If you forgot your iPhone passcode you may get locked out of your device after too many wrong attempts. Show
When you guess the wrong passcode too many times you will end up with a disabled iPhone. You will know this has happened when you see a message on the lock screen that says either:
The length of time you are locked out for increases with each wrong attempt:
For further information, see How many tries to unlock iPhone. Read on to find out what to do when you forgot iPhone passcode and how to unlock your iOS device even after it has been disabled.
What to do when you forgot your iPhone passcodeA forgotten iPhone passcode or a disabled device means you need to factory reset it. The reset will remove iPhone passcode and wipe all your data. You can restore your data after the factory reset. Find out unlock your iPhone if you see an on-screen message that says “iPhone is Disabled Connect to iTunes”. Method 1: Apple’s official passcode reset methodIf you forget your iPhone passcode Apple has a method of resetting it which wipes and restores all the data:
Unfortunately, Apple says if you don’t have a backup then you will lose all your data resetting the iPhone passcode. There are iPhone passcode screen removal tools that allow you to keep your data even if you don’t have a backup – so avoid needing to restore. If you do have backup then you can try iCloud passcode reset and recovery or computer reset and recovery. Method 2: Reset and restore your iPhone using the iCloud websiteIf you have been backing up your iPhone to iCloud then you will be able to factory reset it and restore your data. You can use a computer or a friend’s phone to sign in to your iCloud account with your Apple ID and erase the device. Just make sure the iPhone you are resetting is connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network before you try to erase it or it won’t work. You will need a computer or a friend’s phone before you begin.
This will delete the iPhone’s passcode and all of its data. When you set up the device you can restore the data from the latest iCloud backup. Your settings and accounts will be restored from the iCloud backup you choose. I have written a more detailed article if you want to know more about how to reset an iPhone passcode without using a computer. Method 3: Reset and restore your iPhone using a computerThis method only works if you have previously connected your iPhone to your computer and backed it up using Finder or iTunes. You don’t need to worry about your Apple ID or iPhone password when using this method. Step 1: Put your device into recovery mode so you can reset the passcode on your device. Step 2: Remove the passcode and restore your data If you have a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or newer use Finder.
If you have macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier or older, or a PC, use iTunes.
Method 4: Unlock lock screen passcode without restoreIf you want to bypass or reset the passcode without losing your data the best solution is to use a data recovery tool. This will mean you don’t lose your data from your device as it will be restored after the reset. We found the paid tools best, but we also give a free method to restore your data after a passcode reset. Option 1: Paid passcode reset and data recovery solutions (high success rate)
Passcode removal and data recovery tools compared
In order to reset iPhone – without passcode details – and recover your data you need 2 things:
It’s best to try and backup or recover the data before performing the passcode reset. This gives the greatest chance of success and retaining the important information on your device. If this is not possible then you can attempt the data recovery after the reset has been completed. LockWiper lock removal toolLockWiper is a passcode removal tool that works if your face ID or Touch ID won’t be accepted, if you have a broken screen, or if you have simply been locked out after too many attempts. It works in 3 simple steps using very intuitive software:
It should work well in conjunction with D-Back iPhone Data Recovery. Use D-Back to extract the data first, then use LockWiper to remove the passcode. I would advise trying to recover the data using D-Back iPhone Data Recovery before removing the passcode, if possible, as it will have the greatest chance of recovering and saving your data. The software creators offer a trial version that lets you try before buying. It is highly regarded with customers saying things like: I highly recommend iMyFone LockWiper. The tool is easy to use (even for people who don’t know any tech) and allows you to quickly remove the Apple ID and screen lock on your device. Worked great for half my problem, however, my iPad was iCloud locked so I could not complete the recovery. iMyFone refunded my money hassle-free. great company and easy to deal with. Step 1: Go to the website and click Buy Now Step 2: Select the basic plan as it is suitable for most people and is the cheapest. Step 3: Check out and pay. Step 4: After you purchase the software make sure to cancel the
yearly re-occurring transaction or you will be charged again after 12 months. D-Back iPhone data recovery toolD-Back is a data recovery program that is worth considering if you have been forced to wipe your iPhone to reset the passcode and don’t have a backup. It allows you to restore data from the device using a deep scan via its easy to use interface, including:
They offer a trial version that lets you try and recover data before buying. The trial version only allows you to preview lost data, but with the paid version, you can recover and save the lost data to your computer. It is highly regarded with customers saying things like: I cannot recommend this program enough!! After my phone died during an update it got stuck in recovery mode. Both Apple and Geek Squad told me there was absolutely nothing I could do and I had to restart it in factory mode and lose everything. They said my only option was to send my phone out to a company who quoted me $2000 to *maybe* get my stuff back. After a quick Google search my husband found iMyFone and I’ll admit I thought it sounded sketchy and too be good to be true, but it really worked. Losing all your phone data can be devastating, but this program can get it back for you. Don’t listen to the “geniuses” and download now. Best money I ever spent!! Step 1: Go to the website and click Buy Now Step 2: Pick the version you want. We suggest the basic plan as it is best for a one-off recovery and it is also the cheapest. Step 3: Pay and check out Step 4: After you purchase the software make sure to cancel the yearly
re-occurring transaction or you will be charged again after 12 months. Ultdata data recovery toolUltdata‘ is another app that allows you to restore lost data from your iPhone. I haven’t tested this tool myself but it is highly regarded online with a straightforward and intuitive interface. They claim it can allow you to restore things like pictures, camera rolls, reminders, notes, videos, calendars, contacts, call history, and more… It can recover data from almost all iOS devices from the iPhone 3G all the way up to the latest versions. As well as iDevices it can also recover data direct from iTunes and iCloud backups. Overall, it should be a good way to rescue your data from your device. You do need to have a computer (Mac or PC) to use it tho – so if you can’t get access to one this option may not be suitable. There is a free trial with some limited functionality. It is worth downloading and giving it a try to see if will allow you to recover the data you need before resetting your device. If you think it will fulfill your needs then you can buy and download a full version that will allow you to do exactly what you want. It currently costs $59.95. If you prefer a free solution then you should try the iOS passcode hack described below. Option 2: Free data recovery options (low success rate but worth a try)If you forgot your passcode and want to keep your data without having a backup, you could try to hack iOS to bypass it. This is an unofficial method and it must be done at your own risk with the understanding it may not work. However, it is a good option as a last resort… …but, it will only work if you have a PC (not a Mac) to install all the software on. You can see how this method works in the video (below). Beneath the video is step-by-step instructions describing exactly what to do. How to hack iOS and bypass the passcodePlease note: I have changed the order of the steps used in the video because it isn’t the most efficient way to do it. The difference is I think you should download all of the software before beginning the unlock process to prevent iTunes ‘timeouts’ and wasting time with multiple reboots of your locked device.
