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.
Alex says
I had an iPhone 11 that was completely shattered and broken due to a heavy weight falling on top of it. It does not turn on anymore. I am using a old iPhone that I had stored. I wanted to remove my data from the iPhone 11 incase I ever sell it and it is able to be fixed. Option 1 works for me. If the iPhone 11 ever turns on and connects to internet, it will be completely erased. Thank you!
Jes says
Method 2 works for iPhone X. I just figured it out….
But first you need. to erase iPhone from Find my iPhone. If you screen is cracked, plug the phone charge in, once your phone screen can light up or leave it for an hour and turn the power on. Log into your iCloud find my iPhone, erase the iPhone. Then delete the iPhone from your iCloud account.
Then you plug the phone in with a laptop that has iTunes. Push once the volume up button, then once the volume down button, then hold the power button down for about 30 seconds, then you will see the laptop iTunes screen will recognize the iPhone and pop up a window asking if you want to restore it. Select Rescore and then you are all good.
terri says
Run over by cars crushed inoperable broken iphnone x screen- opt 1. erase iphone does not work as phone will not go online & it is registered on an outdated apple id with no password. Option two does not work with iohone x because there is no home button to hold down. Someone told me to emerse in salt water – How can i wipe the data off this handset before sending back to insurance ?
Romy says
My old IPhone 5 is still logged into an old iCloud email address account. I changed my email address of my iCloud a few years ago but never used the IPhone 5 anymore and logged in again with the new email. Also my screen of the IPhone 5 is so broken I can’t type. I want to donate the phone for recycling but clearing out my info before that. Both options above won’t work. Does anyone know what to do?
Suzy says
Is there any other option besides the two I have a chrome book n says not compatible with iTunes
Ivy White says
Thank you. I have had the same problem and I tried iTunes. But I was required to enter the passcode. I wasn’t allowed to do this because there is no way to type in the passcode due to the broken screen. In the face of such a case, my friend suggested that I might as well try an iOS system recovery called Joyoshare UltFix. She said that such a tool that she ever used to fix her iPhone stuck in recovery mode for free without data loss also gives an option to factory reset all disabled or broken-screen iDevices. I tried and it worked me out.
Autumn says
I just got a new phone and number but still have my old iPhone. It’s has a large crack in the screen and can’t be traded or sold. I decided to keep it as a back up, should I keep all my information or swipe it?
Kao J says
Option 2 also worked for me, thanks so much!
Kwame says
I cant turn my data on
My iphone screen is cracked and the data wont wor k
Michael says
I’m trying to reset my iPhone 11 after it took a nose dive off the motorcycle today. the screen is totally shattered and they are sending me a new phone Tuesday. I cant connect it to iTunes as it won’t recognize the device at all. dont have a home button so option 2 doesn’t work. I’m looking for a way to reset the phone before sending it back.
thanks
Dan Duffield says
I cannot do option #2 because my wake/sleep button doesnt work, Phone has been replaced by insurance SIM card deactivated so find my phone doesnt work. Im leaning towads opening it up and obliterating the SSD then closing the broken bits back inside before I mail it off,
Joe smith says
Connecting to iTunes and holding the buttons until the restore option appeared worked like a charm. Thanks!
Piotr Chylarecki says
Option 2 worked for me, thanks!
Sanju says
In angry situation I throw iPhone mobile on floor. It fully broken. I want all my data , photos & note file
Tia Hays says
I have 2 iphones – one cracked and broken, the other my new replacement. I would like too erase my old broken one. When I do option one under find my phone, it only finds my new replacement phone. I can see my old phone under the settings app but not the find my phone app so I can erase it. How do I erase the old broken phone but not the new replacement one. Thank you.
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!