Guide to Completely Erase Data on iPhone to Avoid Privacy Leak

With growing instances of data leak and misuse, there’s a fear of digital data on iPhone landing in wrong hands. Personal photos, messages, videos, contacts, or sensitive information such as bank details, shopping apps ID etc., are at risk when selling, trading off, recycling or donating your iOS device.

So what can you do to keep your old iPhone data away from strangers’ eyes and make it 100% unrecoverable?

One solution is the commonly used Apple’s recommendation — erase iPhone data by choosing ‘erase all content and settings’ on your device. However, with professional hackers and sophisticated software available, erasing data by this method doesn’t guarantee data privacy.

Experts suggest using trusted iPhone erasure software that is 100 % safe. The software can make iPhone data unrecoverable beyond the reach of any tool.

Let’s understand in detail how to permanently erase data on iPhone by these techniques.

Clean iPhone by using ‘Erase All Content and Settings’

To clear all data from iPhone use the’Erase All Content and Settings’ option in the settings of your iOS device. It is like factory resetting your iPhone.

All the app data, settings, passwords, photos, videos, contacts, documents, messages, Calendar, chats, music, audio files etc., gets deleted after factory reset from iPhone.

However, don’t forget to first take the backup of your iPhone data in iCloud or iTunes.

Steps to erase iPhone via Settings:

• Go to Settings.
• Navigate to General > Reset> Erase All Content and Settings.
• Click Erase Now in the dialog box. Enter Passcode and Apple ID password, when prompted.

This will erase iPhone data turning the device off. When you power on the iPhone, you will see all its data is deleted including, photos videos, apps, contacts etc.

Permanently wipe iPhone to 0% recovery – Secure & tested method

Although deleting data via ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ on iPhone will make your device as clean as new, but it is not enough. Your iPhone data after factory reset is still recoverable by hackers. Thus, to protect privacy and prevent data leak by any means, it is essential to erase iPhone with the help of a professional iOS eraser software .

You can find several iOS cleaner software online but here we recommend Stellar Toolkit for iPhone. The efficient software is the best way to wipe iOS device before you sell , recycle, or donate.

It removes your personal videos, pictures, contacts, notes, calendar, browsing history, call log, chats, messages, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other sensitive information saved on your iPhone. The secure DIY software supports the latest iOS 16 and below versions. You can erase all variants including iPhone 6, iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone SE, iPhone 11, and above.

You can take the free trail and gage the software features and user-friendliness.

Step-by-step guide to erase iPhone data permanently:

Step 1: Download and launch Stellar Toolkit for iPhone on computer.

Step 2: Click on Erase Data module.

Step 3: On Erase iPhone Data screen, click **Next.
**

Step 4: As you see the Click Device to Select screen appears, connect your iPhone to computer.

Step 5: Select Erase.

Step 6: In the Erase Process box, select Yes.

Step 7: Data Erase Complete message box appears that asks for confirmation before erasing the data. Click OK.

Wrapping Up

After erasing complete iPhone data by using the secure iPhone eraser software by Stellar, there’s no need to worry about personal data leak. The software algorithms ensure that even the most advanced iOS data recovery tool cannot retrieve your information.

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FAQs

How do you permanently erase data so that it cannot be recovered from iPhone?

Use the best iPhone data eraser tool to permanently wipe iPhone data. This is a assure way to prevent data leak and protect privacy.

How to recover deleted photos after deleting from ‘Recently Deleted’ on iPhone

The Recently Deleted folder in the Photos App on iPhone is there to recover accidentally deleted photos. However, even if your important photos are deleted from ‘Recently Deleted’ you are not yet out of luck. This post shares how to recover deleted photos after deleting them from ‘Recently Deleted’ on iPhone.

‘I deleted some important pictures on my iPhone and also deleted them from the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder. Is there any possible way to recover photos after permanently deleting them from the iPhone?’

When you delete photos from your iPhone, they first go to the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder of the Photos App. Here the photos remain for 30 days. Hence, any picture deleted 30 days ago automatically gets removed after this period, and this time permanently.

However, sometimes you may accidentally delete valuable pictures too. To make the situation worse, even remove image files from ‘Recently Deleted’ or realize the mistake 30 days after deleting!

In any case, can you get photos back after deleting from ‘Recently Deleted’ on your iPhone?

This post addresses the problem situation of permanently deleted photos from iPhones and finds the appropriate solution.

Let’s read on…

Understanding permanently deleted photo recovery from iPhone

You can recover deleted photos from your iPhone after deleting them from the Recently Deleted folder or 30 days of automatic deletion.

