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Top 3 Ways to Factory Reset iPhone without Passcode or iTunes

Forgot your passcode and need a factory reset on your iPhone? Here are top 3 ways for you to factory reset an iPhone without passcode or iTunes. Steps to factory reset iPhone with iTunes are also elaborated below.

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Pauline Larson
Updated on Nov 15, 2022

To factory reset an iPhone without password or iTunes is not that hard for you.

When you use an iPhone, you need to remember the passcode to get uninterrupted access to the device's features. Forgetting the passcode and entering multiple wrong passcode attempts would lock your iPhone, and you can't access to it until you enter the right passcode or factory reset your iPhone without passcode (using iTunes or not).

Doing a factory reset on iPhone via iTunes can be a viable solution to regain access to your iPhone. However, you might be unable to factory reset your locked iPhone with iTunes for the reason that you don't have a computer or cannot install iTunes in your old PC. To solve the problem, we will bring you 3 simple ways to factory reset an iPhone without passcode or iTunes.

Among the methods outlined below, iPhone Unlocker is one of the most efficient and easiest ways to restore an iPhone to factory settings without passcode or iTunes. Give it a try and save more time for yourself!

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One thing to notice: No matter which way you use to perform a factory reset on your iPhone without passcode or iTunes, all the data will be erased and you will lose it forever. Nevertheless, if you have a backup, you can recover the data after the factory reset is done.

If you are able to install the latest iTunes on your computer, you can check the steps on how to use iTunes to factory reset your iPhone without passcode below, along with the details about factory resetting an iPhone when you know the passcode.

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Ways to Factory Reset an iPhone without Using Passcode or iTunes

Forgetting the passcode is a very common issue. Almost all of us must have forgotten our Facebook, Email, or smartphone password at least once in our lives. And it's quite irritating when you can't access your account or device because of the false passcode.

When you forgot the iPhone passcode, it is advisable not to enter the incorrect password repeatedly if you have forgotten your passcode, since your iPhone will locked with an "iPhone Unavailable" screen after you inputted wrong passcodes for too many times. Eventually, you'll have to factory reset your iPhone without passcode to get back into it.

Tip: This guide works for all models of iPhone to do a factory reset without passcode or iTunes. You can select one of the methods below to troubleshoot the problem.

Option 1: Factory Reset an iPhone without Passcode or iTunes by Erase iPhone Feature

The first method to consider is using Erase iPhone feature to factory reset your iPhone without passcode or iTunes. It doesn't need a computer to assist, which makes it a quite convenient option for erasing your iPhone.

Some requirements need to be fulfilled before you take this approach to factory reset your iPhone without passcode or iTunes or computer:

1. Your iPhone system is of iOS 15.2 or later version.

2. You remember your Apple ID and password linked to your iPhone.

3. You have connected your iPhone to stable network.

Now, let's see how this feature works to factory reset your iPhone without passcode or iTunes.

Step 1: Keep entering the wrong passcode multiple times on your iPhone until the screen displays "iPhone Unavailable" along with the "Erase iPhone" option at the bottom-right corner. Tap on it.

Step 2: On your screen, tap Erase iPhone again for confirmation.

Step 3: Enter the Apple ID password to sign out of the account. Then tap the same option on the lower right to factory reset your locked iPhone without using passcode or iTunes.

When the reset comes to an end, your iPhone will restart automatically, and you set it up from beginning or restore your data saved from backup by following the onscreen instructions.

Option 2: Easily Factory Reset an iPhone without Passcode or iTunes by iPhone Unlocker

If you are looking for a safe and reliable tool to factory reset your iPhone without passcode or iTunes, iPhone Unlocker is here for you. You can't get better than this amazing tool to reset various types of passcodes for all models of iPhone, including Touch/Face ID, 4-/6- digit passcode, Screen Time passcode, Apple ID and password etc. Additionally, it has a user-friendly interface which is easy for anyone despite you are a tech master or not.

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If you take this approach to return your iPhone to default settings without using passcode or iTunes, the steps are simple. It's merely a matter of launching the software on your computer, plugging your iPhone into the computer and follow the onscreen instructions to finish the factory reset. Let's dive in!

Step 1. Launch iPhone Unlocker on your PC or Mac

Download and install the software on your computer. Open it. Select "Wipe Passcode" from the menu, and hit "Start" next.

Tip: This tool can work offline, allowing you to do an iPhone factory reset without Wi-Fi or cellular network; What's more, you can solve the problem by this means even when you forgot the Apple ID and password.

