How do you reset a locked iPhone without a computer?

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How do you reset a locked iPhone without a computer

Having a locked iPhone that you can’t access can be extremely frustrating. Whether you forgot your passcode or your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo, not being able to use your iPhone makes it nothing more than an expensive paperweight.

Resetting your iPhone through iTunes is the preferred method to fix many issues, but that requires a computer. What can you do if you don’t have access to a computer? The good news is that even if your iPhone is locked or stuck, you can still reset it without a computer using these methods.

Before You Reset Your iPhone

Resetting your iPhone will erase all of the data, so before you reset it, follow these steps:

  • Back up your iPhone data. If you can still access your iPhone, back up your data to iCloud or iTunes.
  • Sign out of Find My iPhone. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Find My > Find My iPhone and turn it off. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted.
  • Disable Activation Lock. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (Touch ID & Passcode on older iPhones) and turn off Activation Lock.

If you can’t access your iPhone to do any of the above, unfortunately, you will lose your data when you reset your iPhone. Proceed with caution.

Force Restart Your iPhone

Before resetting your iPhone, try force restarting it. This can solve many common issues.

To force restart Face ID iPhones X or newer:

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

To force restart Touch ID iPhones 8 or older:

  1. Press and hold the Side (or Top) button and the Home button together until you see the recovery mode screen.

After force restarting, see if your iPhone responds normally. If it’s still locked or stuck, move on to the next steps.

Enter Recovery Mode

Recovery mode is a built-in troubleshooting option that lets you reset your iPhone. Here’s how to enter recovery mode:

For iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using an official Lightning to USB cable.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  3. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  4. Press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

For iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, or iPhone X:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using an official Lightning to USB cable.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  3. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  4. Press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using an official Lightning to USB cable.
  2. Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time.
  3. Keep holding both buttons when you see the recovery mode screen.

For iPhone 6s and earlier:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using an official Lightning to USB cable.
  2. Press and hold the Home and Side (or Top) buttons at the same time.
  3. Keep holding both buttons when you see the recovery mode screen.

If you see the Connect to iTunes screen, congratulations – your iPhone has successfully entered recovery mode.

Restore Your iPhone Using Finder or iTunes

Once your iPhone is in recovery mode, you can restore it using Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows. This will reset your iPhone to factory settings and install the latest iOS version.

On Mac:

  1. Open Finder and select your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
  2. Click General below your iPhone name.
  3. Click Restore iPhone.
  4. Click Restore again to confirm.

Finder will download the latest iOS version and install it on your iPhone. This process can take up to an hour.

On Windows:

  1. Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer.
  2. Click Summary on the sidebar.
  3. Click Restore iPhone.
  4. Click Restore again to confirm.

iTunes will download the latest iOS version and install it on your iPhone. This process can take up to an hour.

Once the restore is complete, your iPhone will reboot and you’ll be able to set it up like new during the setup process.

Reset Using Find My iPhone

If you have Find My iPhone enabled with a valid Apple ID, you can use it to remotely erase your iPhone, even if it’s locked. Here’s how:

  1. On a computer or another iOS device, go to iCloud.com/find and sign in.
  2. Select your locked iPhone.
  3. Click Erase iPhone at the bottom.
  4. Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the remote wipe.

It may take some time for the remote wipe to fully complete. Once it does, your iPhone will be restored to factory settings so you can set it up again during the setup process.

Reset at an Apple Store

If you don’t have a Lightning cable or computer readily available, you can take your iPhone to an Apple Store and have an Apple Genius reset it for you. Here’s what to expect:

  1. Make an appointment at your local Apple Store’s Genius Bar.
  2. Bring your iPhone and tell the Apple Genius it’s stuck on the Apple logo or locked.
  3. The Genius will put your iPhone into recovery mode and restore it using a Mac computer at the store.
  4. After the restore completes, you’ll be able to set up your iPhone as new.

Resetting at an Apple Store is a convenient option if you can’t reset your iPhone yourself. The Genius will restore your iPhone and update it to the latest iOS version.

Reset Using DFU Mode

DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode is an alternative recovery mode built into iOS devices. It’s a bit more complex to enter DFU mode, but it can help reset your iPhone if recovery mode doesn’t work.

To enter DFU mode:

For iPhone 8 or later:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a Lightning cable.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  3. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  4. Press and hold the Side button for 10 seconds.
  5. Keep holding the Side button and then start holding the Volume Down button.
  6. After 8 seconds, release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button until you enter DFU mode.

For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, or iPhone 6s and earlier:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a Lightning cable.
  2. Press and hold the Side and Home buttons together for 10 seconds.
  3. Release the Side button but keep holding the Home button until you enter DFU mode.

If you see a black screen that says “Connect to iTunes,” you’ve successfully entered DFU mode. You can then restore your iPhone using iTunes or Finder to reset it to factory settings.

Reset Network Settings

If you’re having issues with Wi-Fi, cellular data, or Bluetooth, resetting your network settings may help. This preserves your data but resets all network settings.

To reset network settings:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
  2. Tap Reset Network Settings.
  3. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  4. Tap Reset Network Settings again to confirm.

Your iPhone will reboot and all network settings will reset, including Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and cellular settings.

Reset All Settings

Resetting all settings preserves your data but resets your device back to factory default settings. This can resolve issues caused by incorrect settings.

To reset all settings:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
  2. Tap Reset All Settings.
  3. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  4. Tap Reset All Settings again to confirm.

Your device will reboot and revert to the original factory settings, but keep all your apps and data intact.

Erase All Content and Settings

Erasing all content and settings does a complete factory reset – it erases all your data and resets all settings. Only use this if nothing else has worked.

To erase all content and settings:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Reset.
  2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Enter your passcode if prompted.
  4. Tap Erase [device] to confirm.

Your iPhone will reboot and be restored to its original factory state. You’ll have to set it up from scratch again.

Contact Apple Support

If you’ve tried all troubleshooting steps and your iPhone is still stuck on the Apple logo, locked, or not responding, contact Apple Support for further assistance. Here are some options:

  • Book a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store for in-person support.
  • Call Apple Support at 1-800-APL-CARE to speak to a support advisor.
  • Start a support chat at getsupport.apple.com.

Apple Support can run diagnostics, suggest additional troubleshooting steps, or set up a mail-in iPhone repair if needed.

Conclusion

Resetting a locked iPhone without a computer is possible by putting your device into recovery mode and restoring, using Find My iPhone, visiting an Apple Store, or entering DFU mode. These methods allow you to reset your iPhone to factory settings so you can use it again.

Before resetting, make sure to back up your data and turn off Find My iPhone if possible. Then choose the reset method that works best for your situation. With some time and patience, you’ll be able to get your locked iPhone working again.