Erasing All Contents and Settings is taking a long time showing circle loading logo

So, I was trying to erase my phone (iPhone 4) because I'm suppose to sell it tomorrow since I have an iPhone 5 and no longer need a 4...  so I tried the "easiest" way with Erasing All Contests from the phone but it's been 3 hours and the circle is still there.
Now I've read other places where it says what to do, but my problem is the following my power button does not work at all.  So I can't press Power and Home because it isn't going to do anything.  Should I wait to see if the circle stops? Should I wait to see if the battery dies? is there any way at all to turn it off and try again?

iPhone 4 uses hareware encryption and doesn't require overwriting - should take only a few minutes.  The fact that yours is going for hours suggests the phone was hacked/jailbroken.
iOS: Understanding 'Erase All Content and Settings

Similar Messages

  • Erasing All Contents and Settings is taking a long time, showing circle loading logo.. is this normal?

    I decided to first "restore" my phone in the itunes store and then i  "Erase(d) All Contents and Settings". Its been taking longer then a couple hours and it is not showing the apple logo is is showing the circle loading screen. Is this normal? Please help!

    Try a normal reset; just turn your phone off and then on again:
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430
    Then connect it to your computer (with iTunes already running) via the USB cable.
    Give it a few seconds, then look for your phone's icon in the left-hand column of the iTunes window. Click on it once.
    In the right-hand (large) column of the iTunes window, look for RESTORE TO FACTORY SETTING. Click on that and let it happen; it will take a few minutes.
    Do not bother with the Erase All command from your iPhone's Settings app - unless you have a significant security concern, it is not necessary to do that.

  • I have an iPhone 4 that I need to reset completely. If I erase all content and settings, will it no longer be registered under my phone number?

    I have an iPhone 4 that I need to reset completely. If I erase all content and settings, will it no longer be registered under my phone number?

    Yes, the phone will still be connected to your Verizon account. In order to remove it from your Verizon account, you will either need to activate another phone on that number or disconnect the number.

  • Erasing all content and settings from my iPad is taking 8+ hours...

    I wanted to erase all content and settings from my iPad. I started the process at 2pm and it is now 10:20pm. It has been stuck on the loading circle going round and round for more than 8 hours now... is this normal? What should I do? and is there anything that can fasten up the process. My iPad is an iPad mini 16GB WIFI white, on either iOS 7.1.1 or iOS 7.1.2 and most of the storage was taken up, is that why its taking too long?

    Hello ceburton,
    After reviewing your post, it sounds like Erase All Content and Settings is taking a while to finish. I would recommend that you read this article, it may be able to help the issue.
    iOS: Understanding 'Erase All Content and Settings' - Apple Support
    When you select to "Erase All Content and Settings," the process can take from a few minutes to several hours. The time this process takes will vary by iOS device:
    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
    Have a nice day,
    Mario

  • HT201328 Hello,  I needed to do a hard reset on my iPhone 3GS and it's taking me too much time. It's taking almost 12 hours by now!!!!   I did it by going to "Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content and Settings", confirm it and then the iPhone turns

    Hello,
    I needed to do a hard reset on my iPhone 3GS and it's taking me too much time. It's taking almost 3 hours by now!!!!
    I did it by going to "Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content and Settings", confirm it and then the iPhone turns off, gets the screen black with only the animated circle going on. And it's been there since then.
    Is this a symptom of something bad? Should I do the hard reset by another way?

    Hello Ali Syed,
    It sounds like your phone is stuck at the spinning gear icon on the screen after Erasing all Content and Settings on your device. I would start by resetting the device with this process:
    To reset, press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo.
    From: Turn your iOS device off and on (restart) and reset
              http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430
    If the issue persists you may need to put the phone into recovery mode, and then restore it with iTunes as a new device:
    If you can't update or restore your iOS device
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1808
    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
    Take care,
    Sterling

  • 'Erase All Content and Settings' i selected it and it's taking too long it's not even loading! Is it really tooks a several hours ? is there any problem how can i fix it. Please tell me

    'Erase All Content and Settings' i selected it and it's taking too long it's not even loading! Is it really tooks a several hours ? is there any problem how can i fix it. Please tell me

    Likewise bro... atleast mine has the Apple logo... and the circular thing... I saw this online and i'll be trying it ASAP... http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1808

  • Really how secure is the current erase all content and settings?