Step 2. Make your iPhone detected by the software

Connect your computer to your iPhone via a lightning cable and follow the guide in the link of "Device connected but not recognized?" to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode.

Step 3. Confirm the device Information

Confirm the information of your iPhone covering Device Category, Device Type, Device Model. After the confirmation, hit the "Start" button beneath.

Later a relative iOS software will start downloading for your iPhone according to the device information you've confirmed. The process might take several minutes to complete.

Step 4. Trigger the unlocking process

Once done, a warning box appears saying the tool will erase all the contents and update your iPhone to the latest iOS version. For unlock confirmation, enter "0000" and click "Unlock."

The device unlocking process will be initiated and last for several minutes. Make sure your iPhone is connected to the computer as iPhone Unlocker resets your locked device.

When your iPhone finishes the factory reset without passcode or iTunes, you can restore the data and settings from iCloud backup if you have made one in prior. Then you can enjoy using your iPhone seamlessly without losing your data.

Prefer video content to text? Watch the video below.

Option 3: Factory Reset an iPhone without Passcode or iTunes by Find My iPhone

Another method to factory reset an iPhone without passcode or iTunes is to use Find My iPhone in iCloud, which is also a great option to erase an iPhone as you can do it remotely even when you don't have the phone in hand.

Note: To use this method for an iPhone factory reset without passcode or iTunes, you need to make sure that your iPhone has turned on the option of Find My iPhone in Settings, as well as connected to the Internet. The Apple ID and password is also required during the process.

Now let's see the details on how to perform a factory reset on your iPhone without password or iTunes using Find My iPhone:

  • Sign into Find My iPhone in iCloud in a browser on a PC or Mac by entering the Apple account credentials used in the locked iPhone.
  • When a map showing locations of all your devices appears, click "All Devices" on the top and choose the iPhone from the pull-down list.
  • Presented with 3 offered options beneath the device, hit "Erase iPhone."
  • Click "Erase" in the next pop-up to start the iPhone factory reset without passcode or access to iTunes.

Tip: Not only a computer can be used to log into iCloud for the factory reset on the iPhone without passcode or iTunes, but also a phone or a tablet of either iOS or Android system can.

What If You Can Use iTunes to Factory Reset an iPhone without Passcode

When you have a PC with iTunes, you can factory reset your iPhone without passcode using iTunes. But it should be noted first that your PC should run Windows 10 or later and iTunes installed should be the latest. A Mac of macOS 15.2 or later with Finder is also feasible.

Here's how you can use iTunes to factory reset your iPhone without passcode:

1. Launch iTunes on your PC and check if it's of the newest version in "Help" > "Check for Updates" at the top of the interface. If not, update it first.

2. Plug your iPhone into the computer and make it enter Recovery Mode. The process differs slightly across devices.

  • If you have an iPhone 8 or later model, quickly press and release the Volume up button and do the same thing to the Volume down button continuously, then long-press the Side button until the Recovery Mode screen comes in sight.
  • If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold both the Side button and the Volume down button until the Recovery Mode screen shows up.
  • If you have an iPhone 6s or earlier model, hold on to the Side button and the Home button at the same time, release when you see the Recovery Mode screen.

When iTunes recognizes your iPhone, there will be a prompt asking if you need to update or restore the device. In order to factory reset your iPhone without passcode, select "Restore."

Click "Restore and Update" in the next pop-up window. Soon iTunes will start to download a software for your iPhone and then the device will reset itself.

Note: If the whole reset process takes more than 15 minutes, your iPhone will automatically exit from Recovery Mode. In this case, you'll have to put it into Recovery Mode again to start the reset.

When your iPhone reboots, you are free to start it anew or retrieve the data from the backup.

How to Restore Your iPhone to Factory Settings when You Have the Passcode

You may also need a factory reset on your iPhone to speed it up or clear the data before giving it away. Here we will show you how to factory reset your iPhone when you know the passcode.

Step 1. Go to Settings, and tap "General."

Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Transfer or Reset iPhone."

Step 3. Select "Erase All Content and Settings."

Step 4. Tap "Continue."

Step 5. Enter the lock screen passcode.

Step 6. Tap "Erase iPhone" to trigger the iPhone factory reset.

About Pauline Larson
Pauline Larson is a writer and journalist who has been well-experienced in technology industry for almost 10 years. She has posted various professional articles in different tech-related sites and magazines, as she is deeply fascinated with digital technology, especially with Apple's products.
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