Of course, backups — iCloud and iTunes are the immediate go-through solution in such a case. However, Apple backups have their own disadvantage. Photo recovery with iCloud and iTunes results in the loss of your current data on your iPhone!

That’s the reason, iCloud and iTunes are frustrating when you want to get back only a few photos.

So, if you are using another backup service such as Google Drive or OneDrive for iPhone photo backup, they are more convenient.

In addition, apart from backup, iPhone recovery software is just the right solution. It works even when you don’t have a backup or don’t want to eliminate your existing data on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Recover ‘Recently Deleted’ photos from iCloud backup

Use an iCloud backup to recover deleted photos from your iPhone after 30 days of deleting them from the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder. iCloud backup is the best solution to retrieve permanently deleted photos from iPhone free.

Just get on to the below steps to recover deleted photos from iCloud:

• On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > General > Reset> Erase all Contents and Settings.

• Select Erase Now in the dialog box and follow the prompts until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
• Click on Restore from iCloud Backup.

• Sign in to your iCloud account.
• Select the recent backup from the list that has the deleted pictures. Click Restore to get back the deleted photos on your iPhone.

2. Recover permanently deleted photos from iTunes

If you have an iTunes backup, look for the deleted photos after deleting from ‘Recently Deleted’ in your iTunes backup.

Below are the quick steps:

• Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac and launch iTunes.
• Click on your iPhone under the device list and select the recent backup date that may contain the permanently deleted pictures.

• Click Restore Backup.

That’s it. You get back the deleted photos on your iPhone.  However, this will replace the current data on the iPhone with the old backup data.

3. Recover recently deleted photos from cloud storage

iPhone users, who don’t completely rely on iCloud and iTunes for backup, use third-party cloud backup solutions. If you are one of those, check your cloud storage for permanently deleted photos on your iPhone. Cloud backups such as Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc., are efficient ways to save and protect your photos on your iPhone from permanent loss. You can restore photos on a PC , Mac, or iPhone by using cloud storage.

4. Recover Recently Deleted Photos with iPhone recovery software [Recommended]

Some of you may not have photos backed up in iCloud or iTunes. It’s also possible you couldn’t find the desired picture in the backup. In any case, use the best iPhone recovery software to get pictures back after deleting from Recently Deleted on iPhone.

Try one of the popularly used Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . It is compatible with not just old iPhones like iPhone 6, 7, 8, X, etc., but also the latest series of iPhone 15. You also get the latest iOS 17 support.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone can help to recover photos from the iPhone without backup. Additionally, you can retrieve lost or deleted contacts, messages, chat messages, Notes, Reminders, etc.

Besides, when you recover photos by using iTunes or iCloud, it gets back all data from the backup file whereas with the software you can select and recover only what you require. Unlike photo recovery from backup, the software doesn’t replace the existing data with old backup data on your iPhone.

Here are the steps to recover deleted photos after deleting them from the Recently Deleted folder on your iPhone:

• Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac computer.
• Download and launch Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on a computer.

 

• On the first screen, select Recover from iPhone on the left pane. If required, you can choose the ‘Recover from iCloud’ or ‘Recover from iTunes’ option.

• Check-in Camera Roll and Photo Stream and click Next.

• The software scans and displays the recovered pictures. See preview, select, and save the desired photos.

Conclusion

An iPhone recovery software is the perfect approach to recover deleted photos from an iPhone after 30 days of deleting them from the ‘Recently Deleted’ folder. We recommend Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. It is fast and can retrieve permanently deleted photos without affecting the current data of your iPhone. Unlike iCloud and iTunes backup, which annoyingly replace existing data with the old backup data, the software can restore only those photos, which you have deleted.

Take the free trial and ensure that Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone can retrieve permanently deleted photos from your iPhone.

 

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New iPhone 14 Restore from iCloud Stuck on Time Remaining Estimating

Summary: The joy of using iPhone 14 comes to a halt if your newly purchased iOS device remains stuck at “iCloud backup remaining estimating time” loop. You’ll Google how to restart an iPhone but end up being confused about what to do or what not to do. We understand your angst. So, in this blog, we offer you lucrative options to restore new iPhone 14 from iCloud backup. Also, we have taken the liberty to recommend a reliable iPhone data recovery software to use in case of accidental data loss. Use the given buttons to free download and try it yourself.

Every time you buy a new iPhone, restoring backup becomes a vital necessity to finish the setup. Long wait to restore a new iPhone 14 is killing the joy of using the most awaited Apple product. You can restore iTunes or Finder backup using laptop or MacBook, but as soon as you perform iCloud backup on iPhone 14, the device gets stuck at estimated time remaining. It’s a prominent issue, pointed by many iPhone 14 users recently.

