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 Screenshots on iPhone?

Summary: Accidentally deleted or lost screenshots from your iPhone? Don’t know how to recover deleted screen grabs? Learn five methods to recover deleted screenshots on iPhone. Also, know how Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone quickly restores deleted screenshots from your Apple device.

Screenshots are the fastest way to save anything you see on smartphones or systems. Many of you may have also captured screens of chats, video calls, online products, etc., on your iPhone. Since  screenshots are saved in various image formats like JPG, PNG, GIF, etc., they can get deleted like any other file on your Apple device.

Hence, if you have lost or mistakenly deleted screenshots on your iPhone, this blog shares successful methods to recover deleted screenshots on your iPhone.

But first, you must know the locations on your iPhone where you can search for deleted or missing screenshots.

Where are screenshots saved?

There’s nothing unusual about searching screenshots on your iPhone. Sometimes, files may be saved at multiple locations, and you may not locate them at once or forget them. So first, check your iPhone thoroughly.

On the iPhone, screen grabs are saved in two different locations. One is the Photos app in a separate folder named ‘Screenshot,’ and the other is the Files app.

How to recover deleted screenshots on iPhone?

Here, we have shared five workable solutions to restore deleted screenshots on iPhone.

Method 1: Recover Deleted Screenshots on iPhone from Recently Deleted Album

It’s well known that the Recently Deleted Album on iPhone keeps the deleted photos and screenshots for up to 30 days. Hence, the natural first place to look for deleted screenshots on iPhone is here.

• Open the Photos app, tap the Recently Deleted album, locate the screenshots, and tap Recover to save it to the original Camera Roll location.

Method 2: Deleted Screenshot Recovery in iPhone from iTunes Backup

On macOS Mojave or earlier versions, restore permanently deleted screenshots from an iTunes backup. To recover deleted photos or screenshots , follow these steps:

• Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer.
• Click the iPhone icon at the upper corner of the iTunes window.

• Click Summary in the left pane and select the Restore Backup option in the Backup section.

• Choose the most relevant backup of your iPhone and click Restore to start the process.

Method 3: Recover Permanently Deleted Screenshots using Finder

In macOS Catalina and newer versions, Finder syncs and manages the content on iPhones, iPad, and iPods.

Steps: How to recover permanently deleted screenshots on iPhone from Finder:

• Connect your iPhone to your Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or above.
• Open Finder on your Mac and select your iPhone from the location list.

• Go to the General tab and click Restore Backup.

• Select the backup date and click Restore to start the process.

Method 4:  Recover Deleted Screenshots using Data Recovery Software

Get a professional Screenshot Recovery Software – Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . It can recover deleted or lost screenshots of all formats, GIF, PNG, JPG, or TIFF, etc., from iPhone. In addition, the software supports recovery of screen captures taken through iPhone lost due to formatting, empty Recently Deleted folders, virus attacks, etc.

Step-by-step: How to find deleted screenshots on iPhone using data recovery software

• Connect your iPhone to your system.

• Download and launch the trial version of Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

• Select Recover from iPhone in the What to Recover screen.

• Select Camera Roll and click Next. The scanning will start.

• A list of deleted screenshots appears. Preview the screenshots. The free version of the software allows the preview of files up to 20 MB. If you don’t see the required screenshots, toggle the Deep Scan option and scan again.

• Click Recover and Save the screenshots on your system or iPhone at the desired location.

Note – The trial software scans the media and shows a preview of all the recoverable screenshots. Once you can ascertain the effectiveness, save the recoverable files after activating the software.

Method 5: Recover Screenshots on iPhone using iCloud Backup

iCloud Backup stores and syncs files among Apple devices. Your screenshots and photos may be saved here in the cloud storage only if you have enabled iCloud Photos to backup all your iPhone photos. Here’s how to restore deleted screenshots from iCloud:

• Go to the iCloud Website and sign in with your Apple credentials.

• Once logged in, click on Photos and go to the Recently Deleted Album.

• Select the screenshots you wish to restore and click Recover.

Wrapping Up

Deleted screenshots recovery is easy. Backup is the best way to recover deleted screenshots from your iPhone. However, it would be best to first look for the deleted screenshots in your iCloud, iTunes, Finders, etc.

Besides, if you are lucky, you can get back the deleted screenshots from the Recently Deleted folder on your iPhone.

Nonetheless, robust and secure software is the right approach to recover screenshots for all complex data loss cases. For example, if the screenshots are permanently deleted from iPhone, use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. The software scans the iPhone or iPhone/ iCloud backup, displays the found screenshots, and allows a preview before saving.  