    I am not sure about taking my iPhone in for repair or exchange after reading many old articles about how unsecure the erase really is, seeing how many sensitive passwords and e-mails I have. I have the most current firmware. So tell me, how reliable for keeping my data safe and gone is the current "Erase all content and settings" feature?
    Also note: I have iPhone 3g, not later or earlier. So I am not sure if the hardware would make a difference, but yeah.
    Message was edited by: nkcrcr

    It is what it is. Erase all contents & settings overwrites user settings and information, writing a series of ones to the data partition. This process can take several hours, depending on the storage capacity of your iPhone. During this time, the device displays the Apple logo and a progress bar. If you had a 3GS, it would be instantaneous, as the 3GS supports hardware encryption. Can someone still recover data? Yes. But the software & equipment necessary to do so is very expensive & generally only available to law enforcement.

  • Erasing all content and settings

    Not sure this is the correct forum topic, but it came closest. My Ipod touch 3gen has been freezing for weeks. I kept resetting it by holding the sleep/wake button & home button, but recently that became less effective because I was no longer able to open any of my apps. So I used the erase all content & settings option. I started this on Sunday (1/30/11) around noon. It is still erasing...I guess. My screen is black with that little "thinking" circle rotating in the middle of the screen. Is that typical of the Ipod erasing the content, or has something gone awry?

    The Users Guide says that it can take up to four hours:
    Erase all content and settings: Connect iPod touch to your computer or a power
    adapter. Choose General > Reset and tap “Erase All Content and Settings.”
    This resets all settings to their defaults and erases all your information and media:
    On iPod touch 3rd generation or later: by removing the encryption key to the data
    (which is encrypted using 256-bit AES encryption)
    On iPod touch 2nd generation: by overwriting the data
    Important: You can’t use iPod touch while data is being overwritten. This can take
    up to four hours or more, depending on the model and storage capacity of your
    iPod touch. (On iPod touch 3rd generation or later, the encryption key is removed
    immediately.)
    Thus, if you really have a 3G (if it has 8GB capacity it is really a 2G) or even a 3G it is taking too long. I would stop/reset and then try restoring the iPad via iTunes.
    For you stated problem the best solution would have been restoring to factory defaults/new iPod via iTunes instead of resetting via the reset all setting.

  • I have recently erased all content and settings on my iPad2 and performed a restore from both icloud backup and iTunes. On both occasions I am missing some photos. It tells me I am downloading 1641 photos but only does 903 starting at no.738

    I have recently erased all content and settings on my iPad2 and performed a restore from both icloud backup and iTunes. On both occasions I am missing some photos. It tells me I am downloading 1641 photos but actually only starts downloading from photo 738, only giving me 903 photos. where have the first 737 photos gone? Can anyone help

    Hi there,
    I would recommend taking a look at the troubleshooting steps found in the article below.
    iCloud: Troubleshooting missing information after restoring an iOS device
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4605
    -Griff W.

  • HT201274 How do you cancel the "erase all content and settings" process?

    I started the "erase all content and settings" process and its seems to be taking forever, please how do i cancel the "erase all content and settings" process?

    Welcome to Apple Communities
    Try to turn off your device holding the Sleep button. Then, turn on, connect it to your computer and restore with iTunes

  • If I use Erase all content and settings it will set my phone to new right?

    I have an iPhone 4s
    OS 6.1.3
    I want to make sure everything is deleted, data apps etc and I want to start new again, RESTORE to new
    If I go to
    Settings>General>Reset> Erase all Content and Settings
    that will take my phone to a new state right?  I want it to be completely new and to start over
    Also I read about people restoring the phone, But is Restore different than taking it back to out of the box status?

    I Thought erase all content and settings is the only way to restore the phone to new.
    SOunds like you are saying there are two ways to restore to new?
    what is the second way?

  • I gave my ipad 2 to my brother last month. After that he erased all content and settings, sign in with his apple id. The next day until now, I found out that I can not udpate my apps both on my iPhone and iPad Air. What should I do? Thank you in advance.

