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How to Remotely Erase Your iPhone Data

Wipe out all personal data on your lost or stolen iPhone

By Andy O'Donnell Andy O'Donnell Writer Auburn University Andy O'Donnell, MA, is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a senior security engineer who is active in internet and network security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 22, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email iPhone & iOS Switching from Android

What to Know

Enable Find My iPhone: Go to Settings, enter your Apple ID, and tap Find My > Find My iPhone. Toggle to the On position.Log in to iCloud in a web browser. Select All Devices, choose your device, then select Erase iPhone.To erase all data after 10 failed passcode attempts, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, and turn on Erase Data. Wouldn't it be great if your iPhone could self-destruct to keep thieves from getting your personal data if they steal your phone? It won't explode, but Apple does provide a way to wipe your iOS devices clean of all of your personal information remotely. We'll show you how to do it using any version of iOS.

How to Erase Data With Find My iPhone

To remotely erase the data on your missing iPhone, you'll need to do a little setup first to make it possible. Regularly back up your iPhone data to protect against data loss.

Enable Find My iPhone

Turn on the Find my iPhone feature on your phone and connect an active iCloud account on your device for Find My iPhone to work. An iCloud account is offered for free from Apple. Open the Settings app. Select your Apple ID account (the top item in the Settings app). Select Find My. (In older versions of iOS, choose iCloud). Choose Find My iPhone and switch it On. If your firmware is pre-iOS 5, follow these instructions to enable Find My iPhone.

Remotely Erase Your Missing iPhone

When you're sure you won't get your phone back, use the remote erase feature. Once you remote wipe the data on your device, you won't be able to locate it using Find My iPhone. The remote wipe should only be used when you're convinced that you will never get your device back. Open the Find iPhone app from another iOS device such as an iPad or from a computer's web browser. Visit the iCloud.com website and log in to your iCloud account. Select All Devices, then choose the device you want to erase. Select Erase iPhone.

Self-Destruct After Too Many Failed Passcode Attempts

You can set your iPhone to automatically erase its data if the wrong passcode is entered more than 10 times by following these steps. Open the Settings app. Select Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode if your iPhone uses Face ID authentication. Enter your passcode if prompted. If you do not have a passcode enabled, turn this on first by selecting Turn Passcode On. Set a passcode of your choice and confirm it. Consider setting a stronger passcode than the default 4-digit one for extra security. Move the Erase Data toggle switch to On/green. Read the warning and tap Enable. Your phone is now set to automatically erase all of its data after 10 failed passcode entry attempts.

Use Caution With Erase Data Settings

If you have kids or someone else that uses your phone, the Erase Data option could be a problem if you're not careful. Your child might innocently try to guess the code too many times and accidentally erase your iPhone's data. The remote erase feature might make more sense in situations where you have others who regularly use (or play with) your iPhone. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Unlock an iPhone Without a Passcode How to Protect Data on a Lost or Stolen iPhone How to Reset Restrictions Passcode on an iPhone Forgot Your iPhone Passcode? Here's How to Fix It How to Factory Reset an iPhone (All Models) How to Encrypt Data on an Android or iOS Device How to Fix 'iPhone Is Disabled' Error How to Turn off or Disable Find My iPhone How to Unlock iCloud-Locked iPhones How to Restore Your iPhone From a Backup How to Reset Your iPad and Erase All Content Use 'Find My iPhone' to Locate a Lost or Stolen Phone How to Set up a New iPhone Remotely Reset Android Lock Screen Password and PIN How to Encrypt Your iPad How to Restore Your iPod Touch to Factory Settings Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies