Apple IPhone XS Max System Resets Guide - IKream

Whether you’re troubleshooting performance issues or preparing your iPhone XS Max for resale, knowing how to perform different types of resets can be incredibly useful. From soft resets that simply reboot the phone to full factory resets that wipe everything clean, this guide walks you through every essential reset option available on your iPhone XS Max.

1. Soft Reset (Reboot Your iPhone)

A soft reset is a simple restart that clears temporary glitches and cached data without affecting your files or settings.

Steps:

• Press and hold the Side (Power) button and Volume Up button together.
• When “Slide to Power Off” appears, release the buttons.
• Swipe the slider to turn off the phone.
• After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

2. Force Restart (For Unresponsive Screens)

If your iPhone is frozen or not responding, try a force restart.

Steps:

• Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
• Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
• Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

This won’t delete any data.

3. Reset All Settings

This reset clears out all custom system settings without deleting your data, apps, or media.

Ideal for: Settings-related bugs, app glitches, or battery issues.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings.
• Enter your passcode and confirm.

Your iPhone will reboot and load all default settings. You’ll need to reconfigure things like Wi-Fi and Face ID.

4. Reset Network Settings

Use this if you’re having issues with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular connections.

What it does: Deletes all saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPNs, APNs, and Bluetooth pairings.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
• Tap Reset Network Settings.
• Enter your passcode and confirm.

Once the phone restarts, reconnect to Wi-Fi and test your connections again.

5. Factory Reset (Erase All Content and Settings)

This is the nuclear option—completely erasing your phone and restoring it to factory condition.

⚠️ Make sure to back up your data via iCloud or iTunes before doing this.

Steps:

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
• Enter your passcode and follow the prompts to erase everything.

Your iPhone will restart and display the setup screen. Choose to set it up as new or restore from backup.

6. Factory Reset Using iTunes (When iPhone is Unresponsive)

If your screen is frozen or your iPhone won’t boot, use iTunes to restore it.

Steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to a computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
3. Click on the iPhone icon.
4. Choose Restore iPhone.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

You can choose to back up before restoring, or start fresh.

When to Use Each Reset Type

Reset Type	Use When…
Soft Reset	Phone is acting slow or glitchy
Force Restart	Phone is frozen or not responding
Reset All Settings	Issues with system features
Reset Network Settings	Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular issues
Factory Reset	Major software bugs or preparing to sell
iTunes Restore	Phone won’t boot or screen is frozen