How to Erase and Reset your iPhone 3G

By Gary Ng on August 13th, 2008 97

Given how I’ve had some issues lately with my iPhone 3G battery, part of the Rogers exchange involves sending back my old iPhone to them. Obviously before you do so, it is imperative that you erase and reset your iPhone to its original state–unless you want someone looking through all your emails, texts, and pictures!

Anyways, the magic of iPhone firmware 2.0 is that Apple has included basically a “nuke” button that will erase and reset your iPhone 3G. It’s a pretty simple process that is pretty…boring…but how else would you expect it to be? Since it’s not everyday that people use this erase and reset, I decided to film the “excitement” and this is what I came up with…enjoy!

How to Erase and Reset your iPhone 3G

1. Go to Settings–General–Reset–Erase All Content and Settings (the process will take about an hour–make sure you have sufficient battery life).

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Gary Ng

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iPhoneinCanada.ca. Follow @iPhoneinCanada and on Google+. Click here to save 20% OFF at ZAGG.com with coupon 'iphoneinca'!

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Arturo

I am sending mine tonight, but I didn’t even know there was such a thing!:-( what I did was, hit the Restore button on iTunes before putting it inside the box. Wouldn’t this be enough? or is just a fake restore? Thanks
Arturo

I am sending mine tonight, but I didn’t even know there was such a thing!:-( what I did was, hit the Restore button on iTunes before putting it inside the box. Wouldn’t this be enough? or is just a fake restore? Thanks
Arturo

I am sending mine tonight, but I didn’t even know there was such a thing!:-( what I did was, hit the Restore button on iTunes before putting it inside the box. Wouldn’t this be enough? or is just a fake restore? Thanks
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

Arturo: That will do the same thing…but for people who don’t have access to a computer nearby, this is the next best option.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

Arturo: That will do the same thing…but for people who don’t have access to a computer nearby, this is the next best option.
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

Arturo: That will do the same thing…but for people who don’t have access to a computer nearby, this is the next best option.
LoWd0Wn

I did the same thing on my 1st gen phone before I sold it. Worked great! I was going to do the whole restore/unlock/jailbreak and then I noticed that so I tried it and it wiped everything.
LoWd0Wn

I did the same thing on my 1st gen phone before I sold it. Worked great! I was going to do the whole restore/unlock/jailbreak and then I noticed that so I tried it and it wiped everything.
LoWd0Wn

I did the same thing on my 1st gen phone before I sold it. Worked great! I was going to do the whole restore/unlock/jailbreak and then I noticed that so I tried it and it wiped everything.
Tim Aucoin

Oh come on iPhone Fan… next time I want to see the entire process… the exciting part is watching that white bar slide across the screen. I’m so disappointed in this video!!!
Tim Aucoin

Oh come on iPhone Fan… next time I want to see the entire process… the exciting part is watching that white bar slide across the screen. I’m so disappointed in this video!!!
Tim Aucoin

Oh come on iPhone Fan… next time I want to see the entire process… the exciting part is watching that white bar slide across the screen. I’m so disappointed in this video!!!
SilverGS

I also need to exchange my iPhone, however, I have spent too much time configuring and adding music, apps to my current phone, I don’t want to go through the hassle of redoing all of this on a replacement.

1. Is there an easy way to reconfigure a new phone so that it is the same as my current one?

2. What if you get another iPhone with the same battery issue? Is it really worth replacing the phone?
SilverGS

I also need to exchange my iPhone, however, I have spent too much time configuring and adding music, apps to my current phone, I don’t want to go through the hassle of redoing all of this on a replacement.

1. Is there an easy way to reconfigure a new phone so that it is the same as my current one?

2. What if you get another iPhone with the same battery issue? Is it really worth replacing the phone?
SilverGS

I also need to exchange my iPhone, however, I have spent too much time configuring and adding music, apps to my current phone, I don’t want to go through the hassle of redoing all of this on a replacement.

1. Is there an easy way to reconfigure a new phone so that it is the same as my current one?

2. What if you get another iPhone with the same battery issue? Is it really worth replacing the phone?
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

Tim: haha…watching the white bar slide across 1mm at time is like watching paint dry. Maybe I’ll film the entire 45 min process just for you…expect a revised video coming up. LOL.

SilverGS: You don’t need to redo it. Just sync your old iPhone in iTunes. Once that’s done, sync your NEW iPhone but restore from the backup you just created. Voila!
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca Gary

Tim: haha…watching the white bar slide across 1mm at time is like watching paint dry. Maybe I’ll film the entire 45 min process just for you…expect a revised video coming up. LOL.

SilverGS: You don’t need to redo it. Just sync your old iPhone in iTunes. Once that’s done, sync your NEW iPhone but restore from the backup you just created. Voila!
http://www.iphoneincanada.ca iPhone Fan

Tim: haha…watching the white bar slide across 1mm at time is like watching paint dry. Maybe I’ll film the entire 45 min process just for you…expect a revised video coming up. LOL.

