Resetting an iPhone to factory settings can be necessary if you’ve forgotten the passcode and can no longer access your device. A factory reset will erase all of the data and settings on your iPhone and restore it to the state it was in when you first got it.
Can you reset an iPhone without passcode?
Yes, it is possible to reset an iPhone without knowing the passcode. There are a few different methods you can use:
- Connect the iPhone to iTunes and do a factory reset – This will completely wipe the device and remove the passcode lock.
- Use iPhone recovery mode – You can force the iPhone into recovery mode and restore it from a backup or as a new device.
- Use erase iPhone option – The ‘Erase iPhone’ option in Find My iPhone will reset the device to factory settings.
- Take it to an Apple store – An Apple technician can factory reset the device for you.
So even if you don’t know the passcode, you have options to erase your iPhone and get it working again.
How to reset iPhone without passcode using iTunes
Connecting your iPhone to iTunes on a computer and restoring it is one of the simplest ways to reset it without the passcode. Here are the steps:
- Connect your locked iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Open iTunes on your computer.
- Select your iPhone from the list of devices in iTunes.
- Click on Summary in the sidebar menu.
- Click on Restore iPhone. This will factory reset your device.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.
Once the restore is finished, your iPhone will reboot without the passcode lock. You’ll have to set it up as a new device or restore from an iCloud or iTunes backup.
Using iPhone recovery mode to reset without passcode
You can also use recovery mode to reset your iPhone if you can’t get past the lock screen:
- Connect the iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
- Force restart your iPhone – quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
- When you see the Connect to iTunes screen, open iTunes on your computer.
- iTunes will detect that your iPhone is in recovery mode and give you the option to Restore or Update.
- Click Restore and iTunes will download software for your device and install it, wiping the iPhone back to factory settings.
This recovery mode process bypasses the passcode lockscreen while restoring your device.
Using Find My iPhone to erase iPhone
If you have Find My iPhone enabled on your locked iPhone, you can remotely erase it to factory reset it:
- On a computer, go to www.icloud.com and login to your iCloud account.
- Click on Find My iPhone.
- Locate your locked iPhone on the map and select it.
- Click Erase iPhone at the bottom of the screen.
- Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the erase request.
After remotely erasing, your iPhone will reboot without the passcode lock. This feature requires that Find My iPhone was already enabled.
Using an Apple Store to reset iPhone passcode
As a last resort, you can take your locked iPhone to an Apple store. The Genius Bar technicians have tools to factory reset iPhones even if you don’t know the passcode.
They will connect your iPhone to a computer and initiate a factory reset. This will wipe your device back to default settings without the passcode.
The downside is you’ll have to schedule a Genius Bar appointment and physically go to the Apple store. But if none of the other options work, this will almost always allow them to reset your passcode.
What data gets deleted with a factory reset?
Doing a factory reset on your iPhone will erase all of your personal data and customized settings. This includes:
- Account passwords and logins
- Apps and games you’ve installed
- Contacts list
- Messages
- Email accounts and emails
- Photos and videos
- Call history
- Safari bookmarks and browsing history
- Apple Pay cards
- Home screen layout and folders
- Device settings like WiFi networks, Do Not Disturb, etc.
Basically a factory reset will return your iPhone to the state it was in when you first unboxed it. So make sure to backup any important data before resetting.
Will I lose iOS version after factory reset?
No, resetting your iPhone will not cause you to lose the current iOS version installed. For example, if your iPhone is on iOS 15.2 currently, a factory reset will still keep it on iOS 15.2.
The iOS operating system is stored separately from your data and settings. So a reset won’t downgrade or upgrade your iOS version, it will maintain whatever iOS your iPhone originally had.
Is Find My iPhone required for factory reset?
Find My iPhone does not need to be enabled to do a factory reset through iTunes or recovery mode. Those reset methods work regardless of whether Find My iPhone is on or off.
However, Find My iPhone does need to be turned on if you want to use the remote erase feature on iCloud.com. This allows you to wirelessly wipe the device from anywhere, but it only works if Find My iPhone was already enabled.
Will factory reset remove Activation Lock?
Yes, a factory reset will get rid of the Activation Lock on your iPhone. Activation Lock is the security feature that prevents your iPhone from being used by anyone else even if it is erased and reset.
