Having a locked iPhone that you can’t access because you forgot the passcode can be incredibly frustrating. However, there are several different methods you can use to regain access to your device and reset the passcode. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the possible options for unlocking your iPhone when you’ve forgotten the passcode.
Forgotten Passcode vs Disabled iPhone
First, it’s important to understand the difference between simply forgetting your passcode and having a disabled iPhone due to too many failed passcode attempts:
- Forgotten Passcode: You know your passcode, but can’t recall it at the moment. Your iPhone is still accessible.
- Disabled iPhone: You don’t know your passcode and have made too many failed attempts to guess it, which has disabled your iPhone. You’re completely locked out.
If your iPhone is only in the forgotten passcode state, you have a few quick options to get back in. But if your iPhone has become disabled, you may have to use more time-consuming methods to unlock it.
Unlock iPhone with Forgotten Passcode
If you have simply forgotten your iPhone passcode, these options provide quick access to your device again:
Use Touch ID or Face ID
If you have Touch ID or Face ID enabled on your iPhone, you can use it to unlock your device instead of entering the passcode. Simply rest your finger on the Home button for Touch ID models or look at the front-facing camera for Face ID iPhones.
This will instantly unlock your iPhone without needing to enter the forgotten passcode.
Use Passcode Keypad to Jog Your Memory
Often simply looking at the passcode keypad will help jog your memory of the forgotten passcode. You can tap on the numbers you think might be included and it may trigger the full passcode in your memory.
Keep in mind that if you enter the wrong passcode too many times it will disable the iPhone, so only try combinations you think are likely correct.
Ask Siri to Unlock Your iPhone
If you have Siri enabled, you can ask Siri to unlock your iPhone for you even without knowing the passcode. Just say “Hey Siri, unlock my iPhone” and it will give you access without passcode entry if Siri is turned on.
Use Find My iPhone App
If you have another iOS device like an iPad linked to the same iCloud account as your locked iPhone, you can unlock it using the Find My iPhone app. Open Find My iPhone, select your locked device, and tap Unlock to remove the forgotten passcode immediately.
Enter Passcode on Apple Watch
Similarly, if you have an Apple Watch paired to your iPhone, you can unlock your iPhone by entering the passcode on the Apple Watch instead. This will also remotely unlock the forgotten passcode on your iPhone.
Unlock Disabled iPhone with Forgotten Passcode
If you have entered the wrong passcode too many times and disabled your iPhone, you will need to use recovery methods that erase the device to gain access again. Apple locks the iPhone after 6 failed attempts to prevent brute force hacking.
Connect to iTunes and Erase
Connecting the disabled iPhone to a computer with iTunes and erasing it will allow you to bypass the forgotten passcode. You will lose the data on the iPhone, but regain access to the device.
Follow these steps:
- Connect the disabled iPhone to a computer with a USB cable
- Open iTunes and select the iPhone
- While holding the Home and Sleep buttons, restart the iPhone
- Select Restore in iTunes to erase the iPhone – this will remove the passcode
- You can then set up the iPhone again or restore from a backup
Erase iPhone with Find My iPhone
If you don’t have access to a computer with iTunes, you can also erase your disabled iPhone remotely using Find My iPhone if you have iCloud backups enabled.
To do this:
- Log in to iCloud.com/find on another device
- Select your locked iPhone and click Erase iPhone at the bottom
- Enter your Apple ID password when prompted
- The iPhone will be erased and passcode removed so you can set it up again
Use iPhone Passcode Recovery Tool
Apple provides an iPhone Passcode Recovery Tool you can use if you can’t restore through iTunes or iCloud. This will reinstall the latest iOS version and remove the passcode.
Follow these steps:
- Download the tool for Mac or Windows
- Connect the disabled iPhone to your computer via USB
- Open the tool and enter your iPhone model and serial number
- The tool will download the software and erase your iPhone to remove the passcode
Take to Apple Store or Service Provider
As a last resort, you can take the disabled iPhone to an Apple store or authorized service provider. They have dedicated tools to connect the iPhone to Apple’s servers and erase the device to remove the forgotten passcode.
There may be a fee involved for this service. Call ahead to check pricing and availability.
Prevent Forgetting Your iPhone Passcode
While the methods above allow you to recover from a forgotten passcode, the best solution is preventing the problem altogether. Here are some tips to avoid forgetting your iPhone passcode:
- Use a passcode you can easily remember – your birthday, anniversary, etc.
- Write down your passcode somewhere secure in case you forget it
- Use Touch ID or Face ID so you don’t have to enter the passcode as often
- Store your passcode in a password manager like 1Password for access from other devices
- Create an Apple ID recovery key you can use if the passcode is forgotten
- Back up your iPhone regularly so you can erase it without losing data
Frequently Asked Questions
How many failed passcode attempts before iPhone is disabled?
Recent iPhone models will become disabled after 6 failed passcode attempts. Older models were disabled after 10 failed attempts.
Can I take my disabled iPhone to a phone carrier store for help?
Most carrier stores cannot bypass a forgotten iPhone passcode. You will need to take it to an Apple store or authorized service provider instead.
Will resetting my iPhone remove the passcode?
Yes, resetting your iPhone using the methods above that erase the device will remove the forgotten passcode. However, it will also erase your data.
Can I reset my passcode without losing data?
Unfortunately there is no way to reset the forgotten passcode without erasing your iPhone, which means losing your data. That’s why it’s critical to always maintain a recent backup.
I forgot my iPhone and Apple Watch passcode. What now?
You will need to erase both devices using the Find My iPhone method or connect them to iTunes. Apple Watch requires the connected iPhone passcode to pair again.
Conclusion
Being locked out of your iPhone because you forgot the passcode can be very frustrating. However, as you can see there are several effective methods to remove the passcode and regain access to your device. The key is choosing the option that works best based on whether your iPhone is just in the forgotten passcode state or fully disabled.
Using Touch ID, Face ID, Find My iPhone, or an Apple Watch can help prevent being locked out from a forgotten passcode in the first place. But if you do get stuck, just use one of these passcode removal techniques to get back into your iPhone quickly.