FAQ

1. How to recover the permanently deleted screenshots from my iPhone?

Check the Recently Deleted album in your Photos app on your iPhone. Or use iCloud or iTunes backup to recover them. If screen grabs are not in the Recently Deleted album, use iPhone data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone to recover them.

2. Can you recover deleted screenshots on iPhone without any backup?

It is possible to recover permanently deleted iPhone screen grabs using professional iPhone data recovery software. We recommend Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

3. Where do deleted screenshots go on the iPhone?

When you delete screenshots on an iPhone, it is moved to the “Recently Deleted” folder of your Photos app.

4. How to take long screenshots on iPhone?

To take a full screenshot of a website, take the screenshot and tap preview before it disappears—tap Full Page to save the screenshot as a PDF.

How to Factory Reset iPhone and iPad Without Apple ID

Summary: This post guides you to the best methods to factory reset the iPhone without the Apple ID and password. It also shares a professional tool — Stellar iPhone Eraser that can help wipe iPhone without using Apple ID.

iPhone factory reset is essential when you want to sell off your old iPhone or troubleshoot the iOS device issues, such as iPhone freeze , iPhone stuck at booting loop, stuck at Apple logo , etc. But what if you have forgotten your Apple ID?

Apple ID is not just required to sign in to iCloud account, App store, etc., but also needed to factory reset iPhone and iPad.

So how to reset iPhone without Apple ID?

Lets’ explore the methods to reset iPhone without Apple ID and password. Also, levarn how you can recover your Apple ID password and then attempt a factory reset on your iPhone or iPad.

Methods to Reset iPhone Without Apple ID Password

You can utilize iPhone Recovery Mode and iTunes on your computer to reset the iOS device without Apple ID. Another easier method to permanently delete everything on iPhone that doesn’t require your Apple ID is by using Stellar iPhone Eraser software.

While you can also choose to reset the forgotten Apple ID and password and then later factory reset the iOS device with the new Apple ID.

1. Use Recovery Mode to reset iPhone without Apple ID
2. Reset iPhone without Apple ID via Stellar iPhone Eraser
3. Recover Apple ID and Password to reset iPhone

Important: As Factory Reset deletes everything on iPhone, always backup your data before reset. If you haven’t and already reset your iOS device, you can download Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your computer to restore the lost data due to factory reset.

Method 1: Use Recovery Mode to reset iPhone without Apple ID

You can factory reset iPhone without Apple ID or password by using Recovery Mode. Make sure to have the latest iTunes installed on your already trusted computer.

Steps to reset iPhone without Apple ID using Recovery Mode

Step 1: Update iTunes on your PC/Mac to the latest version.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone/ iPad to the computer via USB cable.

Step 3: Put your iPhone/ iPad to Recovery Mode. Note: The steps will vary with your iPhone/ iPad model.

How to put your iPhone to Recovery Mode

iPhone 8, iPhone X, or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Then, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPod touch: Press and hold the Top (or Side) and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the Recovery Mode screen.

iPhone 6s or earlier, iPad with Home button, and iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons at the same time. Keep holding them until you see the recovery mode screen.

iPad models that don’t have a Home button: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Top button until your device begins to restart. Continue holding the Top button until your device goes into Recovery Mode.
Source: Apple support

Step 4:  iTunes detects the DFU mode and alerts you. Click OK in the message box.

Step 5: In iTunes, click Summary.

Step 6: Select Restore iPhone on the right pane.

Figure: Restore iPhone option iTunes

Step 7: Click Restore to confirm.

iTunes factory resets your iPhone without Apple ID. This will delete all your photos, videos, contacts, messages, chats and other data, same as in normal factory reset process using iPhone settings, which requires Apple ID.

Method 2: Reset iPhone without Apple ID via Stellar iPhone Eraser

Stellar iPhone Eraser software is another secure way to permanently erase complete iPhone data when you have forgotten Apple ID and password.  The software wipes iPhone as new without using the Apple ID.

Stellar iPhone Eraser is popularly used to reset iPhone before selling, donating, or exchanging so that no one can gain access to your personal data.

You can permanently delete photos, videos, audio, contacts, messages, passcodes, documents, third-party apps and other data from iPhone.

It sets the iOS device to the original factory settings. The software works with all iPhone variants including series of iPhone 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XS MAX, XS, XR, X, 8, and below. It supports latest iOS 16 and below versions.

