iOS · Recovery Guide

How to Remove Malware and Suspicious Apps From an iPhone

Follow these steps to clean up your iPhone, remove malicious software, and restore your device to a safe state.

Review and Uninstall Suspicious Apps

Start by checking your installed applications for anything you don't recognise or haven't intentionally downloaded. Malicious apps often masquerade as legitimate ones or appear after visiting suspicious websites.

1. Head to your Home Screen and swipe left through all pages to see all installed apps, including those in the App Library.
2. Identify any apps that seem unfamiliar, were installed without your knowledge, or have unusual icons.
3. To uninstall an app, gently press and hold its icon until a menu appears. Tap Remove App, then Delete App, and finally Delete to confirm.
4. Repeat this process for all suspicious applications.
5. For a more complete overview, go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage. This shows apps by size and lets you delete them.

Clear Website Data and History

Malicious websites can sometimes install profiles or store data that can track you or redirect your browser. Clearing this data can help to remove lingering threats.

1. Open Settings and scroll down to your preferred web browser, such as Safari.
2. Tap on Clear History and Website Data. Confirm your choice by tapping Clear History and Data.
3. If you use other browsers like Chrome or Firefox, open each app directly and look for their privacy or history settings to clear data.
4. Additionally, check Settings → General → VPN & Device Management for any profiles you don't recognise. If present, tap on the profile and then Remove Profile.

Reset All Settings

If the problem persists, resetting your iPhone's settings can often resolve issues caused by malicious software without deleting your personal data.

1. Go to Settings → General.
2. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Reset, then select Reset All Settings.
4. You will be prompted to enter your passcode. Confirm the reset.
5. This action resets all network settings, keyboard dictionary, home screen layout, location settings, and privacy settings to their defaults, but your data and media will remain untouched.

Perform a Factory Reset (Last Resort)

As a final measure, if none of the above steps have resolved the issue, a full factory reset will erase all data and settings from your iPhone, restoring it to its original state. This is an extreme step, so ensure you have backed up your essential data.

1. First, ensure you have a recent backup of your iPhone. Go to Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now.
2. Navigate to Settings → General.
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
5. You may be asked to enter your passcode or Apple ID password. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the erasure.
6. Once the reset is complete, you can set up your iPhone as new or restore from your recent backup. Only restore from a backup you know is clean and free of the malware.