How to Reset iPhone Without Losing Contacts

Does factory reset delete everything on iPhone? The answer to this question is absolutely YES. Factory resetting iPhone will erase all your personal data from iPhone, and all contacts are involved. But how can you reset iPhone without losing contacts or any other iPhone data? Obviously, you need to backup iPhone contacts first and then reset iPhone.

Therefore, if necessary, you can turn to Bonus to reset iPhone and keep everything. To reset your iPhone without losing contacts only, you can follow the two steps to make it.

Step 1. Backup iPhone contacts before resetting

You need to backup your contacts so that you can restore them back to iPhone after the resetting process. You can rely on either iCloud or FoneTool, a backup tool for iOS devices to keep contacts safe.

Option 1. Backup contacts via iCloud

iCloud provides an easy way for you to backup and sync data. You can turn on Contacts in iCloud before resetting iPhone. When it is over, sign in the same Apple ID on your iPhone, and iCloud will update all of the contacts.

Make sure your iPhone has connected to a stable network, and go to Settings > Tap [your name] > iCloud > Turn on Contacts > When you’re asked if you want to Cancel or Merge, select Merge.

As you can see, one of the biggest demerits of iCloud is that you have no idea about the backup process. The backup process can be easily influenced by Internet condition, either. Therefore, If your iCloud storage is full or just can't perform well, you can backup contacts to a Windows PC with the help of a professional tool introduced below.

Option 2. Backup iPhone contacts via FoneTool (selectively)

FoneTool, one of the best backup tools, makes it simpler for you to backup and restore contacts on a computer. 

If you want to:
• preview and backup selective contacts as per your need,
• backup contacts at superfast speed without the influence of the Internet,
• be free to browse and restore backup contacts, FoneTool must be a nice choice for you!

Free download FoneTool to your computer by clicking the icon below, and follow the simple steps to know how to factory reset iPhone without losing contacts by creating a backup.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone with a computer with a USB cable > Tap Trust on the iPhone.
Step 2. Click Phone Backup from the left pane on the homepage > Choose Selective Backup and click Get Started.

Step 3. Check the Contacts icon and uncheck the others > Preview and select files you don’t want to lose > Click OK.

Warm tip: Wondering how to reset iPhone without losing contacts and photos, and other types of files? You can simply click and choose these files at the same time in this step.

Step 3. Select a backup path, and click Start Backup.

After you reset iPhone, you can connect your iPhone to the computer again, and go to the Backup History screen of FoneTool to restore contacts with one click. 

Optionally, you can also try the iPhone to PC function to transfer contacts from iPhone to computer so that you can browse contacts via Excel when you save contacts as CSV. format. After resetting your iPhone, utilize PC to iPhone instead to import contacts to your iPhone.

Now, it's time to reset iPhone. When it is over, you can restore the contacts in a relative way.

Step 2. Reset iPhone to factory settings

You can reset iPhone to factory settings by going to iPhone Settings directly or utilizing iTunes. Choose a way to reset iPhone as you like.

Way 1. Reset iPhone from Settings app

iPhone enables you to reset iPhone directly. Follow the steps below to reset your iPhone. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Select Erase All Content and Settings. You will be asked to enter your iPhone passcode. Then, follow the onscreen instructions to finish resetting your iPhone.

Way 2. Reset iPhone with iTunes

Alternatively, iTunes provides you with another choice to reset iPhone as well. If your iPhone cannot work normally, like your iPhone typing by itself, you can try to reset it via iTunes.

Before you try to reset iPhone with iTunes, make sure you have downloaded the latest version of iTunes on your Windows PC. If you enable “Find My iPhone” function on your iPhone, you can go to Settings > [your name] > Find My, tap Find My iPhone, then turn it off. Then follow the steps below to reset iPhone with iTunes.

Step 1. Open iTunes on your PC, and connect your iPhone to it.
Step 2. Select your iPhone > Click Summary > Click Restore iPhone...

Step 3. Click Restore to confirm.

Note: iTunes will erase all data and install the latest version of iOS on your iPhone. If you have synced your iPhone on iTunes, you can restore backup to your iPhone, which may include contacts.

Bonus: How to reset iPhone without losing everything

You may have other data that is as important as contacts. If you are wondering how to reset iPhone without losing everything, try Full Backup function in FoneTool to make a full iPhone backup within one click: Choose Full Backup → Enable Backup encryption → Start Backup.

You can backup all your apps, Safari, system settings, as well as common data like photos, music, etc. It can not only protect your data better, but also save time when you restore them. 

Conclusion

That’s all about how to reset iPhone without losing contacts. First, you’d better figure out whether the way you reset iPhone will erase your contacts. If it does, I’m inclined to use FoneTool to keep data safer, because sometimes iCloud may not sync contacts.

In addition, if you want to sell your old iPhone, FoneTool can also wipe your iPhone clean and make it unrecoverable to protect your personal data.

If you have any queries, suggestions, feel free to contact us or leave your comments.