FAQ’sIs there a secret passcode to unlock any iPhone?There are a number of articles online that appear to claim there is a secret passcode that can unlock any iPhone. The idea is appealing because is it allows you access to any device without having to reset the passcode which is handy if you forget it. The truth is no such secret passcode exists. If you read the articles you will notice that there is no secret code and instead, you should use the official unlocking methods. Why is my data erased when I reset the iPhone passcode?Apple makes the passcode reset difficult on purpose. It is a security feature to prevent your data from getting into someone else hands, for example, if your device is stolen. In fact, the security on iOS is now so advanced that the FBI had to pay $1.3 million to crack it. It is a huge inconvenience but at least you know your data is safe if your device is stolen. I realize this isn’t much comfort if you have simply forgotten your passcode, but until Apple comes up with a simpler solution then this is the way it is. Always check your last iPhone backup to make sure it worked so you have a copy of your data. Can I reset the iPhone passcode with my Apple ID?No, you can’t reset the iPhone passcode by using your Apple ID. The Apple ID and iPhone passcode are independent security measures so you can’t reset one from the other. Can I reset the iPhone passcode using Touch ID?You can’t reset a forgotten iPhone passcode using Touch ID but you can unlock it and back it up, wipe it, reset the passcode, then restore the data from the backup. The easiest method is when iCloud and Find My iPhone is enabled:
If you don’t use iCloud or don’t remember your iCloud password, then you need to connect the device to a PC or a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier on it and do the following:
How can I change my iPhone passcode?If you want to change your passcode and know what it is – in other words, you haven’t forgotten it – then the process is as follows:
Will Apple reset a forgotten iPhone passcode?No, Apple will not unlock an iPhone passcode for you, although they will help you go through the steps to reset, erase, and recover it. This can be done in-store or via phone. You should expect to be asked to prove you are the owner of the device so bring along your purchase receipt. You must also be careful not to confuse SIM unlocking iPhone with the passcode reset process. How do you set up a passcode?When you first set up your iPhone one of the steps in the process is adding a passcode. By default, this is a 6 digit code but this can be changed to:
If you have no passcode and would like to add it at a later date you should:
Do you have any tips to remember a password?Firstly, try to avoid any obvious numbers like birthdays, anniversaries, or the last 4 digits of your phone number when creating a password. Instead, a good idea is to spell a word or phrase using numbers to create a secure password. How? Well, if you look at the keypad you will notice 2 is ABC, 3 is DEF, 4 if GHI, and so on. So if you wanted to use the first 4 letters of your name and your name is Kevin the pin would be 5384: 5 (JKL) 3 (DEF) 8 (TUV) 4 (GHI) Alternatively use the first letters from your favorite song or use a movie title: So if your favorite song is Seal’s Kiss from a Rose, your PIN would be 5 (JKL), 3 (DEF), 2 (ABC), 7 (PQRS). If you like Lord of the Rings your PIN would be 5 (JKL), 6(MNO), 8 (TUV) 7 (PQRS). This technique is useful for any length of password – 4, 6, or more numbers – and makes it much simpler to recall very long sequences that you may need for things such as online banking. Which model of iPhone can be passcode unlocked?This guide is written for all iPhone models including those running the latest version of iOS. These models don’t have enhanced security and are easier to unlock:
These iPhone models have the more secure iOS 7 (or newer) operating system and are harder to unlock without a passcode:
Can iPhone use pattern unlock?A standard iPhone running iOS can’t use pattern unlocking. However, you can jailbreak your phone and install the Android Lock app from the Cydia store. This allows you to use pattern unlocking. Be careful if you choose to do this as jailbreaking iPhone invalidates the warranty. To find out more, see the iPhone pattern unlock guide. I forgot my iPad passcode, what should I do?Apple uses the same unlocking process for all its devices including iPhone and iPad. This means you can wipe and reset your iPad to remove the passcode. You then recover your data from your latest backup. For details, see how to unlock iPad without passcode. Affiliate statementIf you click a link to go through to a provider, we may get paid. This only happens if you buy a service. This is what funds us, and keeps us free to use. For a more detailed explanation see our affiliate disclosure. How do I unlock my iPhone 5s if I forgot my password without restoring it?If you can't remember your passcode when you try again, use a computer to put your iPhone in recovery mode. Recovery mode allows you to erase the iPhone, giving you access to set it up again. After you erase your iPhone, you can restore your data and settings from a backup.
Can I unlock my iPhone without restoring it?No, not unless you know the screen lock passcode to unlock it. The one, and the only way to reset the screen lock passcode is to restore it, erasing it and resetting the device and passcode. There is no alternative. And that is by deliberate design of iOS and iPadOS.
How do I unlock my iPhone if I forgot the passcode without losing data?Real Methods to Unlock iPhone Passcode without Losing Data. iPhone 8, iPhone X, or newer: Press and hold Volume Down + Volume Up + Side Button.. iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold Volume Down + Side Button.. iPhone 6s and older: Press and hold Home + Top (Side) Button.. |