Resetting an iPhone passcode if forgot requires a full factory reset, which erases all data. Learn all possible ways and understand the critical importance of backups to avoid data loss.
You can use Apple's iTunes, Forgot Passcode, iCloud and other ways to reset iPhone passcode when locked
Resetting a locked or unavailable iPhone can be a stressful experience, especially when you can't remember your passcode. While a lock screen is primarily designed to protect your data from unauthorized access, but it can be a significant hurdle for a rightful owner who has simply forgotten their passcode. And Apple's official methods all follow a similar principle: to reset a forgotten passcode on iPhone, the device must be completely erased.
This article will provide a comprehensive guide to resetting your iPhone passcode you forget using Apple's methods, with a particular focus on the iTunes/Finder approach, and will stress the importance of having a backup to prevent permanent data loss. For a quick way to reset a locked iPhone when you forgot passcode, you may also refer to Higospot iPhone Unlocker, which removes all kinds of screen locks easily.
First and foremost, it is crucial to understand a fundamental aspect of Apple's security design: there is no option to reset an iPhone without knowing the password without erasing all of its data. If it were possible to bypass the passcode without factory-resetting iPhone, a stolen or lost iPhone could be easily accessed, leaving the owner's personal information vulnerable.
This is why resetting a passcode means resetting the iPhone to its factory settings. This process will wipe everything—your photos, text messages, apps, email accounts, contacts, and preferences will all be deleted. So, the only way to retrieve your data after the reset is to restore it from a backup you made before the iPhone was locked. If you do not have a recent backup, unfortunately, the data on your device will be lost forever.
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The most well-known and universally applicable method for resetting iPhone if you have forgotten the passcode is to restore it using a computer with iTunes or Finder, depending on your operating system. This method involves putting your device into Recovery Mode, which allows the computer to interact with it and perform a whole restore. This is the primary method used when an iPhone becomes "permanently disabled" or shows the "iPhone security lockout" screen after too many failed passcode attempts.
To begin resetting iPhone passcode with iTunes or Finder, you will need a Mac or Windows PC and a USB cable to connect your iPhone. The steps to enter Recovery Mode vary by iPhone model:
Once the iPhone is in Recovery Mode, your computer will detect it. A pop-up window in Finder or iTunes will give you the option to "Restore" or "Update" your device.
The reset process can take some time. If it takes longer than 15 minutes and your iPhone exits Recovery Mode, you will need to repeat the process from the beginning. Once the restore is complete, your iPhone will be unlocked and will display the "Hello" setup screen, as if it were a brand new device. At this point, you can either set it up as a new iPhone or, if you have a backup, restore your data from iCloud or the computer you are using. Remember, without a backup, you will lose all of your data.
Another simple way to unlock an iPhone passcode if you forget it is using a dedicated tool, something like Higospot iPhone Unlocker. All you have to do is prepare a computer and a USB cable, run the tool, and follow the wizard on the screen to reset your passcode.
The Higospot iPhone Unlocker is an excellent all-in-one suite for unlocking all kinds of screen locks. Download it on your either Mac or PC computer first!
To begin, open the tool on your computer once installed. Then select "Wipe Passcode" from its interface.
Next, plug your locked iPhone you want to unlock into the computer, and then click "Device connected but not recognized" link to make it detected by the machine, if not.
Go ahead and confirm your phone information.
Click "Start" on the interface to begin downloading proper firmware for your specific phone model.
Once downloaded, click "Unlock." After reading the warning message that pops up, click "Unlock" again to begin resetting your iPhone passcodes. Your device will go through a factory reset process.
Once done, you're ready to set the device up and use it again without entering passcode.
Forgot iPad passcode? You may also use Higospot iPhone Unlocker to unlock the tablet to regain control of it.
For iPhones running iOS 17 or later, Apple introduced a new feature that allows you to erase your device directly from the lock screen, without needing a computer. This method is the answer to the common question of how to reset iPhone passcode without a computer. The only requirements are that your iPhone must be connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, and you must know your Apple ID and password.
Here is how you can reset a passcode on an iPhone without computer:
1. Repeatedly enter the wrong passcode on the lock screen until the "iPhone Unavailable" screen appears. This may take several attempts with increasing lockout times.
2. Look for the "Forgot Passcode?" option at the bottom of the screen. Tap it.
3. Confirm the erasure by tapping "Start iPhone Reset" again in security lockout screen.
4. Enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID and confirm the factory reset.
5. Your iPhone will then begin the process of erasing all content and settings.
This method, just like the iTunes/Finder restore, results in the complete loss of all data on the device. Once the process is complete, you can restore your data from an iCloud backup if you have one. Again, without a backup, all your data will be permanently lost.
If your iPhone is running iOS 15.2 - 16, you will see an "Erase iPhone" option in the bottom instead, to reset your iPhone passcode, simply tap it and follow the similar workflow to complete it.
Still can't reset iPhone when forgetting passcode? If you have another Apple device (like an iPad or another iPhone) or can access a web browser, you can use the Find My feature to remotely erase your locked iPhone. This method is a solution for those who are locked out and do not have a computer readily available. For this to work, the "Find My" feature must have been enabled on the locked iPhone before it was disabled.
The steps are as follows:
1. On another device, open the Find My app, or on any computer or mobile browser, go to iCloud.com/find.
2. Sign in with the same Apple ID and password used on the locked iPhone.
3. From the list of devices, select the iPhone you need to unlock.
4. Choose the "Erase This Device" or "Erase iPhone" option.
5. Confirm the action and enter your Apple ID password to proceed.
Note: This will initiate a remote factory reset. The iPhone will be wiped clean as soon as it connects to the internet, and the passcode will be reset. As with all other official methods, this will result in the loss of all data. The only way to get your data back is to restore from a backup after the reset is complete. If you have no backup, there is no going back.
Related: How to recover iMessages without backup
Many users ask if it's possible to reset an iPhone passcode without losing any data. Forgetting your passcode and reset it without go through a factory reset is extremely rare and only possible in very specific circumstances with Apple's official methods.
That's all about how you reset iPhone password you've forgotten using different options.
FAQs
In summary, the key to surviving a forgotten iPhone passcode after reset is to have a backup. Whether you use iCloud or a computer backup, this is your only safety net. Without a backup, the price of unlocking your iPhone when you forgot your password is everything loss on your phone. The official Apple methods—the iTunes/Finder Restore, the "Forgot Passcode?" feature, and the Find My app—are all designed to protect your data by making it inaccessible to anyone without the passcode, even the owner.
