How to get rid of a virus on your iPhone

6 ways to remove a virus or other malware from your iPhone

iPhones can get viruses and other types of malicious software, though it’s extremely rare. If your iPhone seems compromised, work through the steps below in order. Start with the simplest fixes first, then move to the more drastic options only if the problem continues.

1. Restart your iPhone

In some cases, restarting your iPhone can stop suspicious activity, especially when a scam page, frozen browser tab, or glitchy app session causes it. Restarting usually will not remove an underlying threat on its own, but it can close a harmful webpage, end a temporary app session, or stop a scam pop-up that is still active in the browser.

To restart your iPhone:

1. 1.Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears.
2. 2.Drag the slider from left to right to turn off your device.
3. 3.Wait a few seconds.
4. 4.Press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.

2. Delete suspicious or unfamiliar apps

Unfamiliar or suspicious third-party apps on your iPhone could be malicious. Deleting them can help remove a virus or other malware. To remove a suspicious app:

1. 1.Review your apps and look for an app you don’t recognize or didn’t mean to install.
2. 2.Long-press the app icon and tap “Remove app.”

   

3. 3.Tap “Delete app” to confirm.

   

3. Update your iOS

Updating iOS helps protect your iPhone because Apple fixes security vulnerabilities in software updates that malware, including viruses, could exploit. To update iOS on your iPhone:

1. 1.Go to “Settings.”
2. 2.Tap “General.”

   

3. 3.Tap “Software update.”

   

4. 4.Tap “Update now.”
5. 5.Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the update.

4. Check for unknown configuration profiles

Checking configuration profiles matters because a malicious profile can give an attacker ongoing access to your device settings or network traffic. Before you remove a profile, note that legitimate profiles often come from an employer or school — if you don’t recognize a profile, check with your IT team first.

To check for unknown profiles on your iPhone:

1. 1.Go to “Settings” and tap “General.”

   

2. 2.Select  “VPN & device management.”

   

3. 3.Look for a profile you don’t recognize.
4. 4.Tap the profile.
5. 5.Tap “Remove profile.”

5. Restore your iPhone from a clean backup

Restoring your device from a clean backup can remove a virus or another type of malware, but choose a backup dated before you noticed symptoms of a malware infection. Keep in mind that this step returns your device to the state it was in at that point, so you’ll lose any data added after that backup.

You can restore your iPhone from a backup on your computer or from an iCloud backup. To restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup:

1. 1.Go to “Settings” and tap your Apple account banner.

   

2. 2.Select “iCloud.”

   

3. 3.Check that “iCloud backup” is turned on and confirm that you have a usable backup.
4. 4.Return to “Settings” and select “General.”

   

5. 5.Scroll down to the bottom and tap “Transfer or reset iPhone.”

   

6. 6.Select “Erase all content and settings.”

   

7. 7.Tap “Continue” to confirm the erase.
8. 8.Wait for your device to finish erasing.
9. 9.When you see the “Transfer your apps & data” screen, tap “From iCloud backup.”
10. 10.When asked, sign in to your Apple account.
11. 11.Wait for the restore to complete.
12. 12.Follow the remaining steps to finish setting up your device.

6. Factory reset your iPhone to start from scratch

A factory reset on an iPhone is a last resort. Use it only if all other steps have failed or if you don’t have a reliable, uncompromised backup to restore from.

Resetting your device to factory settings deletes everything on your iPhone, including apps, text messages, settings, and important files, so back up anything important before you start. 

To begin, follow the same steps as restoring from a backup. When you reach the “Transfer your apps & data” screen, tap “Don’t transfer anything” to start fresh instead of restoring.

What to do about fake iPhone virus warnings

Many people who think their iPhone has a virus are actually seeing a scam page in Safari. iPhones don’t show built-in virus warning pop-ups in the browser — a message claiming “Your iPhone has a virus” is always fake.

These pages often display Apple logos, bold colors, and scare tactics to create a sense of urgency. The page may prompt you to tap a button, download an app, or call a phone number. If you see one of these pop-ups:

• Don’t tap the alert, button, or link.
• Don’t call any number shown on the screen.
• Close the Safari tab immediately.

Instead:

1. 1.Open “Settings” and tap “Apps.”
2. 2.Find “Safari” and tap it. 
3. 3.Tap “Clear history and website data.”

   

4. 4.To confirm, tap “Clear history.” Doing so will delete all cookies and cached data.

   

If the pop-ups keep coming back after clearing your data, check your app downloads and remove suspicious ones. For more details on what these scams look like and how they work, see our guides on fake virus warning pop-ups and fake Apple security alerts.

How to protect your iPhone after virus removal

Follow these habits to improve your iPhone security and reduce the risk of future problems:

• Keep iOS and your apps updated — turn on automatic updates to skip the manual work.
• Install apps only from the official Apple App Store.
• Avoid suspicious links in emails, texts, social media messages, and pop-ups.
• Clear your browser history and website data if you run into scam pages.
• Use security software or a tool such as NordVPN’s Threat Protection to block malicious sites and ads.
• Don’t jailbreak your iPhone.

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