When Apple originally debuted the iPhone, connecting it to a computer running iTunes was the best way to reset or restore it. However, Apple terminated iTunes for the Mac in 2019, replacing it with the Music app, and iTunes is not installed on every Windows PC. So, how can you reset or restore an iPhone without using iTunes? We’ll teach you how to reset or restore your iPhone using the device settings, the Finder on a Mac, or a third-party tool if you don’t have access to iTunes.
iPhone Reset vs. iPhone Restore
People frequently use the terms “reset” and “restore” interchangeably. However, this is erroneous; the two words refer to separate processes. Resetting your device is the less strenuous option. Depending on the reset option you select, it may remove data from your phone, but it has no effect on the firmware or operating system version.
Resetting also provides a more detailed list of alternatives. You can select to wipe all of your content and settings in addition to restoring all of your device’s settings to their default configuration. If you wish, you may simply reset the network settings, keyboard dictionary, Home Screen layout, or location and privacy settings while keeping your other data intact.
In contrast, restoring an iPhone is the procedure you must follow if your iPhone is experiencing serious issues. For example, maybe you can’t get your device out of Recovery mode or Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode, or maybe you’re seeing error messages all the time (the most common are 3194, 4013, 4014, 9, and 51).
When you restore an iPhone, all of your data is erased and the operating system is reinstalled from scratch. You can further divide the restore process into two parts: restoring your iPhone to a functioning condition with no data and recovering your iPhone data from a backup.
How to Restore an iPhone Without Using iTunes
It is simple to reset an iPhone without using iTunes. Assuming your device is operational, you can do it using the phone’s Settings app. Follow these steps to restore your iPhone:
- Switch on your iPhone.
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- To wipe all of your data and restore your iPhone to its factory settings, select Erase All Content and Settings. Otherwise, tap
- Reset and then choose the best option for you.
- Depending on the reset option you selected, follow the prompts on the following screens to sign out of your Apple ID, create a backup, or enter your passcode.
- 3 Photographs
- iPhone Configuration Menu
- The Transfer or Reset iPhone option is visible in the iPhone’s General Settings.
- Options for iPhone Reset in iOS 15
- If you are unable to complete these steps because your iPhone is not operating, you must instead follow the instructions to restore your iPhone without using iTunes.
How to Restore an iPhone on a Mac Without iTunes
If you own a Mac and are unable to use iTunes due to Apple’s discontinuation, you can restore your iPhone using Finder instead. The procedure is precisely the same as it was with iTunes:
- Using a USB cord, connect your iPhone to your Mac.
- Launch Finder and choose your iPhone from the sidebar.
- Enter your passcode and press Trust on the iPhone screen if prompted.
- Click Restore iPhone from the General tab in Finder to completely delete your device and reinstall the OS. Alternatively, you can restore data from a previous backup on your Mac by clicking Restore Backup.
- iPhone linked to Finder
- Depending on the issue with your iPhone, you may also need to restore the firmware. To achieve this, you must first put your iPhone into DFU mode.
How to Restore an iPhone on a Windows PC Without iTunes
If you need to restore an iPhone with a Windows PC, possibly because you have the white screen of death, but you can’t use iTunes or Finder, the scenario is little more challenging. You will need to use third-party software for this. Tenorshare, dr.fone, and FonePaw are three of the most popular brands. This instruction will concentrate on the Tenorshare software. If there is something about the Tenorshare process that you dislike, feel free to try the other two apps. If you haven’t previously, download iTunes from Apple’s website before attempting a more complex solution.
Tenorshare iPhone Restore Instructions
Let’s look at how to restore a broken or damaged iPhone without using iTunes. This is also the method to use if you’ve forgotten your iPhone passcode, are stuck in Recovery or DFU mode, or if iTunes is displaying issues during the restoration process.
- To begin, download the Tenorshare ReiBoot app, which has a premium subscription but may be used for free.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer after the app is up and running. The method will not operate over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi; it must be a physical connection.
- You can enter or exit Recovery mode with a single click if necessary. The bottom line is that the bottom line is that the bottom line is the bottom line.
- You’ll now be presented with two reset options. Choose Factory Reset, which is the most effective choice for troubleshooting your iPhone, albeit it will destroy all data on your device. If you select General Reset, the app will simply direct you to the iPhone’s Settings app to reset it.
- After selecting Factory Reset, download the most recent firmware for your iPhone and follow the onscreen instructions to put your iPhone in the proper mode and fix it.
How to Recover Data from an Erased iPhone
If you act immediately after restoring your iPhone, you may be able to recover a crucial photo, message, document, or file. Tenorshare has another software to help: UltData. It’s free, but you can get additional features by subscribing. The programme is accessible for both Mac and Windows.
UltData provides several key advantages over utilising iTunes to retrieve files. To begin, unlike iTunes, it can (hopefully) retrieve files directly from your iPhone; no backup is required. Furthermore, rather than having to deal with an all-or-nothing approach, you can restore data from an iTunes backup on a case-by-case basis. Follow the steps below to restore iPhone data without iTunes:
Install the UltData application.
- Depending on your needs, choose Recover from iOS Devices, Recover Data from Backup, or Recover Data from iCloud.
- Choose which files to recover and restore.
- To see what’s accessible, click the Scan button, then restore whatever you require.
UltData app by Tenorshare
- Third-Party Apps Provide More Choices Than iTunes
- Although it may appear that you are at a disadvantage if you are unable to utilise iTunes to reset or restore your iPhone, several third-party apps actually offer far more functions than iTunes.
- Tenorshare may be used to easily enter or exit Recovery mode and fix a variety of issues, and UltData can be used to recover all types of data from your iPhone, iCloud, or a backup. However, some of those possibilities are also available through other means.