Having a forgotten or lost iPhone password can be extremely frustrating. Your iPhone contains valuable personal data and access to apps and accounts that you rely on every day. Not being able to unlock your device means you can’t access any of that information.
The good news is that there are several methods you can use to regain access to your iPhone and reset the forgotten password. With some time and patience, you can get back into your device and reset the passcode to something you’ll remember.
Quick Answer Summary
Here are some quick answers to common questions about resetting a forgotten iPhone password:
- Enter your Apple ID and password at iforgot.apple.com to reset your password remotely
- Use Find My iPhone to remotely erase your device and reset the password
- Connect your iPhone to iTunes and restore it to factory settings
- Take your iPhone to an Apple store for assistance unlocking it
- Use an iPhone password unlocking service, but beware of scams
- As a last resort, perform a factory reset by putting your iPhone in recovery mode
Forgotten Passcode vs Forgotten Apple ID Password
Before going any further, it’s important to clarify the difference between a forgotten passcode and a forgotten Apple ID password:
- Forgotten Passcode – This is the 4-6 digit code you enter to unlock your iPhone. If you’ve forgotten this, you cannot access your phone.
- Forgotten Apple ID Password – This is the password for your Apple account used for iCloud, App Store purchases, etc. If you’ve forgotten this, you can’t make account changes or reset your passcode remotely.
Resetting a forgotten passcode requires physical access to your iPhone in most cases. Resetting a forgotten Apple ID password can often be done online.
Method 1: Reset Passcode Using Apple ID at iforgot.apple.com
If you remember your Apple ID password but have forgotten your iPhone passcode, you can reset it remotely using Apple’s iForgot website:
- Go to iforgot.apple.com and select your country or region.
- Choose “Reset your iPhone passcode”.
- Enter your Apple ID email address and password.
- Select “Continue” and follow the on-screen instructions to reset your passcode.
- A new temporary passcode will be emailed to you that can be entered on your iPhone to unlock it.
- After unlocking your iPhone with the temporary passcode, you can set a new permanent passcode under Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
This method allows you to remotely reset your forgotten iPhone passcode without needing the device in front of you. However, it only works if you still remember your Apple ID password.
What to Do If You’ve Forgotten Your Apple ID Password
If you’ve forgotten both your iPhone passcode and Apple ID password, you will need to take additional steps to recover your account and reset the passcode. Here are some options:
- Use Apple’s Account Recovery process to reset your Apple ID password by answering security questions.
- If you previously set up trusted phone numbers on your Apple ID account, you can have a verification code sent to trusted number to verify your identity and reset your password.
- Contact Apple Support and go through identity verification to regain access to your Apple account and reset your password.
Once you’ve used one of those methods to reset your Apple ID password, you can follow the steps listed earlier to reset your forgotten iPhone passcode remotely.
Method 2: Erase Your iPhone Remotely
If you’ve lost all access to your iPhone and can’t reset your passcode or Apple ID password remotely, another option is to erase your iPhone remotely.
This can be done using Apple’s Find My iPhone feature, either on iCloud.com or using the Find My iPhone app on another device logged into your Apple ID. Here are the steps:
- Open Find My iPhone on another device or on iCloud.com.
- Enter your Apple ID and password to log in if required.
- Select your locked iPhone from the list of devices.
- Choose “Erase iPhone” and confirm.
Erasing an iPhone remotely will reset it to factory settings, delete all data, and remove the passcode. However, it will allow you to set up the iPhone from scratch again and apply a new passcode.
The main limitation of this method is that it will delete all the data on your iPhone. So if you need to recover the data, you’ll have to restore it from an iCloud or iTunes backup after erasing the device.
Method 3: Connect iPhone to iTunes and Restore
If you have physical access to your iPhone, one reliable way to reset a forgotten passcode is to connect the device to a computer with iTunes installed and restore it.
This will wipe the iPhone and install the latest software version. The steps involve:
- Install the latest iTunes version on a Mac or Windows PC.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
- Open iTunes and select your iPhone.
- Click Summary > Restore iPhone.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the restore process.
- After restore, you can set up the iPhone from scratch including applying a new passcode.
The limitation of this method is that it will wipe all content and data from your iPhone. However, you can recover data afterwards from an iTunes or iCloud backup once you’ve regained access.
Recovery Mode Restore
If your iPhone is stuck on the passcode screen and won’t allow access to the main interface, you can force restart it into Recovery Mode and then restore via iTunes:
- Connect the iPhone to your computer while turned off.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
- In iTunes, click Restore to wipe and restore your iPhone.
Method 4: Get Assistance at an Apple Store
For situations where you’ve forgotten your iPhone passcode and don’t have access to your computer or Apple ID, getting assistance at an Apple Store is an option. There are a few ways Apple Store employees may be able to help unlock your iPhone:
- They can reset your Apple ID password after verifying your identity.
