Fix Erase All Content and Settings Not Working

Whether you’re facing a software glitch or any other system-related issue on your iPhone, resetting your device is the most common method to attempt to fix it. However, sometimes you may face the “Erase all Content and Settings” option not working!

In such instances, you will either receive a server or validation failed error or won’t see any response even after tapping “Erase all Content and Settings” numerous times. Why do you get this error? Why iPhone won’t erase all content and settings? And how to erase an iPhone? You will find the answers to all these questions as you read on.

Why Will My iPhone Not Let Me Erase all Content and Settings?

There can be several reasons why your iPhone won’t let you erase all content and settings:

• No Internet Connection: Maybe you have turned off your Wi-Fi or mobile data prior to erasing your phone.
• An iOS Bug: The most common reason for the “Erase all Content and Settings” not working is an iOS bug.
• Wrong Passcode: If you’re entering the wrong passcode or your iPhone passcode not working, you won’t be able to reset your phone via this method.
• No SIM Card: If your SIM card is not inserted in your iPhone, it can also cause the iPhone not to erase all content and settings. How to Bypass iPhone SIM Not Supported 2024 >

No matter what the reason, you can always fix the issue with some tried and tested quick fixes.

Ways to Fix Erase All Content and Settings Not Working

Following, we have discussed a few ways in which you can fix the “Erase all Content and Settings not Working” issue:

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

If your iPhone won’t erase all contents and settings, the first thing you can do is restart your device using the side buttons. Here’s how to restart different iPhone models:

For iPhones 8, X, 11, 12, and Later

• Press and release the volume up button, and do the same with the volume down button.
• Now, long-press the power button until you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

• Long-press the volume down and power button simultaneously till you see the Apple logo.

For iPhone 6 and Earlier

• Long-press the home button and the power button (side/top) together till you see the Apple logo.

Force restarting your iPhone is known to solve most iOS glitches and issues. However, if it doesn’t work, you can check whether the internet on your device is turned on or not.

2. Check the Internet Connection

There is a possibility that you may have turned off the internet connection on your device knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore, check your iPhone’s internet connection to rule out this possibility. To check whether the internet connection is turned on:

For Wi-Fi

• Go to “Settings > Wi-Fi” and see whether the toggle is off. If it’s off, turn it on.

For Mobile Data

• Go to “Settings > Mobile Data” and see if the toggle is off.

If turning on the toggles doesn’t work, or they were already on, it’s time to check for the SIM card.

3. Insert SIM Card

If you’re getting the “Server Error” when trying to erase or reset your iPhone, it might be due to your SIM card not being present in the iPhone. Insert your SIM card into the slot on the side of your iPhone to fix the issue. If it doesn’t work, or the SIM card is present, and you’re still getting the error, try the next quick fix.

Here are some useful tips to fix some SIM card errors on an iPhone:

• How to Fix an iPhone Invalid SIM Card >
• How to Unlock SIM Card on iPhone for Use with a Different/Any Carrier >

4. Update iOS

One of the most common reasons behind your iPhone acting up or some of its features not working is a possible software bug. Therefore, updating your iOS usually fixes these bugs. To update your iOS:

• Go to “Settings > General > Software Update” and check if a new update is pending.
• If an update is available, tap “Download and Install.”

Also Read: How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Verifying iOS Update >

5. Reset Network Settings

Another solution to fix the “Erase all Content and Settings not Working” is to reset your network settings. This will remove all network settings from your device and disconnect you from Wi-Fi and mobile data. When you connect back to the internet, hopefully, you’ll be able to reset your iPhone without an issue. To reset network settings:

• Go to “Settings > General > Transfer or Reset Phone.”
• Now tap “Reset > Reset Network Settings” and enter your passcode to continue.

Once your network settings have been reset, you can enter them again from scratch and try to erase all content and settings again. In case this method also doesn’t work, you can try turning off the “Find My iPhone” feature.

6. Turn Off Find My iPhone

The “Find My iPhone” is a useful feature by Apple that lets you locate, lock, or remotely erase your iOS device in case it’s lost or stolen. If you have this feature turned on, it could be causing a hindrance in erasing all content and settings. Therefore, try turning it off. Here’s how:

• Go to “Settings > Apple ID > Find My” and turn off the toggle if it’s on.

After turning it off, try erasing all content and settings and see if it works. If it doesn’t help, try signing out of Apple ID.

7. Sign Out of Apple ID

Try signing out of your Apple ID and resetting your iPhone if nothing else works. To sign out:

• Go to “Settings > Apple ID” and click on “Sign Out.”
• You will be asked whether you want to “Keep a Copy of Your Data on this iPhone?”
• Turn the toggle on for the data you want to keep and tap “Sign Out” at the top-right corner of the screen.

Once signed out, try erasing all content and settings again. This method will probably fix the issue, and you will be successfully able to erase and reset your iPhone. However, if the issue persists, we have some alternative methods to erase all content and settings.

Erase All Content and Settings iPhone with iTunes

While it is quite worrisome if your iPhone won’t erase all content and settings, you can always reset it using iTunes on your PC. Here’s how to erase all content and settings on your iPhone with iTunes:

1. The first step is to turn off “Find My iPhone” on your iPhone using the steps mentioned earlier.
2. Connect your iPhone to your PC using a lightning cable, and launch iTunes. Make sure you have the latest version.
3. If you get a prompt to “Enter Passcode” or “Trust this Computer,” select the option you prefer.
4. Click on your iPhone at the top of iTunes and then go to “General.”
5. Click on “Restore iPhone,” after which you will get a notification to confirm your selection. Click on “Restore” again.

This will erase all content and settings from your iPhone and reset it. You will be able to set it up again as a new device.

Erase All Content and Settings on Mac

If you’re using macOS, you can erase your iPhone using it directly from Finder. Here are the steps for it:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a lightning cable.
2. Launch Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar.
3. Click on “General,” located at the top of the window.
4. Now click “Restore iPhone,” after which you will get a prompt asking you to confirm your selection.

And that’s how you erase all content and settings from your iPhone using Mac. After resetting it, you can set it up as new.

What Does Erase All Content and Settings Do?

If you are selling your iPhone, giving it away, or are trying to fix an issue with the system, we recommend resetting it by erasing all content and settings. However, when you erase all content and settings, it removes all data from your iPhone, including:

1. All email accounts
2. Your Apple ID
3. System settings
4. Downloaded apps and their settings
5. All media

Therefore, if you want to keep your data safe, we suggest creating a backup of your iPhone before erasing all content and settings.

Is Erase All Content and Settings the Same as Factory Reset?

Yes, erasing all content and settings is the same as a factory reset because it deletes all the settings, apps, and media from your device and restores it to its original state when you first switched it on.

The Bottom Line

There can be numerous reasons to reset your iPhone, including experiencing a software error or when you’re giving away your device to someone else. However, you may sometimes face the “Erase all Content and Settings not Working” error. Therefore, we have shared some tips and tricks to fix this issue that worked for many users. We have also included how you can reset it using alternative methods. Hope this article will come in handy if you encounter this issue.