There are plenty of good reasons to wipe an iPhone while leaving its iOS version exactly where it is. Maybe you are selling the phone to someone who wants that specific release, holding onto an older iOS for app compatibility, or simply fixing a misbehaving device without being pushed onto the newest update. Whatever your reason, the method you choose matters enormously — because one common reset path silently updates iOS, and the other does not.
Here is the golden rule, and it is worth memorizing: erasing your iPhone from its own Settings never updates iOS, while restoring it from a computer always installs the latest signed iOS. Apple’s own factory-reset guide walks through the on-device flow, and MacRumors regularly confirms that Finder and iTunes restores force the newest signed release. Follow the steps below and your iOS version will survive the wipe untouched.
Before you start: back up first
A factory reset deletes everything — photos, messages, apps, settings. Before you touch anything, make a backup: go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now, or connect the iPhone to a computer and take an encrypted backup. If you only want to wipe messages rather than the whole phone, see how to permanently delete text messages on iPhone and iCloud instead.
Step-by-step: erase without updating
- On the iPhone itself, open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings — this is the on-device erase, and it does not touch your iOS version.
- Enter your device passcode when asked, then enter your Apple ID password. This signs you out of iCloud and turns off Activation Lock so the next owner — or you — can set the phone up again.
- Confirm the erase. The iPhone will reboot, show the Apple logo, and eventually land on the Hello setup screen — still running the exact same iOS it had before.
- Set the phone up as new, or restore the backup you made before starting.
The path to avoid: restoring from a computer
Plugging the iPhone into a Mac or PC and clicking “Restore iPhone” in Finder or iTunes downloads and installs the latest iOS version Apple is currently signing — there is no option to keep your old one. Use that path only if you actually want the newest iOS. If you are trying to dodge updates entirely, our guide on how to completely block iOS 26 updates on iPhone pairs well with this tutorial.
Lighter alternative: Reset All Settings
If the phone is just misbehaving and you do not need a full wipe, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. This restores every setting to its default without deleting your photos, apps, or data — and, like the full erase, it never updates iOS. Apple’s YouTube channel also has walkthroughs of these Settings screens if you prefer a visual guide.
If it still doesn’t work
If “Erase All Content and Settings” is grayed out, a Screen Time passcode or a device-management profile (common on work phones) may be blocking it — remove the profile or ask your administrator. If the erase stalls on the Apple logo for more than an hour, force-restart the iPhone and try the on-device erase once more before considering any computer-based restore.
FAQ
Will Erase All Content and Settings remove Activation Lock?
The erase signs you out of iCloud as part of the process — that is why it asks for your Apple ID password — which disables Activation Lock. If the phone was already signed out in some odd way, the next setup may still demand the original Apple ID and password, so never erase a phone you cannot sign into.
Can I go back to an older iOS with this method?
No. The on-device erase keeps whatever iOS is currently installed; it cannot install an older one. Downgrading requires a computer restore with a signed IPSW file, and Apple stops signing older releases very quickly after new ones ship.
Conclusion
Keeping your iOS version through a factory reset is simple once you know the rule: erase from the iPhone’s own Settings and your software stays put; restore from a computer and you will land on the latest signed iOS whether you want it or not. Back up, erase on-device, and set the phone up fresh — your iOS version will be exactly where you left it.