- They can remove the passcode from your iPhone by connecting it directly to the Apple Store device unlocking system.
- Under certain circumstances, such as providing a proof of purchase or identity, they may be able to perform an in-store restore of your iPhone to get past the forgotten passcode.
It’s best to call your local Apple Store in advance and book an appointment with an Apple Genius. Let them know you’ve forgotten your iPhone passcode and they’ll guide you through the possible options for regaining access to your device.
Method 5: Use a Passcode Unlocking Service
Several third party companies offer iPhone passcode removal services for a fee. These services claim they can unlock a forgotten iPhone password without wiping data from the device.
However, extreme caution is advised when using these services. Many of them use methods like brute forcing simple passcodes, which cast doubt on their legitimacy and security standards. There’s also a risk some services could steal data from your iPhone.
If you choose to utilize an iPhone passcode unlocking service, do thorough research on the company’s reputation and methods before handing over your device. Read reviews and look for warning signs of scams. And remember – the only foolproof way to reset an unknown iPhone passcode is by wiping the device, which legitimate services won’t do.
Possible Legitimate Methods
While many iPhone unlocking services should be avoided, there are some rare cases where a legitimate service may be able to help recover a severely forgotten passcode without wiping your device. This usually involves exploiting obscure software flaws that allow access to the file system so the passcode can be reset or circumvented.
If you find a service claiming to use methods like these, approach with extreme caution and skepticism. Make sure to get technical details on their exact process and do your due diligence before letting them access your iPhone and data.
Last Resort: Factory Reset Using Recovery Mode
If you’ve exhausted all other options and still can’t get past a forgotten iPhone passcode, the last resort is to perform a factory reset. This will fully wipe your iPhone back to default factory settings and remove the passcode, but also delete all your data.
To perform a factory reset with recovery mode, follow these steps:
- Make sure your iPhone is turned off.
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer while holding the buttons.
- Open iTunes on your computer and select your iPhone.
- In iTunes, click Restore to wipe and reset the iPhone.
Once the recovery mode restore process is complete, your iPhone will be at factory default settings without a passcode, allowing you to set it up again from scratch.
Forgotten Passcode Prevention Tips
While the methods above can help you get back into a locked iPhone, the best approach is avoiding forgotten passcodes in the first place. Here are some tips to prevent forgotten iPhone passwords:
- Always set a strong but memorable passcode – use 6+ digits with a pattern you can recall.
- Write down your Apple ID details in a safe place in case you ever forget.
- Make it a habit to regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud and iTunes.
- Keep your iPhone operating system updated so you can use latest recovery options.
- Enable Touch ID or Face ID if supported by your iPhone model for easier unlocking.
- Consider using a password manager app to generate and store secure passcodes.
Following those best practices will minimize the chances of getting locked out of your iPhone due to a forgotten passcode. But if it does happen, use the step-by-step guide in this article to get back into your device as smoothly as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I reset my iPhone passcode without a computer?
If you don’t have access to a computer with iTunes, you can reset your iPhone passcode using iForgot.apple.com, the Find My iPhone remote erase feature, or by getting assistance at an Apple Store. A full factory reset in Recovery Mode can also be done without a computer.
I forgot my iPhone passcode and Touch ID doesn’t work. What now?
If you’ve forgotten your numeric passcode and Touch ID is not recognizing your fingerprint, you will need to use one of the suggested passcode reset methods like Find My iPhone remote wipe or restoring through iTunes. Touch ID cannot be used to unlock an iPhone when the numeric passcode is forgotten.
Can Apple unlock my iPhone if I forgot the passcode?
Apple cannot simply remove or unlock a forgotten iPhone passcode for you. However, Apple Support can help you regain access to your Apple ID account so that you can reset the passcode yourself remotely. Apple Geniuses can also help with account recovery and device restores in-store.
I forgot my iPhone passcode. How can I save my data?
Unfortunately, the only way to reset an unknown iPhone passcode is to delete all data on the device. Before resetting your passcode, you should backup your iPhone data using iTunes or iCloud so you can later restore it. An encrypted local backup will save the most data.
How much does it cost to unlock a forgotten iPhone password?
Apple provides several passcode reset options for free, like using Find My iPhone or restoring through iTunes. Third-party unlocking services typically charge $50-$100 but are not recommended. Apple Store assistance is free if you can verify device ownership.
The Bottom Line
Dealing with a forgotten iPhone passcode can be stressful but is fixable using the right method. To reset your passcode while preserving data, use iForgot.apple.com or Find My iPhone remotely. For a foolproof reset when locked out, erase data and restore your iPhone using iTunes or Recovery Mode. Avoid questionable third-party unlocking services. With some time and patience, you can get back into your iPhone and set a new passcode you’ll remember.
