How to Remove Malware from Your iPhone

Although many people believe that an iPhone or iPad is more secure than Android devices, it’s still possible for an Apple device to get a virus. There are several signs that your phone may be infected, including:

• reduced battery life
• decreased operating speeds
• higher than normal data charges
• unexpected pop-ups
• suspicious apps or activity

A virus or malware can do more than just slow down your phone's overall performance and use more data — they can compromise your personal information and online accounts, including your digital wallets and financial apps. Although App Store apps are subject to Apple’s high security standards, your iPhone can be infected with a virus from sources such as third-party app stores or a suspicious email or link. 

If you think your phone may have a malware infection, there are simple ways to restore your iPhone and reclaim your security. We'll walk you through the steps, plus show you our recommended best iPhone antivirus apps to help you remove malware and protect against future threats.

How to remove malware from an iPhone

If your phone is infected with spyware, a virus, or other malware, you can remove it using these steps.

1. Restart your iPhone

Restarting the device is your first step to removing iPhone viruses or malware.

Depending on the type of iPhone you have, restarting it will be a little different. If you have an iPhone X, 11, 12, or 13, you need to press and hold the volume up or down button, along with the side button. Hold both of these until “slide to power off” appears. Slide the button and wait 30 seconds for the power to turn off. Once off, turn your iPhone back on by holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.

For older iPhones, press and hold down the side or top power button until the power-off slider appears.

If your iPhone still has the same issues you noticed before, consider trying these additional steps to secure your device.

2. Clear your browsing data and history

If restarting your iOS device doesn’t clear the virus, you should also try to clear your browsing data and history. Clearing your browsing history depends on what browser you use.

Safari

To clear the data from Safari, you’ll head to the settings icon on your iPhone.

• Scroll down to the Safari icon and select it.

• Find Clear History and Website Data and select it.

Google Chrome

If you use Chrome, you’ll head to the app to erase your browsing data and search history.

• In Chrome, click on the “...” in the bottom right and select history.

• Once in the history section, select Clear Browsing Data. This will allow you to define what to delete and in what time frame.

Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and other browsers

For other browsers, head to the settings section and look for the option to erase your history and website data. This practice is also good for your laptop or desktop computer for added security, as well.

How to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup

Another option to remove malware from your iPhone is to restore your phone to a previous backup from before the virus was installed on your device. To begin the backup process, you want to make sure you have a recent backup saved on your iCloud. If you select to restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup, you’ll sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and select the backup you’d like to use to restore your phone. Your phone will begin restoring from the backup, which could take from minutes to hours to finalize. Your phone will show a progress bar of the process.

• To see your latest iCloud backup, go to Settings on your iPhone and select your Apple ID at the top of the settings menu.

• Here you can find the iCloud icon and find your latest backup.

• After you select iCloud, you will select iCloud backup. If the backup is turned on, you will see your latest backup displayed.

• You can also instruct your iPhone to conduct a backup at this time if you need a more recent backup.

The benefit of restoring your iPhone from a backup is that you can go back to an earlier version prior to the virus being on your phone and still keep all of your important contacts, pictures, and more.

Once you’ve verified that you have a recent backup, you will want to begin the restoration process. To begin restoring your phone, you will want to follow the steps to erase all content and settings below.

Erase all content and settings

You’ll need to erase all your content and settings to install a backup version of your iPhone.

This is also an option, even if you don’t have a backup. If your phone has become unusable due to malware, it might be worth it to erase all content and settings, even if you don’t have a backup. This will bring your phone back to its original condition when you purchased it.

To erase all content and settings from your iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Open your device settings.

2. Go to General.

3. Scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone.

4. Select Erase All Content and Settings.

5. Follow the on-screen prompts to reset your iPhone. You may need to enter your passcode.

Once the process is complete, it will reboot as if it were a new phone. 

If you have a backup, follow the steps below to restore the backup. Just be sure the backup is from before the malware was installed. If you don’t have a backup, you’re starting fresh and will need to manually download all your apps.

How to restore your iPhone from a computer backup

Once you’ve erased all the content on your iPhone, turn the device on to start restoring the backup. When you turn on the iPhone, you’ll follow the prompts until you get to the Apps & Data section. You can select to restore your phone from an iCloud backup or from a Mac or PC.

