Being locked out of your iPhone because you forgot your passcode can be extremely frustrating. You may want to remove the passcode so you can access your phone again, but are hesitant to erase the iPhone or restore it from a backup because you don’t want to lose any data.
This is an important issue for many iPhone users. Your iPhone contains valuable information – photos, messages, contacts, app data, and more. Losing access to your iPhone doesn’t have to mean losing all that data. There are methods to remove the passcode without erasing or restoring, which we will cover in this guide.
Read on to learn how to unlock your passcode-protected iPhone and regain access without losing any personal data in the process.
Understand iCloud Backups
iCloud Backup is an automated backup system for iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. It securely copies and stores important data from your device to Apple’s cloud servers [1]. Having a current iCloud backup is crucial in case you ever need to erase or replace your device.
Some of the key data iCloud Backup stores includes [2]:
- Photos and videos in your Camera Roll
- Device settings like WiFi passwords and preferences
- Text messages
- Call history
- Contacts
- Calendars
- Apple Notes
- Voice Memos
Your important personal data is encrypted by Apple before being transmitted and stored in iCloud. You can check the status of your iCloud Backup in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. It’s recommended to connect your device to power and WiFi and manually back up to iCloud regularly.
Connect iPhone to iTunes
To connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed, you will need a USB cable to physically connect the devices. Here are the steps:
1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable. Plug one end into your iPhone and the other end into a USB port on your computer.
2. Open iTunes on your computer. iTunes should detect your connected iPhone.
3. In iTunes, click on the iPhone icon in the top left corner. This will show you the Summary screen for your device.
Once your iPhone is connected to your computer via iTunes, you can use iTunes to restore from a previous backup. iTunes regularly backs up your iPhone when synced. To restore from a backup in iTunes:
1. With your iPhone connected, click “Restore Backup” in iTunes. This will load your latest backup.
2. Choose the backup you wish to restore from. Select the most recent backup.
3. Click “Restore” and iTunes will restore your iPhone from the iTunes backup.
This process allows you to restore your iPhone data and settings from a previous backup without needing your passcode. However, it will delete all current data on your iPhone.
Erase iPhone
One way to remove the passcode from an iPhone without losing data is to erase the iPhone using iTunes and then restore from a backup. This will completely wipe the device and restore it to factory settings, removing any passcode, while allowing you to retain your data through an iCloud or iTunes backup.
To erase your iPhone using iTunes on a computer, first connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Open iTunes and select your iPhone. In iTunes, click “Restore iPhone” which will prompt a dialog box to confirm wiping the device. Click “Restore” again to proceed.
iTunes will download the latest iOS software and install it on the erased iPhone. This will remove any passcode and bring the device back to factory settings. However, this process will completely wipe all contents and settings on your iPhone. Therefore, it’s crucial to back up your iPhone before erasing it.
Once the iPhone has been erased by iTunes, you can then restore from either an iCloud backup or a backup stored locally through iTunes. This will restore your data while removing any previous passcode from the device.
Restore from iCloud Backup
After erasing the iPhone, you can restore your data and settings from an iCloud backup. This will allow you to remove the passcode without losing any data. However, only the most recent iCloud backup will be available to restore from.
To restore from an iCloud backup:
- On the erased iPhone, go through the initial setup screens until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
- Tap “Restore from iCloud Backup”. Sign in with your Apple ID if prompted.
- Select the desired backup from the list. Make sure it’s the most recent backup you want to restore from 1.
- Wait for the restore process to complete. All of your apps, data, and settings will be restored to your iPhone.
Once the restore is finished, you can set a new passcode on the iPhone if desired. All of your data from the iCloud backup will be intact.
Reset Passcode
With your data restored from your iCloud backup, you can now reset your iPhone’s passcode to regain access to your device. Here are the steps to reset your passcode:
- On the Hello screen, tap the “Forgot Passcode?” link in the bottom corner.
- You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID and password. Enter your Apple ID credentials to continue.
- Once your Apple ID is verified, you will see the Passcode Reset screen. Tap “Reset Passcode” to proceed.
- You will now be able to set a new 6-digit passcode for your iPhone. Enter your new passcode twice to confirm.
- Your iPhone passcode has now been reset successfully. You can access your iPhone with the new 6-digit passcode.
With your data restored and your passcode reset, you once again have full access to your iPhone and the data stored on it. Going forward, be sure to remember your new passcode to avoid repeating this process.
Alternative: Unlock with Apple ID
If you recall your Apple ID password, you can unlock your iPhone without resetting the passcode. This is more secure than resetting the passcode, as it won’t disable existing passcode access.
To unlock your iPhone using your Apple ID:
- Go to the iForgot website at https://iforgot.apple.com/
- Enter your Apple ID and select Continue
- Answer your security questions correctly
- You will be presented with the option to remove your Activation Lock. Select “Remove Activation Lock”
Once Activation Lock is removed, you can access your iPhone again using your existing passcode, without having to reset it. This allows you to regain access while maintaining data security.
Third Party Unlocking Tools
Some third party companies offer iPhone unlocking services and software. However, these options come with significant risks and downsides.
Third party unlocking services often charge expensive fees, sometimes over $100, and provide no guarantee of successfully unlocking the iPhone. The unlocking process they use is also unreliable, often dependent on exploiting software vulnerabilities that Apple fixes in later updates. This can result in the iPhone becoming locked again after updating.
More critically, third party unlocking exposes the iPhone to potential security threats. By bypassing Apple’s protections through jailbreaking, the iPhone becomes much more vulnerable to malware, spyware and hackers. Personal data is put at risk when security standards are lowered.
According to technology experts, the dangers of third party iPhone unlocking outweigh any benefits [1]. It’s best to avoid these services and tools that can seriously compromise iPhone security just to bypass a forgotten passcode.
Prevent Future Lockouts
There are several steps you can take to prevent getting locked out of your iPhone in the future:
- Record your passcode somewhere safe like in a password manager or written down and stored securely.
- Use Touch ID or Face ID instead of a passcode if your iPhone supports it. This allows faster unlocking while still providing security.
- Use a longer, more complex alphanumeric passcode rather than a short numeric one. This makes it much harder to guess.
- Enable two-factor authentication on your Apple ID account. This requires both your password and a trusted device to log in to your account.
Using longer passcodes with special characters, and enabling two-factor authentication provides excellent protection against unwanted access. Just make sure you have a reliable record of your passcode and recovery options in case you forget it. With proper precautions, you can avoid lockouts while still securing your iPhone.
Conclusion
In summary, the main steps to remove a forgotten iPhone passcode without losing data are:
- Make sure you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPhone data.
- Connect the iPhone to a computer and put it in recovery mode.
- Use iTunes to erase the iPhone.
- Restore the iPhone data from the iCloud or iTunes backup.
- Reset the passcode to regain access to the iPhone.
Regular backups are crucial to protect your data in case you forget your passcode. iCloud and iTunes backups allow you to wipe the device while retaining a copy of your information.
It’s also wise to avoid complicated passcodes that are difficult to remember. Using a 6-digit numeric code or short memorable passphrase can prevent lockouts while still securing your device.
With preparation through backups and sensible passcode choices, you can remove a forgotten iPhone passcode without permanently losing your data.