iPhone Cleanup Guide (For Anyone!)
Backup Photos ➤ Reset Phone ➤ Restore Photos + WhatsApp
⚠️ BEFORE YOU START:
Make sure:
Your iPhone is charged (at least 50%)
You’re connected to Wi-Fi
You know your Apple ID & password (you’ll need this to reset)
🔹 STEP 1: Backup All Photos (So You Don’t Lose Anything)
🧑🏫 Method A: Use iCloud (Apple’s Online Backup)
📍 How to check if iCloud Photo Backup is ON:
Open the Settings app (it’s a grey icon with gears).
Tap your name at the top (this takes you to Apple ID settings).
Tap iCloud.
Tap Photos.
Turn ON the switch next to iCloud Photos (it should turn green).
📌 Wait for some time (maybe a few hours depending on how many photos you have).
Your photos are now stored safely online and will come back automatically later.
🧑🏫 Method B: Use Google Photos (Free and Safe)
Open the App Store (blue icon with an “A”)
Search for Google Photos and install it.
Open Google Photos and sign in with your Google (Gmail) account.
When asked for access, allow everything (photos, notifications, etc.)
Tap your profile icon (top-right corner) → Tap “Turn on backup” → Tap “Confirm”
📌 It will now start uploading your photos. Keep your phone on Wi-Fi and plugged in if needed.
🧑🏫 Method C: Save Photos to a Computer (Mac or Windows)
Plug your iPhone into your computer using the charging cable.
On a Mac:
Open the Photos app
Click Import All
On a Windows PC:
Open File Explorer
Find your iPhone on the left panel
Open the DCIM folder
Copy all the folders to your desktop or an external drive
Now your photos are safe on your computer.
🔹 STEP 2: Backup WhatsApp Chats (If You Use WhatsApp)
Open the WhatsApp app.
Tap Settings (bottom right corner).
Tap Chats.
Tap Chat Backup.
Tap Back Up Now.
📌 Wait for the backup to finish.
Make sure iCloud Drive is ON:
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud
Scroll and turn ON iCloud Drive
✅ This ensures all your WhatsApp chats and photos/videos are saved online.
🔹 STEP 3: Erase Everything (Reset Your iPhone)
Once your photos and WhatsApp are backed up…
Open the Settings app.
Tap General (scroll down a bit).
Scroll to the bottom and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
You may be asked to enter:
Your iPhone passcode
Your Apple ID password
Tap Continue or Erase iPhone.
📌 Your phone will restart, and after a few minutes, it will look like a brand-new iPhone.
🔹 STEP 4: Set Up iPhone After Reset
Turn on your iPhone (swipe up when the screen says “Hello”).
Choose your language and country.
Connect to Wi-Fi.
Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Choose Set Up as New iPhone (don’t restore from backup).
📌 This keeps your phone clean and prevents old junk from coming back.
🔹 STEP 5: Restore Photos
If You Used iCloud Photos :
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos
Turn ON iCloud Photos
📌 Your photos will start downloading automatically.
If You Used Google Photos:
Install Google Photos from the App Store.
Sign in with the same Google account.
You’ll see all your backed-up photos.
Tap any photo > tap the three dots (•••) > choose “Save to device” to bring it back into your Camera Roll (if needed).
If You Used a Computer:
Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac again.
Drag and drop your saved photos back to the iPhone using iTunes/Finder or AirDrop (Mac only).
🔹 STEP 6: Restore WhatsApp
Open the App Store
Download and install WhatsApp
Open WhatsApp and enter your mobile number
Tap “Restore Chat History” when it asks
📌 Your chats and media will be restored from iCloud backup.
🛡️ RECAP: What Will Stay & What Will Be Lost
What Stays
What You Lose
Photos (if backed up)
Apps and their saved data
WhatsApp chats (if backed up)
Home screen layout, folders
Contacts, Notes, Calendars (if synced to iCloud/Gmail)
Offline media (Netflix, Spotify)
Email Accounts
Bluetooth/Wi-Fi passwords
Safari Bookmarks (if iCloud Safari is ON)
Screen Time settings, VPNs
iCloud Keychain passwords
Health data (unless iCloud or encrypted backup used)
🧠 Final Tips:
Double-check that your photos are backed up before erasing the phone.
Make sure you know your Apple ID password — it’s required for setup and security.
After reset, install only the apps you use. Leave the rest in the past.
Need help? Just ping Hey Charu and we’ll walk you through it.