Prepare your Apple iPhone for Return or Repair

The following steps explain how to prepare your Apple iPhone when you need to return or send in the device for repairs.

Preparing your device for return is a two step procedure which includes backing up your device and erase all content on your phone. You can use iTunes to back up and restore your content on your iPhone, or iPad. Note that iTunes and iOS do not support installing backups of newer versions of iOS onto devices using earlier versions of iOS.

Back up Using iTunes

To back up the content on your iOS device, follow these steps:

  1. Make sure your computer has the latest version of iTunes.
  2. Connect your iOS device to your computer.
  3. Choose File > Devices > Back up. 
    • If you’re using iTunes 10.7 or earlier, right-click the device from the list and choose Backup Now.support-screen capture-iPhoneReturn

You can also back up by syncing your iOS device with your computer. When you use iTunes to sync, backing up is the first step.

To verify that the backup finished successfully, open iTunes Preferences and select the Devices tab. You’ll see the name of the device along with the date and time iTunes created the backup.

Back up to iCloud

iCloud Backup provides an easy and reliable backup solution for customers who want to back up their iOS devices wirelessly and automatically.

If you’re using iCloud, it can automatically back up your data if you’ve chosen this option. You can verify your iCloud backup and make sure that it’s up to date by following these steps:

  1. Tap Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup.
  2. Turn on iCloud Backup if it’s off.
  3. Tap Back Up Now.

Erase All Content and Settings

Go to Settings > General > Reset, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.

  • This will completely erase your device and turn off iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, Game Center, and other services.
  • If you’re using iOS 7 or later and have Find My iPhone turned on, your Apple ID and password will be required. After you provide your password, the device will be erased and removed from your account so that the next owner can activate it.
  • If you’re using iCloud and Find My iPhone on the device, you can erase the device remotely and remove it from your account by signing in to icloud.com/find, selecting the device, and clicking Erase. When the device has been erased, click Remove from Account.