What Does Restore iPhone Mean? Here's The Answer

User Concern

“What does restore iPhone mean? Connected my iPhone to iTunes for iOS 18 update and it said an error occured...now it’s saying I need to restore iPhone...what does that mean? Am I going to lose all data?”

If you own an iPhone, you've likely come across the "Restore iPhone" option when connecting your device to a computer via iTunes or Finder. This process resets the device  to factory settings and reinstalls the operating system, making it a useful solution for fixing various iOS issues.

If your iPhone is malfunction due to corrupted iOS 18 update, faulty app installation, or software errors, restoring it can help. In this guide, we will discuss what an iPhone restore is，what happens when restore your iPhone, and the best way to restore your iPhone. Keep reading to find out the answer.

Q1. What Does It Mean to Restore Your iPhone?

What does restore iPhone mean? Restoring an iPhone means resetting the device to its factory settings and reinstalling the operating system. This process erases all data and settings, returning the device to its original state. If your iPhone is malfunctioning, you can restore it via iTunes or Finder to fix software issues and reinstall the latest iOS version.

Q2. What Happens When You Restore Your iPhone?

When you restore your iPhone through iTunes, the device is completely reset, and the latest iOS version is installed. All system settings revert to their default state, and everything stored on the device, including apps, media files, and personal data, is erased. Since this process wipes the device clean, it is important to back up your data beforehand. Once the restoration is complete, you can recover your files by restoring the backup.

Q3. Does Restoring Your iPhone Delete Everything?

Yes, restoring your iPhone erases all data, including photos, videos, contacts, apps, and settings. Once the process is complete, the data cannot be recovered directly from the device. That’s why it’s crucial to back up your iPhone before restoring it. Without a backup, everything stored on the device will be permanently lost.

Q4. Is It Good to Restore Your iPhone?

Well, it depends on your situations. You may suddenly find your iPhone frozen and unresponsive, and you're unable to power it off using the normal method. Don't worry, this can be fixed by restoring your iPhone in iTunes. However, you will lose all of your data if there is no backup.

Q5. How to Restore iPhone in iTunes/Finder?

You can restore a frozen or disabled iPhone using iTunes on your computer. If you're using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you can perform the restore through Finder, which functions the same way as iTunes. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch iTunes or Finder on your computer and connect the iPhone to the computer. If a message pops up asking you to enter the device’s passcode or “Trust this Computer”, follow the onscreen instructions to continue.
2. Select the device in the “Summary” (Generally in Finder) tab when it appears.
3. Click on “Restore iPhone” and iTunes will erase the device of all its data and settings before installing the latest version of iOS on the device.
4. When the restore process is complete, the device will restart and you can set it up as a new device or restore from iTunes/iCloud backup if you have one.

Note

This process will not work if you have enabeld Find My iPhone. You should go to Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone to disable it before attempting to restore your device to factory settings.

Q6. How to Restore iPhone without Data Loss?

The methods described above will wipe all the existing data on your iPhone. Even you have a backup, anything that is not included in the backup will be lost for good. Is there a way to restore an iPhone and fix iOS related problems without losing any data. The answer is YES.

You can rely on third-party tools like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to do that. This software can help you fix various iOS issues without performing a full restore. Here are some of its key features:

• Allows you to fix iOS-related issues without performing a full restore.
• Effortlessly fixes common problems like iPhone stuck in Apple logo, recovery mode, etc. with just a few clicks.
• Advanced mode resolves even severe software issues, giving your iPhone a fresh start.
• Fully compatible with all iPhone models and iOS/iPadOS versions, even the latest iPhone 16 and iOS 18.

Here is how to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery to restore your iPhone without data loss:

Step 1: Download and install FoneGeek iOS System Recovery on to your computer. Run the program and click on "Standard Mode" in the main window. Then connect your iPhone using a lightning cable and click "Next".

Step 2: When your device is detected by the program, you will see all matching firmware versions provided for the device. Just choose your preferred one and click on "Download" to begin download the firmware package.

Step 3: Once the download is complete, click on "Fix Now" and the program will immediately begin restoring the device. Keep the device connected until the program notifies you that the process is finished.

Q7. What Is the Difference between Restore Backup and Restore iPhone?

When you connect your iPhone to iTunes or Finder, you’ll see two options: Restore iPhone and Restore Backup. While they may sound similar, they serve different purposes.

• Restore Backup restores all the data from a previously saved iTunes backup without erasing the existing iOS system. It brings back your apps, settings, home-screen layout, and personal data. If the backup was encrypted, even your saved passwords and account details will be restored.
• Restore iPhone completely erases the device, reinstalls iOS, and resets it to factory settings. It removes all apps, files, and personal data, leaving only the default Apple apps. Additionally, the iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version.

Q8. What Is the Difference between Reset iPhone and Restore iPhone?

You might be curious about the difference between resetting and restoring an iPhone. While the terms "reset" and "restore" are often used interchangeably, they actually describe two different processes.

• Resetting iPhone returns certain settings to their defaults without deleting your personal data. You can reset settings like network preferences or privacy settings directly from the iPhone’s Settings app. It won't erase your photos, apps, or other files.
• Restoring iPhone erases everything, including all data and settings, and resets the phone to its factory state. It will delete your photos, music, apps, and settings, and update your iPhone to the latest iOS version. This is done through iTunes or Finder.

Conclusion

Restoring your iPhone involves wiping all data and returning the device to its factory settings. While this can be an effective solution for fixing various iOS issues, it can result in data loss. Fortunately, tools like FoneGeek iOS System Recovery provide an alternative, allowing you to fix your iPhone without the risk of losing your important data.