Steps to reset iPhone without Apple ID using software:

Step 1: Download and run Stellar Toolkit for iPhone on PC/Mac.

Step 2: Select Erase Data.

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

Figure: Erase iPhone Data screen

Step 4: Connect your iPhone to the computer when prompted.

Figure: Erase button in software

Step 5: Click Erase.

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

Step 7: In Data Erase Completes dialog box, click OK.

All the data gets erased permanently beyond recovery from your iPhone or iPad.

Method 3: Recover forgotten Apple ID and Password to reset iPhone

Apple ID password is necessary to use iPhone applications and services. So if you are not planning to sell off your iPhone or iPad, it is best to first recover the forgotten Apple ID password and then reset your iOS device using the ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ option in the iPhone Settings.

You can use iPhone Settings, Apple Support app, Find My iPhone, or visit Apple account page  to recover lost Apple ID password.

Click here to know in detail how to reset forgotten Apple ID and password.

Once you recover the Apple account password, follow the below steps to reset iPhone with the new Apple ID.

Reset iPhone with Apple ID password:

1. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
2. Click on Erase All Content and Settings.

Figure: Reset option in iPhone

3. Enter the new Apple password and click Erase iPhone.

Also read: Does factory reset deletes everything on iPhone?

Conclusion

Without the Apple ID and password, you cannot reset your iOS device through the traditional ‘Erase All Content and Settings’ method. Either you recover the forgotten Apple ID and password or use any of the two methods shared above to factory reset the iPhone without Apple ID.

You can put the iPhone to Recovery Mode and use iTunes on your computer to reset the iOS device without Apple ID. Other than this, a simpler way to permanently delete everything on your iPhone is by using Stellar iPhone Eraser software. The software doesn’t ask for Apple ID through the process. It quickly resets your iPhone or iPad and brings it to original settings by erasing complete data on it.

How to Recover Lost Data from iPhone After iOS Update?

Summary: If your iPhone data, such as photos, videos, contacts, messages, notes, etc., have disappeared after an iOS update, read this post. It guides you on how to recover data lost after an iPhone update to iOS 16/ 15/ 14/ 13. Also, download the best iPhone data recovery software — Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone — that can recover any data lost due to an iOS update or iOS crash.

‘When I upgraded my iPhone from iOS 15.6 to iOS 16.4, I lost my data (photos, videos, and apps) How can I restore data in my iPhone? Please help.’

As an iPhone user, you eagerly wait for iOS updates that fix various bugs and bring in new features and enhancements. But the charm of making your iPhone smarter and more secure vanishes when suddenly after the update, your contacts, messages, photos or videos, etc., disappear from your iPhone.

There have been several complaints about data loss from iPhone after upgrading to iOS 16, 15, 14, or 13. It is strange as Apple is known to enhance its iPhone data security with every new iOS version.

So why your iPhone data is lost after iOS update?

Technical anomalies after software upgrades are quite common. Even sophisticated Apple devices can lose data after updating to the latest iOS version or show other problems. Although you can restore your data using iTunes or iCloud backup , this may not work every time.

Addressing the problem, we have created a guide for you to recover data lost after an iOS update.

How to recover data lost after iPhone update

You are probably safe if you have created a backup in iTunes or iCloud before updating your iPhone. In this case, you can restore the lost data from the backup files. Otherwise, seek help of an iPhone data recovery software to recover lost data after iOS update.

Below are the methods to recover data lost after iPhone update:

1. Restore lost iPhone data using iTunes
2. Recover lost data after iOS update using iCloud
3. Recover data lost after iPhone update using software

Method 1: Restore lost iPhone data after iOS update using iTunes

Recover lost data from your computer using the iTunes backup you created before the iOS update.

Steps to recover iPhone data from iTunes backup:

• Connect iPhone to your PC/Mac with a USB cable. If a message asks for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the prompts.
• Launch iTunes.
• Select your iPhone under the device list.
• Click on Summary.

Figure: Restore from Backup in iTunes

• Click Restore Backup.
• In the Restore from Backup dialog box, select the relevant backup date just before the iOS update.
• Click Restore. Wait until the restore process finishes. Keep your iPhone connected after it restarts. All your lost iPhone data will be restored on the iPhone.

In case iTunes could not connect to iPhone and shows value is missing error, learn how to fix and connect to iTunes .