The problem arises at setting up a new iPhone with existing iCloud backup. Possibility of getting stuck on Restore in Progress: An estimated storage (XXGB) required to finish restoring your apps and data.

Why is my new iPhone 14 stuck at restore from iCloud?

Before finding your options to overcome the problem and learn how to restore an iPhone, get familiar with the root cause of the problem:

1. Perhaps additional data storage space is required.
2. Apple server is preventing iCloud data restoration.
3. iCloud system status is not working for iCloud backup and iCloud Account login.

• Slow or unstable WiFi connection.
• Numerous unwanted backup files stored on iCloud.

Generally, restoring in progress doesn’t take more than 20 to 60 minutes for an iPhone to restart. Nonetheless, if restoring is stuck beyond that time, then be wary that it might take hours to finish. Anyhow, iPhone offers you ample options to get around a stuck iCloud backup.

How to restart an iPhone stuck at “Restore from iCloud- Time Remaining: Estimating”

Read the below methods to identify a perfect route to finish restoring iPhone 14 from iCloud backup. You can also stop restoring your iPhone and experiment with other alternatives:

Cancel the iCloud Restore in Progress

Stop the ‘Restore from iCloud’ process and start afresh after giving rest to your iPhone for a while. The move allows iOS device to optimize operations after turning off all the activities. To do so, you need to interrupt the ongoing restore from iCloud backup, which is already stuck at a specified time remaining. Rebooting your iPhone will fix all the minor glitches liable for creating such. Follow these steps:

• Press and hold the side button (on the right hand side of your iPhone) along with volume up/ down button till the power-off slider appears on your iPhone 14 screen.

• Drag the slider to your right and wait for 30-seconds to turn off the device.

• To turn the iPhone back on, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears on screen.

Restart Restoring iCloud Backup

Once your iPhone 14 restarts, follow these steps to restore iCloud backup:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.

• Set up your iPhone and select Restore from iCloud Backup on the Apps & Data screen.
• You can also choose another restoration option- Transfer Directly from iPhone.
• Follow the instruction available on-screen to restore your iOS device.

If your new iPhone 14 continues getting stuck at iCloud restore progress, then you need to check your internet connection. Also, make sure the iOS device has adequate space to handle large volume of data you are trying to copy in it.

Check the iCloud System Status

At rare occasions, even Apple server prevents the iCloud data restoration. The first thing you can do in such situations is to ascertain whether the restore process was stalled because of an internet issue or iCloud System Status. To do so, go to Apple system status page and check if iCloud Backup, Apple ID, and iCloud Account and Sign In, are working. If not, then you can’t do much but wait for Apple support to fix the issue at their end.

iCloud backup restore stuck while setting up a new iPhone 14 is not stressful until you lose a significant amount of data in the process. It is possible that in the search and trial of different options to restore iCloud backup on new iPhone 14, you might lose a significant amount of data. Use a reliable iPhone data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone to restore all the lost or deleted iPhone data from different variants of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Note that the software also supports recovery from iCloud backup and iTunes backup. The advanced software allows you to select and restore only a selected few or the desired files lost from iCloud. Moreover, the iOS recovery software executes recovery in the least possible time and could manage every bit of data stored in your iCloud backup. Refer to our KB to learn how to recover deleted iCloud data .

Conclusion:

This blog encapsulates various methods to swiftly get out of the trouble of new iPhone 14 stuck at restore from iCloud. As you try these methods, eventually, you will find the most suitable option to resolve the iPhone 14 stuck at restore from iCloud error.  At times, the process of data restore remains slow for reasons beyond your control. Perhaps the files you wish to restore to the newly purchased iOS device are way too large or the process is taking longer because of a weak Wi-Fi network or the Apple Server is undergoing maintenance. Either of the reasons may further enhance the risk of data loss on the iPhone. Therefore, you need an infallible solution like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone to retrieve lost contacts, photos, videos, apps, games, chats, and more.

How to Put iPhone or iPad on Recovery mode? (Step by Step Tutorial)

Summary: DFU or Recovery mode is a way to recover your iPhone or iPad using a computer in case of technical issues. Read this post for a step-by-step process of how to enter and exit Recovery Mode and DFU mode on iPhone.

When you run out of solutions to troubleshoot your iPhone, Recovery Mode or DFU Mode comes as a rescue. Whether iPhone stops booting or fails to restore, you can use the functions in iPhone and fix the issue.

But the method to bring an iPhone in DFU or Recovery Mode varies in each iPhone model and iPad.

This post will guide you on how to enter and exit Recovery and DFU Modes in different iPhone and iPad variants. But first, understand what these iPhone functions are and their uses.