Doing a factory reset through iTunes, recovery mode, or iCloud Find My iPhone will all remove the Activation Lock from your device. Once reset, it can then be activated with your Apple ID or a new Apple ID.
How can I backup iPhone before factory reset?
It’s highly recommended to backup your iPhone before doing a factory reset so you don’t lose all your data permanently. Here are some ways to backup an iPhone:
- iCloud Backup – Enable iCloud Backup in your iPhone settings and connect to WiFi to backup your data to iCloud automatically.
- iTunes Backup – Connect your iPhone to a computer and use iTunes to backup your device locally.
- Photos to iCloud – The iCloud Photos option will store all your photos and videos separately from a full iCloud Backup.
After resetting your iPhone, you can then restore from one of these backups to get your data back.
Is factory reset bad for iPhone?
No, factory resetting your iPhone is not inherently bad for the device. As long as the reset is done properly through iTunes or recovery mode, it will not cause any harm to the hardware or software.
Resetting erases data but does not affect the core functions or operations of the iPhone. It wipes it to a clean state which can actually improve performance if the device had gotten cluttered with apps, data and settings over time.
The only downside to resetting is the inconvenience of erasing all your personal content and settings. As long as you have backups, you can restore your data afterwards. Overall, a reset is a safe procedure for your iPhone.
How to backup iPhone passcode?
There is no direct way to backup or recover an unknown iPhone passcode once it has been forgotten. But you can take preventative measures to keep a record of the code for reference:
- Write or type the passcode down somewhere safe like in a password manager or secure notes app.
- Take a photo of the passcode and store it in cloud photo storage or offline.
- Send yourself an email with the passcode typed out.
As long as you create some form of accessible record when setting the code originally, you can retrieve it later if needed.
Can Siri bypass iPhone passcode?
No, Siri cannot bypass or unlock an iPhone passcode. Apple intentionally prohibits Siri from getting around the lock screen code security.
Some limited functions like checking the weather forecast or using the flashlight may work with Siri on a locked iPhone. But Siri cannot open a passcode-protected iPhone or reveal the screen lock passcode.
Forgot iPhone passcode – now what?
If you have forgotten your iPhone passcode and have no other way to access the device, your options are:
- Factory reset – This will delete all your data but allow use of the iPhone again. You can reset through iTunes, recovery mode, or Find My iPhone.
- Passcode unlock service – Specialty services claim they can unlock iPhones without wiping data, but they are not endorsed by Apple and can be expensive.
- Take to Apple Store – Make a Genius Bar appointment and see if they can reset your passcode while preserving data.
Resetting to factory settings is usually the most surefire way to regain access. Be sure to exhaust all options for backing up your iPhone data before resetting.
Does factory reset remove SIM lock?
No, performing a factory reset on an iPhone does not remove a carrier SIM lock. The SIM lock is an independent security measure that prevents the use of any non-approved SIM cards.
You may need to contact your carrier to request that they unlock your iPhone if you want to use a different network’s SIM card, even after a reset. The factory reset only restores software and data to default settings.
Can Apple reset my iPhone passcode?
If you bring your locked iPhone into an Apple Store, their Genius Bar technicians do have tools to reset your passcode and allow you access to the device again.
However, this reset will still delete all data on your iPhone. Apple cannot retrieve forgotten passcodes or bypass the lockscreen without wiping your device.
They can factory reset your iPhone through specialized software utilities not available to regular users. So as a last resort, an Apple Genius can regain access but with total data loss.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some key points to remember when factory resetting an iPhone with a forgotten passcode:
- Methods like iTunes, recovery mode, and iCloud Find My iPhone can all reset a locked iPhone.
- Make sure to backup your iPhone data before doing a factory reset to avoid permanent data loss.
- A reset will erase all data, settings and the passcode, but will maintain the current iOS version.
- Resetting is safe for the iPhone hardware/software itself and can improve performance.
- If no other options work, an Apple Genius can reset your passcode as a last resort.
Factory resetting your iPhone when locked out may be inconvenient, but following the proper procedures will get your device working again in its original out-of-the-box state. Just be absolutely sure to exhaust backup options before committing to a full reset.