SilverGS: You don’t need to redo it. Just sync your old iPhone in iTunes. Once that’s done, sync your NEW iPhone but restore from the backup you just created. Voila!
SilverGS

Thanks for the info iPhone Fan, but exactly how do you do that? I mean how do you sync the new iPhone but restore from the backup? Is this a menu option in iTunes? (I’m at the office, so can’t check iTunes right now).
SilverGS

Thanks for the info iPhone Fan, but exactly how do you do that? I mean how do you sync the new iPhone but restore from the backup? Is this a menu option in iTunes? (I’m at the office, so can’t check iTunes right now).
SilverGS

Thanks for the info iPhone Fan, but exactly how do you do that? I mean how do you sync the new iPhone but restore from the backup? Is this a menu option in iTunes? (I’m at the office, so can’t check iTunes right now).
ice

hi when i erase and reset my iphone it hanged up so what i did is i pressed the 2 buttons to close after that i open it again but still it doesnt work. what im seeing is the apple logo. pls advice me what to do tnx
ice

hi when i erase and reset my iphone it hanged up so what i did is i pressed the 2 buttons to close after that i open it again but still it doesnt work. what im seeing is the apple logo. pls advice me what to do tnx
ice

hi when i erase and reset my iphone it hanged up so what i did is i pressed the 2 buttons to close after that i open it again but still it doesnt work. what im seeing is the apple logo. pls advice me what to do tnx
Guest

Cool video, might come in handy *if* I ever decide to get a 3G iPhone….
Guest

Cool video, might come in handy *if* I ever decide to get a 3G iPhone….
Dusty

Cool video, might come in handy *if* I ever decide to get a 3G iPhone….
sham

can someone help me please. I did reset my iphone, it took about an hour, then the apple logo came back on with that lil thing in the middle that spins, then the apple logo did not go away and i could not press anything, and its been like this since last night and finnaly just died, i plugged it in to charge but its not working still, just loads the apple logo and thats all. please email me back if you can help
theridler1@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot!
sham

can someone help me please. I did reset my iphone, it took about an hour, then the apple logo came back on with that lil thing in the middle that spins, then the apple logo did not go away and i could not press anything, and its been like this since last night and finnaly just died, i plugged it in to charge but its not working still, just loads the apple logo and thats all. please email me back if you can help
theridler1@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot!
sham

can someone help me please. I did reset my iphone, it took about an hour, then the apple logo came back on with that lil thing in the middle that spins, then the apple logo did not go away and i could not press anything, and its been like this since last night and finnaly just died, i plugged it in to charge but its not working still, just loads the apple logo and thats all. please email me back if you can help
theridler1@hotmail.com
Thanks a lot!
Dalibor

Hi! I have problem with Iphone 3G 16 GB. I was trying to unlock the iphone but something went to wrong side and now probably operating system is damaged and only icon for connection to the iTunes is showing up. ITunes is not recognizing the phone. Please can you help me! Thanks in advance.
Dalibor

Hi! I have problem with Iphone 3G 16 GB. I was trying to unlock the iphone but something went to wrong side and now probably operating system is damaged and only icon for connection to the iTunes is showing up. ITunes is not recognizing the phone. Please can you help me! Thanks in advance.
Dalibor

Hi! I have problem with Iphone 3G 16 GB. I was trying to unlock the iphone but something went to wrong side and now probably operating system is damaged and only icon for connection to the iTunes is showing up. ITunes is not recognizing the phone. Please can you help me! Thanks in advance.
fabio

Same issue happened to my 3G 16Gb. I waited for an hour and now the device shows the apple logo.

Any help?
fabio

Same issue happened to my 3G 16Gb. I waited for an hour and now the device shows the apple logo.

Any help?
fabio

Same issue happened to my 3G 16Gb. I waited for an hour and now the device shows the apple logo.

Any help?
angel

i reset my iphone to erase all the applications and media that has been installed. at first i was shocked when i saw that ‘no network’ had to call everyone from where i bought it then… i re-sync it to itunes it works fine …
angel

i reset my iphone to erase all the applications and media that has been installed. at first i was shocked when i saw that ‘no network’ had to call everyone from where i bought it then… i re-sync it to itunes it works fine …
angel

i reset my iphone to erase all the applications and media that has been installed. at first i was shocked when i saw that ‘no network’ had to call everyone from where i bought it then… i re-sync it to itunes it works fine …
testdummy

Ho o tried this and for some reason im stuck on the apple logo any help here please help me out thanks!
testdummy

Ho o tried this and for some reason im stuck on the apple logo any help here please help me out thanks!
testdummy

Ho o tried this and for some reason im stuck on the apple logo any help here please help me out thanks!
cr0matic97

The exact thing has happened with my iPhone 3G. I tapped the reset button, and then the white bar came up, and loaded all the way. and then the apple logo was the only thing displaying on the screen. its been a day now. the battery ran out, and i plugged it into a power supply, and the apple logo is what that kept showing up even after that. What do i do? :s
cr0matic97

The exact thing has happened with my iPhone 3G. I tapped the reset button, and then the white bar came up, and loaded all the way. and then the apple logo was the only thing displaying on the screen. its been a day now. the battery ran out, and i plugged it into a power supply, and the apple logo is what that kept showing up even after that. What do i do? :s
cr0matic97

The exact thing has happened with my iPhone 3G. I tapped the reset button, and then the white bar came up, and loaded all the way. and then the apple logo was the only thing displaying on the screen. its been a day now. the battery ran out, and i plugged it into a power supply, and the apple logo is what that kept showing up even after that. What do i do? :s
hardwired

turn the phone off, unplug it from the usb cable, hold down home button, plug phone in while still depressing the home button then open itunes. Itunes will now see your phone and you can start the restore process…
hardwired

turn the phone off, unplug it from the usb cable, hold down home button, plug phone in while still depressing the home button then open itunes. Itunes will now see your phone and you can start the restore process…
hardwired

turn the phone off, unplug it from the usb cable, hold down home button, plug phone in while still depressing the home button then open itunes. Itunes will now see your phone and you can start the restore process…
http://yahoo.com/ Luqmankr

Same thing happened to my 3G 16Gb. I waited for an hour and now the device shows the apple logo, and not working anyother thing

Any help pleas?
http://yahoo.com/ Luqmankr

Same thing happened to my 3G 16Gb. I waited for an hour and now the device shows the apple logo, and not working anyother thing

Any help pleas?

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