What is Recovery Mode and its use?

Recovery Mode uses iBoot to upgrade or restore your iPhone. iBoot is a bootloader program for iOS devices. Recovery Mode helps install the same or above iOS firmware version already on your iPhone. The iPhone screen in Recovery Mode prompts to connect iPhone to iTunes, showing a computer image.

Recovery Mode helps fix iPhone updates or restore issues, such as iPhone stuck at the Apple logo , unable to open the locked iPhone or want to reset iPhone but forgot iPhone passcode .

What is DFU Mode and its use?

Device Firmware Update or DFU mode lets your iPhone connect with iTunes on the computer without iBoot. As DFU mode doesn’t use iBoot, you can make changes in the operating system of the iOS device. An iPhone in DFU mode has a completely black screen.

Putting iPhone into DFU mode is the solution when Recovery Mode doesn’t resolve the problem. DFU mode can restore or upgrade iPhone. This mode is also commonly used to downgrade or jailbreak iPhone s.

Caution — you may lose all your iPhone data!

If you are entering DFU mode, make sure to back up your iPhone data . DFU mode permanently erases iPhone data . So always back up your videos, photos, messages, chats, Notes, etc., either to iCloud or iTunes.

However, if you have lost iPhone data and don’t have a backup, then immediately download iPhone data recovery software — Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . The software helps to restore lost or deleted iPhone contacts, call logs, photos, videos, text, FaceTime, audio, chats, Calendar, Notes, Safari bookmarks, etc. It is quick to recover and extremely user-friendly.

What is required to perform Recovery and DFU modes in iPhone?

1. Windows or Mac system.
2. Lightning to USB cable.
3. iTunes updated to the latest version on your computer.

How to put iPhone 6 and earlier versions in Recovery Mode
Follow the below steps to enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, and iPhone 4.

• Connect your iPhone to your PC using USB Lightning Cable and launch iTunes.
• Press and hold down the Home and Power button to turn the iPhone.

• Then connect the USB cable to iPhone and turn it on by holding the Home button.
• Continue to hold the Home button until a pop-up appears informing ‘an iPhone has been detected in recovery mode’ on your system.
• In Recovery mode, you can either restore the iPhone, set it up as new, or just recover your backups.

How to put iPhone 7 in Recovery Mode
It’s easy to enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. Follow the below steps:

• Turn off your iPhone 7 and connect it to your Mac or Windows computer.
• Ensure iTunes or Finder is running on the system.
• Press and hold the Power and Volume down button for 10 seconds.
• While continuing to hold the Volume down button, release the Power button.

• Release the button if you see the iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode message on your system.

How to put iPhone 8 in Recovery Mode
If you want to enter the Recovery Mode on iPhone 8 and its variants, follow the below steps:

• Connect your iPhone 8 to your Mac or Windows system with a USB cable.
• Next, press and release the following buttons in a sequence Volume Up button, Volume Down, and Side button until your device reboots. Continue holding the Side button, even after seeing the Apple logo appear.
• Release the Side button once the Connect to iTunes logo appears on the iPhone’s display.

• Launch iTunes, and you should see a message stating, “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.” You can choose to Update or Restore your iPhone’s software.

How to put iPhone 11 into Recovery Mode
To enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max, follow these steps:

• Connect your iPhone with your Mac or PC and launch iTunes.
• Force restart your iPhone with the following steps:
  • Press and release the Volume Up button.
  • Press and release the Volume Down button.
  • Press and hold the Side button.
• Make sure to release these buttons if you see the recovery mode screen with the “Connect to iTunes” screen.
• Then choose your iPhone in iTunes, and you will see a pop-up saying that your iPhone is in Recovery Mode. Here, you can either update or restore your iPhone.

How to put iPhone 12 into Recovery Mode
Follow the below steps to enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max:

• Update iTunes to the latest version.
• Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac via Lightning to a USB cable.
• Note: If you are connecting your iPhone to the computer for the first time, click on ‘Trust’ in the Trust This Computer dialog box and follow the prompts.
• Once your iPhone is paired with the computer, press the Volume up button followed by the Volume down button and release.
• Press and continue to hold the Side button until you see the ‘Connect to computer’ screen on your iPhone. While on your computer, you would see the iPhone Recovery Mode message in iTunes, confirming that your iPhone has entered into Recovery Mode. The computer asks you to either Update or Restore your iPhone**.** Click on any based on your requirement.

If you choose Update, iTunes will update your iPhone 12 to the latest iOS release. This won’t lead to any loss of data.

If you select Restore: It will erase iPhone data completely and renew your entire iPhone.

