If your iPhone is locked and you can't remember the passcode, this guide will show you effective ways to factory reset a locked iPhone to help you regain access.
You can easily reset a locked iPhone from lock screen, with iCloud, or using the Restore button in iTunes.
Have you ever forgotten your iPhone passcode or encountered the iPhone Unavailable error due to multiple incorrect attempts? In such cases, it might be essential to factory reset the locked iPhone to regain access.
You can use the direct reset option from the lock screen for iOS 15.2 or later, or opt for a wireless reset on the locked iPhone using iCloud. The Restore button in iTunes also helps to wipe a locked iPhone. For a more efficient approach, the user-friendly iPhone Unlocker tool offers simple steps to fully reset a locked iPhone or iPad without passcode, requiring just a few clicks.
This guide covers detailed steps on how to reset a locked iPhone. The process will erase all of your current content and settings, but thankfully, it's possible to restore your iPhone data after a factory reset from iCloud or iTunes backups.
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Yes. Resetting a locked iPhone enables you to regain the access without a passcode. It helps you to use your iPhone again when the password is forgotten. However, performing a factory reset on locked iPhone erases all existing data on the device, so make sure to back up your important data before proceeding. Alternatively, you can restore lost data from a previous iCloud or iTunes backup after the reset.
If the device is with iOS 15.2 or above and connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network, you can use your Apple ID and password to erase and reset the locked iPhone without computer from its lock screen. Here's how to reset a locked iPhone to factory settings from lock screen when you forgot the passcode:
1. On iPhone lock screen, enter wrong passcode for several times until the iPhone Unavailable, try again alert appears.
2. When you're able to, tap the Erase iPhone option in the bottom-right corner on the screen.
3. Tap the Erase iPhone option and tap it again to confirm.
TIP: If you have a locked iPhone with iOS 17 or later, it shows Forgot Passcode? option, tap it and tap Start iPhone Reset to confirm.
4. Enter your Apple ID password as required to sign out of your Apple account.
5. Wait for the Erase iPhone process to wipe out everything on the device.
After factory resetting the locked iPhone, all of your data and settings will be permanently deleted. When the iOS device restarts, follow the onscreen prompts to set it up again and restore your data from either iCloud or iTunes backups.
Another way to regain access to a locked iPhone involves the use of iPhone Unlocker software. It's a highly efficient tool that enables you to reset a locked iPhone without iTunes or a passcode. With just a few clicks, it has the capability to remove any forgotten password, screen time lock, or Apple ID from an iPhone or iPad seamlessly.
Whether your iPhone is currently unavailable, experiencing a security lockout, or you've forgotten the screen passcode, consider this all-encompassing solution for factory resetting your locked iPhone and restoring access. No expert skills are necessary; here's the simple guide on how to factory reset locked iPhone without a passcode, covering iPhone 15 and iOS 17.
Step 1. Install and open iPhone Locker on your computer.
Step 2. Choose Wipe Passcode and connect the locked iPhone via a USB cable. If necessary, force the device into Recovery Mode by following onscreen instructions.
Step 3. Confirm device info and click Start to proceed.
Step 4. A suitable iOS firmware will be downloaded to the iPhone for factory reset.
Step 5. When it prompted, enter 0000 in the input box and hit Unlock to start resetting.
Ensure your device remains connected until the iPhone factory reset is completed. Once done, the device is unlocked with all data erased. You can then set up your iPhone as a new one from the scratch. If you have an earlier iTunes or iCloud backup, use it to restore your lost data.
For Apple users, iTunes is also a reliable way to get locked iPhone factory reset to default settings by using its equipped Restore option. To wipe a locked iPhone using iTunes, you'll need to put your device into Recovery Mode first, so that it can be recognized correctly for a factory reset. If possible, use an older iTunes backup to restore your iPhone data after the resetting.
Depending on which model you're using, the steps may vary. Follow these steps for how to factory reset iPhone with iTunes when it's locked:
1. Open the latest version of iTunes on your computer and link the locked iPhone.
TIP: For Windows PC, macOS 10.14 or earlier, open the iTunes; for macOS 10.15 or later, launch the Finder on Mac.
2. Then use the right combination of buttons to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode.
3. On the prompted message box in iTunes, choose Restore option.
4. Select Restore and Update to begin factory resetting on the locked iPhone.
When the locked iPhone is reset to factory settings, all data will be wiped out. You're able to set up and use it again. If it takes too long for iTunes to reset the device, you may re-enter the Recovery Mode on iPhone and repeat the resetting steps above.
If you have enabled Find My before your iPhone gets locked, you can effortlessly perform a wireless factory reset on the locked iPhone by logging into iCloud on another device with your Apple ID and password. Ensure that the iOS device has an active network connection, and follow these steps to reset a locked iPhone without a computer using iCloud when you've forgotten the passcode:
Note: The process will erase your iPhone and wipe out all current data and settings. To avoid data loss, you may restore your data from a previous iCloud backup after returning the locked iPhone to factory settings.
Factory resetting your locked iPhone lets you regain the access and all its feature. However, as mentioned before, the process will erase the device and wipe out everything on the device. To prevent losing data, try restoring data from an iCloud backup or iTunes backup that you've previously created. Here's what to do for data restoration after you get your iPhone reset to factory settings:
Alternatively, you have the option to restore data from a Mac or PC after the iPhone reset if you own recent backups stored on your computer.
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