Method 2: Recover lost iPhone data after iOS update using iCloud

All iOS device users have iCloud backup advantage. If, after the iOS 16/15/14/13/12 update, your iPhone contacts, Camera Roll, notes, messages, etc., are missing, recover them using the iCloud backup.

However, this method resets your device, and all existing data gets deleted. This means any photos, videos, messages, contacts, etc., which were added or received after the iOS update are removed.

Steps to restore photos from iCloud on iPhone:

• Click to follow Settings >General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase all Contents and Settings.

• In the dialog box, choose Erase Now.
• In the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.

• Enter Apple ID to sign in to your iCloud account.
• Select the recent backup before the iOS update and click Restore. All your missing data will be back on iPhone.

Figure: iPhone restore from iCloud in progress

In case: iCloud backup is greyed out, know here how to fix it .

Method 3: Recover lost data from iPhone after iOS update using software

An iPhone data recovery software is the easiest and quick solution to restore lost iPhone data after iOS update. It is recommended when you don’t have the iPhone backup, or you’re unable to restore data using iCloud or iTunes.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone can find and restore contacts, videos, photos, audio, chat messages, Calendar, etc., deleted after updating to iOS 16/ 15/ 14/ 13. The software ensures that you recover even the hidden files in your iPhone or iPad after iOS update.

Moreover, you can restore old data without deleting any existing photos or videos that you added or clicked from your iPhone after the update.

The software can extract data from your iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud backup as well. There’s no need to reset or delete any data from your iPhone, when using the software.

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone is helpful, in case:

• You don’t have iPhone backup.
• iPhone data recovery using iCloud or iTunes backup failed.
• Some of your Contacts, iMessages, chats, photos, videos, Safari bookmarks, etc., are missing after recovery from backup.
• You want a quick and easy method to recover lost data after iOS update.
• You don’t want to reset your device to recover the missing data after the update.

The software is compatible with series of iPhone 14 / 13 / 12 / 11 / XS / XR / X / 8 / 7 & below and supports the latest iOS 17, 16 15, 14, 13, 12 and below versions.

 

Steps to restore iPhone after iOS update using software

• Connect your iPhone/ iPad to computer.
• Download Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your PC or Mac.
• On the main screen of the software, select Recover from iPhone.

• Select the data you want to recover and click Next. The scanning process begins.

• Next, preview and select the required data. Click Save to restore data on iPhone.

You can also choose the module Recover from iCloud backup or Recover from iTunes backup, if required.

Conclusion

Sometimes after an iOS update, you may not be able to restore iPhone using iTunes or iCloud backups. In such a situation, use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. The software ensures you recover all data lost due to an iOS update.

The professional iOS data recovery software thoroughly scans your iPhone restoring missing contacts, iMessages, photos, videos, Voice Memos, Notes, WhatsApp chats, and other data. You can also preview the found data before saving them on your iPhone or iPad.

You can download the free trial of the software and preview the recovered iPhone data.

 

FAQs

1. Why did my contacts disappear on the iPhone?

If your contacts disappeared on your iPhone after installing iOS 16, it can be because you didn’t update the iOS appropriately. To recover lost iPhone contacts after the update, you need to factory reset your iOS device and try installing the iOS update again.

2. Where is the iPhone 16 update file located?

When updating your iPhone through iTunes on your Mac, you can find the update file in iPhone software updates. You’ll need to navigate to ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates.

3. Which iPhones will get iOS 16 update?

iOS 16 updates are compatible with iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus iPhone SE (3rd generation) and iPhone SE (2nd generation).

4. How to recover lost videos after the iOS 16 update?

If installing the iOS 16 update causes data loss, restore the iTunes or iCloud backup. However, if you forget to take a backup, for iPhone video recovery use Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

5. Is iPhone deleted text recovery possible after factory reset iOS?

Yes, there is a chance to recover deleted text after factory resetting iOS using the backup stored in iTunes or iCloud.

6. Will iOS 16 update delete my photos?

No, your iPhone data, such as videos, and photos don’t get deleted during iOS 16 update. But if there is any interruption during updates like a power cut then there is a chance to lose data from iPhone. At that time, use backup for iPhone photo recovery and to restore deleted or lost photos.

7. How to recover deleted notes from your iPhone?

iPhone deleted notes retrieval can be done using – The recently Deleted Folder and iCloud backup if you have previously enabled iCloud for Notes.

8. How to recover imessages on iPhone?

For recovering imessages or any other lost or deleted files use iCloud. Just open iCloud.com > Advanced section > Restore files. Next, choose the files you want to restore.