How Much Time Does it Take to Erase iPhone on Mac and Windows OS?
“Wondering how much time does it take to erase iPhone? Here’s everything you need to know.”
The time it takes to completely erase an iPhone can vary based on several factors, including the iPhone model, device performance, iOS edition, the amount of saved data, and the erasing technique used.
There are several ways to erase an iPhone, each with different time requirements:
- Erase via Settings
- Erase using iTunes
- Erase through Find My iPhone
- Erase with a Professional CubexSoft iPhone Erasure Tool
In this article, we’ll explore and compare each way based on hands-on testing, along with the estimated time taken for a full erasure. But before diving in, let’s first understand why you might need to wipe out your iPhone in the first place.
Why Do You Need to Erase iPhone?
Erasing your iPhone is essential when you’re selling, gifting, or exchanging your device. It ensures the phone is ready for a new user and, more importantly, protects your private information from unauthorized access.
Simply erasing files or performing a quick reset isn’t enough—data can still be recovered using data recovery applications and hacking techniques. To make your data permanently inaccessible, you need to perform a complete erasure.
Key Benefits of Deleting Your iPhone:
- Frees Up Device Space– Clears out unnecessary data and helps resolve storage or software-related issues.
- Protects Your Privacy– Removes all apps, accounts, passwords, and personal information to prevent data misuse.
- Removes All Media Files– Erases photos, videos, audio files, and other sensitive content beyond recovery.
- Boosts Device Performance– Eliminates cached data and clutter that may be slowing down your iPhone.
Different Techniques for How Much Time Does it Take to Erase iPhone
To accurately determine how much time it takes to erase iPhone, we tested four different iPhone models using four separate erasure approaches. This allowed us to compare the speed, efficiency, and effectiveness of each approach.
Before proceeding with any method, it’s crucial to back up your iPhone data to avoid permanent data loss. You can back up your data via iCloud, use Finder (for macOS), or create a manual backup to an external drive or third-party cloud service.
#Way 1- Erase iPhone through Settings
The easiest and most commonly used method to erase an iPhone is through the device’s Settings menu. This method is ideal when the device is in working condition and you have full access to it.
Steps to Erase iPhone by Settings:
- Navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Click on Erase All Content and Settings
- Enter your Passcode when prompted
- Confirm the action and wait for the removal procedure to complete
Real-Time Test Result:
- Device Data Size: 81.85 GB
- Time Taken to Erase: Approximately 38 minutes
Best Use Case: This way may not work if the iPhone is experiencing system glitches, freezing, or iOS-related issues. In such cases, an alternative method may be required.
#Way 2- Erase iPhone via iTunes
Erasing your iPhone using iTunes is another viable option, especially when the device isn’t functioning properly or you can’t access the Settings. However, this method is slightly more time-consuming and involves a more complex setup.
Note: iTunes doesn’t offer a dedicated “erase only” feature. The erasure happens as part of the device restore process, which also reinstalls the iOS firmware.
Steps to Erase iPhone via iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to a PC through USB cable
- Open iTunes and sign in with your Apple ID
- Press on Device icon in the iTunes window
- Select Reset iPhone to initiate the erasing and resetting process
Real-Time Test Result:
- Device Data Size: 30 GB
- Time Taken to Erase: Approximately 35 minutes
Best Use Case: This technique is mainly beneficial if your iPhone is unresponsive, stuck, or facing iOS-related errors that prevent access to system settings.
#Way 3- Erase iPhone via Find My
Apple’s Find My service provides a remote erasure feature for any iPhone linked to your Apple ID. This method is mainly helpful if your iPhone has been lost or stolen, allowing you to erase the device and protect your personal data from unauthorized access.
You can access Find My via the Find My app on another iPhone or by visiting iCloud.com.
Key Benefits:
- Helps locate your lost iPhone
- Allows remote erasure to protect your data
- Beneficial when physical access to the system is not possible
Note: This service requires the lost device to have internet access and GPS enabled for remote actions to work.
Steps to Erase an iPhone via Find My:
- Open the Find My app on another iPhone or visit iCloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID
- Navigate to the Devices section and select the iPhone you want to erase
Note– Only devices already linked to your Apple ID will appear in the list
- Scroll down and tap on Erase This Device
- Confirm by tapping Continue to begin the remote erasure process
Real-Time Test Result:
- Device Data Size: 55 GB
- Time Taken to Erase: Approximately 32 minutes
Best Use Case: Ideal for situations where the device is lost, stolen, or inaccessible, and you need to erase it remotely to protect sensitive data.
#Way 4- Quickly Erase iPhone with CubexSoft iPhone Eraser Tool
The most secure and trustworthy solution to erase an iPhone is by using an ideal program like iPhone Data Erasure Software. While Apple provides several built-in options to erase a device, this tool goes a step further by ensuring that all data is completely wiped and rendered unrecoverable even with advanced data recovery software. This tool permanently deletes all personal information, including contacts, photos, messages, call logs, and app data, making it impossible to retrieve even with advanced recovery software. It’s particularly useful when preparing an iPhone for resale, exchange, or disposal, as it ensures complete data sanitization. With a simple interface and support for multiple iOS devices, this application offers a safe and efficient alternative to manual deletion methods, aligning perfectly with the need for professional iPhone data erasure.
Why Use a Third-Party Eraser Tool?
Unlike manual methods, iPhone Data Eraser Tool offers military-grade data wiping, which:
- Permanently deletes all data including photos, videos, contacts, messages, browsing history, and more
- Prevents any chance of data recovery through forensic tools
- Is ideal when you’re planning to sell, exchange, or dispose of your device securely
How Much Time Does it Take to Erase iPhone? – Complete Video Tutorial
Real-Time Test Result:
- Time Taken: Between 25 minutes to 1 hour, depending on data size and device performance
- Data Status Post-Erasure: 100% unrecoverable
Conclusion
Based on our testing, the time required to erase an iPhone can vary from 25 minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of data and device condition. However, the quality of erasure is far more important than speed—especially if you’re concerned about your privacy and data security.
For the most secure outcome, we recommend using an expert software i.e. iPhone Erasure Software, which ensures your private data is permanently removed and cannot be recovered, protecting you from identity theft or data breaches.