    I gave my ipad 2 to my brother last month. After that he erased all content and settings, sign in with his apple id. The next day until now, I found out that I can not udpate my apps both on my iPhone and iPad Air. I had create new apple id, change my password, delete the icloud acc. But still I can not update my apps. I have many of red notifications on iPhone and iPad Air. What should I do? Thank you in advance.

    1. It is never a good idea to include personal info like your email address or Apple ID in a post on an open forum.
    2. The email you received DOES NOT say your Apple ID cannot be used to unlock this iPad. The email informs you that your Apple ID was used to unlock an iPad. Fortunately the iPad is yours. The message confirms that. If your Apple ID was used to unlock an iPad that was not yours your would then know to change your password. Since the iPad is yours you do not need to change your password.
    Is your iPad working?

  • HT201274 I was given an iphone 4s by my sister as she got a new one, now i want to clear it so that i can set it up with my own details, if i erase all content and settings will this affect anything on her new iphone as it is synced to the same gmail acco

    I was given an iphone 4s by my sister as she got a new one, now i want to clear it so that i can set it up with my own details, if i erase all content and settings will this affect anything on her new iphone as it is synced to the same gmail account

    her contacts are connected directly with the Google Server so as long as they are saved to her Gmail account she should be 100% fine.. the only contacts she may lose are the ones that she added directly onto the phone and did not sync to her Gmail account.. so you should just double check with her on that

  • If I 'Erase all content and settings' on my iPod touch will it delete my music?

    So yesterday my email changed so I changed my Apple ID email. I did it and typed the password in and stuff and it was fine. Then, it went really dodgy when I logged out of my old Apple ID and in to my new one. It kept popping up on my screen 'username or password for 'iCloud is incorrect' so I went to check my iCloud things and it wouldn't let me log into my new account. Also, it wouldn't receive iCloud mail that I have and it also won't back up my iPod. That's when I thought of resetting my iPod. But, because my Apple ID is dodgy I'm nervous about it deleting music. I've heard you can log out, reset then log in again but I don't know whether I'll be able to... I want to delete EVERYTHING apart from music.

    As it says, Settings>General>Reset>Erase all Content and Settings Erases Everything.
    Y can do this to move the music to a computer.
    Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device: Apple Support Communities
    However, just what did you do? Could you have created a new account vice change the contact email address?
    I no longer have an email address that was also my Apple ID. Can I still use the email address as my Apple ID?
    Apple recommends you change your Apple ID to your current, working email address. This will not create another Apple ID, it will only change it to your working email address. See Changing the name you use for your Apple ID if you'd like more information.
    Note: @mac.com and @me.com Apple IDs can not be renamed.  If you no longer use the .mac or .me email address be sure to add your valid email address as an additional email address.

  • Erase All Content and Settings on my iPod Touch

    I'm trying to delete an old email address from my iPod Touch. It doesn't show up in Contacts and it has been deleted from my AOL, Yahoo, and gmail Contacts lists both in my iPod and on the laptop I use to synch the iPod. When I open my iPod and click to compose email it doesn't show up in the possible matches pop up while I'm typing the address. However, if I'm writing an email from an open app it does. I think I entered it manually one time rather than from my contacts list and it's stored in my iPod somewhere but I can't find it to delete it. A friend has suggested clicking on the Erase All Content and Settings but I'm not sure if I can re-synch with iTunes to restore apps and music and, if I can, I'm not sure if it will come back when I restore the apps.
    I'm asking if that may be a possible solution to my problem and if I do that will I be able to restore content, including any purchased apps by re-synching with iTunes? I'm concerned with losing something I can't replace. Any assistance would be appreciated.

    Ok, thanks for the response. I just have two more questions:
    1) In my iTunes when I connect the iPod to my laptop I and click on My iPod, under Apps I get a listing of all my optional apps with boxes to be checked if I want them installed down the left side of the page, with the exception of the standard apps that are included with the iPod, like Photos, for instance, which cannot be removed through iTunes. Am I correct in assuming that these standard apps will automatically be restored when I re-synch?
    2) What about photos I have taken with my iPod? Will I lose those? Is there a way to send them in bulk to my laptop first before erasing everything so that I won't lose the photos I've taken? When I go to the Photos folder in iTunes I can't tell which pictures are there and which are only in the iPod.

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