If you have broken the screen of your Apple iPhone and cannot access the menus, you still have options if you wish to wipe data from the device.
Option 1 – iCloud
If you used your iPhone with an iCloud account, you may be able to sign into your iCloud account from a web browser and wipe the phone with these steps.
- Visit icloud.com and sign into your account.
- Select “Find iPhone“.
- Select the “All Devices” option at the top of the screen, then select your device.
- Choose the “Erase iPhone” option.
Option 2 – iTunes
- Connect your iPhone or iPad to any computer that has iTunes installed.
- Press and hold the “Home” and “Sleep/Wake” buttons simultaneously for about 30 seconds
- Open iTunes and it should provide a message that your device is connected in Recovery Mode. Select the “Restore” option.
Kristine says
Sorry, didn’t work for me, my screen must to be to bad!
Ashkan says
Wow, it was super easy and smooth wiping the data from icloud.com, thanks!
baba says
Option 2 worked for me as my screen is blacked out except for the odd blue display. I worked around it by just tapping where the prompt could be located on the screen since the touch screen sensors still worked.
Thanks~
Marinette says
I was hopeful, but this didn’t work. My screen is totally shattered and non-responsive (or randomly responsive, which is worse). iTunes gets to a place where it asks for access to the phone and requires that I “respond” from the phone. All I’ve got is the Home screen button and the Sleep/Wake button. Apparently those aren’t good enough because iTunes isn’t acknowledging my pressing either of those.
I guess I’ll remove the SIM card and run it over with my car. 😬
Tony Skrobot says
As I couldn’t use the screen and it wouldn’t connect to WiFi, I couldn’t wipe using the find my phone app. Luckily, I popped the SIM card back in and the phone could be seen by FMF and I wiped it that way
nlpprs says
No 2. Worked like a charm / Werkt perfect!
TJ says
I have a broken screen and my insurance company want me to send them the phone (6s)
I want to do a factory reset obviously before I send it to them. It still works (I can hear the alarm ringing) but I can’t get is to connect to iTunes. Also, it won’t connect to the internet to erase through find my phone. Is there a way of erasing all data given the above or do I just hit the thing and destroy it?
Christopher McNeece says
Option two worked. Thanks.
Kman says
Yep Opt 2 worked I was able to restore to factory default to sell this broken phone. Thanks so much!
DD says
Thank you sooooo much. Used second option on my cracked ipad and I was able to delete all contends.Can now sell it .
jimmy says
looking for hours a solution
Finally i got your info
Thanks very very much
Juan Luis Rosario Mena says
This really help me, thanks :)
KM says
Thank you!
Pieni Sieni says
Option 2 worked for me — thank you!