How to put Recovery Mode on iPhone 13
Entering Recovery Mode on iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro has the same steps as iPhone 12. To enter the Recovery Mode, connect your iPhone to your computer and do the following steps in quick succession.

• Press the Volume up button and release.
• Press the Volume down button and release.
• Press and continue to hold the side button until the ‘Connect to iTunes’ screen appears on iPhone.

How to put Recovery Mode on iPhone 14
To use recovery mode on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, follows these steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to your system with a Lightning cable.
2. Now on iPhone, press and quickly release the Volume up, Volume down, and side buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
3. Select your iPhone in the Finder/iTunes window and choose to update or restore your iPhone.

How to exit Recovery Mode on iPhone
It’s easy to exit Recovery Mode on iPhone. Follow the below steps:

• Hold the Home button and Lock button to exit DFU mode on iPhone 6 and earlier versions until your device reboots.
• To exit DFU mode on iPhone 7/7 Plus, hold the Side and Volume Down buttons until the device reboots.
• To exit the Recovery Mode on iPhone 8 or later version, press and hold the Side button until the “Connect to iTunes” screen disappears, and then iPhone should reboot back into iOS.

How to put Recovery Mode on iPad
To enter Recovery Mode on the iPad, follow these steps:

• Connect your iPad to Windows or Mac system using a USB cable.
• For iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the Home button and the Top/Side button until your iPad enters recovery mode.
• For iPad without a Home button: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, Volume Down button, and the Top button. Keep holding the Top button until the iPad enters recovery mode.

How to put iPhone into DFU mode ?
Follow the below steps to enter DFU Mode on iPhone and its various version:

1. Connect iPhone to PC or Mac via USB cable. Note: If the ‘Trust This Computer’ dialog box appears, follow the prompts.
2. Once your iPhone is paired with a computer, follow these steps:

How to Enter DFU Mode on an iPhone 8 and later versions

• Press the Volume up button, then Volume down button, and release.
• Quickly press and hold the Side button for about 5 seconds.
• Along with the Side button, press and hold the Volume down button.
• Release the Side button and continue to hold the Volume down button for about 10 seconds.
• Once you see the ‘Recovery Mode’ screen in iTunes on your computer, you have successfully entered the DFU mode. However, the iPhone screen remains black in DFU Mode.

How to Enter DFU Mode on an iPhone 7

• Press and hold the Power and the Volume down buttons for 8–10 seconds.
• Release the Power button and continue to hold the Volume down button.
• Release the Volume down button once your iPhone has entered recovery mode.

How to Enter DFU Mode on an iPhone 6S or Earlier Versions

• Press and hold the Power/Sleep and Home buttons together for 10 seconds.
• Release the Power/Sleep button, but continue holding the Home button.
• Release the Home button once you see iTunes/Finder has detected an iPhone in recovery mode message.

Note: If you see the Apple logo on your iPhone, try again and repeat the above steps carefully.

How to exit DFU Mode on iPhone ?
If you want to exit DFU Mode on iPhone and its variants, follow the below steps:

How to Exit DFU Mode on an iPhone 8 or Later versions

1. Press the Volume Up button and quickly release.
2. Press the Volume Down button and quickly release.
3. Now, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on iPhone. This indicates your iPhone has exited DFU Mode. Your iPhone would boot to the ‘Lock’ screen in a few seconds. Now, enter your passcode and continue to use your iPhone.

How to Exit DFU Mode on an iPhone 7
Press and hold the Power or Sleep button and the Volume down button until you see the Apple Logo.

How to Exit DFU Mode on iPhone 6 or Earlier versions
Hold the Home button and the Power button of the iPhone simultaneously until Apple’s logo appears on the screen.

Conclusion

Whenever your iPhone and its variants show problems like being stuck at the Apple logo, won’t upgrade, restore, or respond, you can use Recovery Mode and DFU Mode functions to resolve the problem. But don’t forget to back up your iPhone data before using these functions.

However, in any unfortunate incident of data loss while performing the functions, trust Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone – a software that brings back lost data on your iPhone securely.

FAQ

1. Does DFU Mode delete iPhone data?

If you use DFU mode to install something or restore your device, all your iPhone’s data will be erased.

2. Can you enter the recovery mode if your iPhone is disabled?

An iPhone is disabled when a user enters an incorrect password too many times on the lock screen. You should be able to enter the recovery mode using the same steps mentioned above and restore your iPhone to regain access.

3. How to put the iPhone in recovery mode without a computer?

A computer is not necessary to enter the recovery mode on an iPhone. You only need to press the right buttons, depending on your iPhone model, to enter the recovery mode. However, to restore your iPhone – you will need a computer.