Restoring from a Mac running macOS Catalina

If you’d like to restore your iPhone from a backup on your Mac running macOS Catalina, you can also do that after erasing the content and settings. Similar to the iCloud backup, you’ll follow on-screen prompts until you get to the Apps & Data section of starting your iPhone. Here you can select to restore from a Mac.

If your backup is encrypted, you’ll need to enter the password to the backup to begin the process.

If you’re running macOS Catalina or a later operating system, you’ll complete the restore process through Finder. Open Finder and connect your iPhone with a USB cable. From here, select your iPhone from the finder window. Once you’ve selected your device, you can select “Restore Backup” to begin the process.

Similar to restoring from iCloud, you’ll select the backup you’d like to use and begin the restore process.

Restoring from a PC or earlier version of macOS

If you’re using a PC or a Mac with an earlier version of the operating system, you’ll use iTunes to complete the restoration process. To start, open iTunes and plug your iPhone into your computer using a USB cable.

From iTunes, you’ll be able to see the iPhone. Select the iPhone from the menu on the left and choose “Restore Backup” to begin the process. Select the backup you’d like to use and select restore.

How to protect your iPhone from mobile malware

It’s important to take steps to protect your iPhone and other devices from malware. The same security tips you practice for your laptop or desktop device will help avoid unwanted files on your iPhone as well.

Here are a few security measures to keep iPhone malware at bay:

1. Don’t open files from unknown sources. You may receive text messages from unknown phone numbers that include a link to a file or even an actual file. These could be a scam or hackers attempting to get your information, and links could lead you to a phishing site. To avoid a virus, don’t click on suspicious links or open files from anyone you don’t know.
2. Avoid apps you don’t remember downloading. If you see unfamiliar apps on your phone that you don’t remember downloading, consider deleting them. And only download apps from the App Store to avoid putting malicious apps on your device. 
3. Watch out for in-app ads. There are many apps out there that include in-app ads. These ads may link to an unwanted website. Avoid clicking on in-app ads that look suspicious or that you don’t recognize.
4. Keep iOS up-to-date. Apple will periodically update iOS software. Many of these software updates have patches for iPhone vulnerabilities. Update your iPhone promptly when these are released.
5. Avoid jailbreaking your device. Jailbreaking, or removing security features to gain access to the operating system, can decrease the security of your jailbroken device and could lead to more opportunities for malware.
6. Encrypt your backup. To further protect your data and device, add encryption to your iPhone backups. This will add an extra layer of protection to the backup so you can restore your iPhone knowing that the backup data was secure.
7. Use a VPN. Using a virtual private network (VPN) is another way to keep your iPhone safe while browsing the internet, especially when you’re using public Wi-Fi. This will hide your IP address and help secure your browsing history. We recommend NordVPN as the best VPN for iPhones.

Best antivirus apps to remove and prevent malware

In addition to the safety tips above, there are several good antivirus programs you can install to protect your iPhone and get rid of viruses. We've tested dozens of antivirus programs that help clear viruses and other threats. Check out our top picks for the best antivirus apps for iPhone.

• Norton 360: Norton's iPhone antivirus app is loaded with security features, making it a great value choice. We especially like that it automatically scans for the latest security patches and updates, and it includes phishing protection for your iCal and text messages.
  
  See Norton Plans | Read Our Norton Review
• Avast: We love Avast's free antivirus app for mobile security, as it doesn't try to cut corners despite you not paying a dime. Avast Premium Security comes with extras to ensure you can shop, bank, and make online payments through your phone without worrying about hackers or scammers.
  
  See Avast Plans | Read Our Avast Review
• McAfee: McAfee's dedicated iPhone app helps you catch system vulnerabilities before they're too late. Additionally, it provides identity protection by monitoring your Social Security number, bank account information, and up to 10 email addresses. These features can keep your data secure and private.
  
  See McAfee Plans | Read Our McAfee Review

FAQs

Bottom line

It’s always better to be safe than sorry when protecting your personal data and your devices. Keyloggers, ransomware, and other types of malware can leave your devices vulnerable. Remember, the data on your smartphone is only as secure as the device, and most people fail to protect their iPhones. 

To better protect your iPhone and other internet-connected devices, be aware of the signs of a virus, such as a drastically reduced battery life, decreased operating speeds, unusual data charges, unexpected pop-ups, or suspicious apps or activity. It's also a good idea to add another layer of protection. We recommend a secure VPN with antivirus for ultimate iPhone protection.