[DigitalToday reporter Jae-won Choi (최재원)] When an iPhone has an error, there is no need to reset it without thinking. Differences are large from restarting to resetting settings and erasing all data, so it is important to approach the issue step by step to match the symptoms.

Engadget, an IT outlet, reported on Aug. 30 that iPhone troubleshooting can be broadly divided into restarting, resetting all settings and a factory reset. Apple also distinguishes each function by specific names in its official support documents.

The first method to try is a restart. Turning the power off and on again does not affect personal data such as photos, apps and messages. If the screen freezes and you cannot power it off normally, you can use a force restart. On the latest iPhones, quickly press the volume up button, then the volume down button, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

For system problems such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that are not fixed by a restart, you can consider resetting all settings. Personal data such as photos and videos, apps, messages and documents remain, but Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth pairing, Apple Pay cards, Face ID and Touch ID, and location and privacy settings are reset. Apple also advises users to restart first for general problems and to use this function if that does not resolve the issue.

The strongest measure is to erase all content and settings. Often referred to as a factory reset, it deletes all personal information and settings on the device and returns it to its initial state. It is used as a last resort for troubleshooting or is needed when selling or transferring an iPhone. It is important to back up in advance so the device can be restored.

The outlet, for convenience, distinguished between a soft reset that erases only settings and a hard reset that deletes all data. But other materials also call a force restart a hard reset. In the end, what matters more than terminology is checking which action deletes data and increasing the intensity in the order of restart, then reset settings, then a full reset.