up As New or Restore from Backup. The new user can name the device and configure syncing options when they connect it to their computer.
Setting up your device as new is a quick way to remove all your content and settings.
Erase all content and settings
If you don't have access to iTunes, you can use the following steps to completely erase your iPhone or iPod touch:
- Tap Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings*.
When complete, either connect to iTunes and choose "Set up as New", or simply give the device to the new user so they can set it up on their computer.
If you are giving your iPhone, iPod touch, or the computer you sync with to someone else, you can erase the backups from iTunes.
Additional Information
Note that setting up your device as new will overwrite the current backup.
* On iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 32GB and 64GB (Late 2009), this process takes about a minute. On other iPhone and iPod touch models, the process can take several hours, depending on the storage capacity of your iPhone or iPod touch. With these models, you should connect the device to power before beginning.