How to Factory Reset iPhone 18 Without Passcode

Before You Factory Reset Your iPhone 18

Before you do a factory reset iPhone 18, take a few precautions so you don't lose anything important:

• Back up your device. Use iCloud (Settings > \your name\ > iCloud > iCloud Backup) or a computer (Finder on Mac, or the Apple Devices app / iTunes on Windows). If you can't access your phone at all, skip this step, but know that any unsynced data will be lost.
• Sign out of Find My iPhone, if possible. If Find My stays on, the device will remain Activation Locked to your Apple Account after the reset, and whoever sets it up next (including you) will need your Apple Account credentials to activate it.
• Remove the SIM card or disable eSIM, especially if you're selling or giving the phone away.
• Note your Apple Account password. Several reset methods below will ask for it, even when they don't ask for your passcode.
• Charge your iPhone to at least 50%, or keep it plugged in during the process. A factory reset that gets interrupted by a dead battery can cause additional problems.

With that out of the way, let's look at the different ways to actually get it done, starting with a method that a lot of people ask about, but that doesn't quite work the way they expect.

How to Factory Reset iPhone 18 on a Chromebook?

A Chromebook does not provide the same iPhone restore workflow as a Mac or Windows PC with Apple's device-management software. Apple's official recovery and restore process depends on Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app/iTunes (Windows), neither of which is available on ChromeOS. So if you're wondering how to factory reset iPhone 18 with a Chromebook, or looking for how to factory reset iPhone 18 on a Chromebook, the honest answer is: not directly, and not officially. If you only have a Chromebook available and your iPhone is locked, your most reliable options is using a professional too like Tenorshare ReiBoot, these kind of tools are even usable on chromebook.

How to Factory Reset iPhone 18 from Settings

This is the standard method, and it's what most people mean when they search how to factory reset iphone 18 you have your passcode, the phone works, and you just want to erase it.

• Open Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
• Review the summary of what will be removed, then tap Continue.
• Enter your passcode and, when prompted, your Apple Account password.
• If you have an eSIM, choose whether to erase it or keep it for later use.
• Confirm by tapping Erase iPhone.

The device will restart and begin wiping its storage. Depending on how much data is on the phone, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to around an hour. Once it's done, your iPhone 18 boots into the initial setup screen the same "Hello" screen you saw the first time you turned it on.

How to Factory Reset iPhone 18 Without Passcode

Not everyone has the luxury of an unlocked phone. If you've forgotten your passcode, bought a secondhand device, or your iPhone is disabled after too many failed attempts, you'll need a different approach for a factory reset iPhone without passcode.

Method 1: Use Recovery Mode and a Computer

This is Apple's official route for how to factory reset iphone when locked, and it works even if you have zero access to the lock screen.

• Connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC using a cable, and open Finder (on Mac) or the Apple Devices app/iTunes (on Windows).
• Force your iPhone into recovery mode: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the side button until the recovery mode screen (a computer and cable icon) appears. Don't let go early if you release too soon, you'll just restart the phone instead.

• Once your computer detects the iPhone in recovery mode, you'll see a prompt to Update or Restore. Choose Restore.

• Your computer downloads the latest iOS software and installs it fresh, erasing everything currently on the device in the process.
• Wait for the restore to finish don't disconnect the cable or interrupt the process.

This is the answer most people are really looking for when they search how to factory reset iphone 18 with buttons, since the button sequence above is what puts the phone into recovery mode in the first place.

Important: Apple Account May Still Be Required

Erasing the iPhone this way removes the passcode and all data, but it does not remove Activation Lock. If Find My iPhone was turned on before the reset, the device will ask for the Apple Account email and password that were last signed in on it before you can use it again. This is a security feature, not a bug it's designed to make stolen or lost devices useless to anyone but the original owner. If you're resetting your own phone and remember your Apple Account credentials, this is a non-issue. If you bought a used iPhone and don't have the previous owner's login, you'll need to get it from them before the device is usable.

When Locked: How to Factory Reset iPhone 18 Without Passcode and iTunes

Recovery mode works, but it isn't for everyone. It requires a computer with Finder or iTunes installed, a stable internet connection to download firmware, and patience if the download is slow. If you'd rather avoid iTunes altogether, or you've run into iTunes errors during a restore, dedicated software to factory reset iPhone can simplify the process. Tenorshare ReiBoot is one such tool built specifically for iOS system recovery and reset tasks. It's a desktop application for Mac and Windows that connects to your iPhone and handles low-level operations entering and exiting recovery mode, repairing stuck iOS systems, and resetting devices without going through iTunes through a guided, click-based interface. For anyone searching for free software to factory reset iPhone or a more approachable factory reset iPhone app experience than Apple's own tools, this is the kind of utility that fits the bill:

• Download and Install

First, download and install Tenorshare ReiBoot on your Windows PC or Mac. Launch the program, then connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer using a USB cable. Once ReiBoot recognises your device, select "One-Click Reset" from the main interface.




• Click 'Factory Reset' to Proceed

After selecting "One-Click Reset," ReiBoot will display two different reset options. Choose "Factory Reset" to continue with the process.


• Download the Required Firmware

ReiBoot will automatically detect your connected iOS device and identify the appropriate firmware package. Click "Download" to get the latest firmware required for the factory reset. The firmware package can be several gigabytes in size, so the download time will depend on your internet connection.


• Begin the Factory Reset

Once the firmware has been downloaded and verified, click "Start Reset" to begin resetting your device. ReiBoot will install the firmware and erase the existing data and settings from the iPhone.

Comparing Your Reset Options

Please swipe to view

FAQs

How to Factory Reset iPhone 18 for Selling or Giving Away

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, and before doing so, make sure Find My iPhone is turned off and you've removed your SIM. Erasing this way installs the latest iOS automatically, wipes Face ID data, and clears your Apple Account from the device, so the next owner gets a truly clean phone.

What to Do If Factory Reset Doesn't Work

If the reset from Settings gets stuck or your iPhone freezes mid-process, force-restart it and try again once it powers back on. If it still won't complete, connect it to a computer and use recovery mode with Finder or Apple's Apple Devices app to reinstall iOS from scratch. Persistent issues after several attempts usually point to a hardware problem, in which case Apple Support or an authorized repair center is the next step.

Can I Factory Reset a Locked iPhone?

Yes. You can't do it from the lock screen itself, but recovery mode lets you erase a locked, disabled, or passcode-forgotten iPhone by connecting it to a computer and choosing Restore in Finder or the Apple Devices app. Professionalized tools like ReiBoot offer a similar outcome without relying on iTunes.

Final Thoughts

However you approach it, factory resetting an iPhone 18 comes down to two things: how much access you currently have to the device, and whether you're comfortable using a computer to finish the job. If your phone is unlocked, Settings gets you there in a couple of minutes. If it's locked, disabled, or the passcode is a mystery, recovery mode either through Apple's own tools or software like ReiBoot will get you to the same clean, factory-fresh result. Just remember: no matter which method you use, back up first and keep your Apple Account credentials handy, since Activation Lock will ask for them regardless of the path you take.

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