Factory Reset an iPhone Without the Passcode

You cannot recover or remove a forgotten iPhone passcode; you must erase the locked iPhone before you can use it again. An official Apple reset deletes the data stored on the iPhone, but you can restore data afterward if an iCloud or computer backup exists.

The safest ways to factory reset an iPhone without the passcode are recovery mode, Find My, or the reset option shown on supported locked devices.

What happens when you factory reset an iPhone without the passcode?

A factory reset removes the forgotten passcode by erasing the entire iPhone. It also removes apps, photos, messages, settings, and other information stored only on that device.

The reset cannot preserve on-device data that was never backed up. Data already synchronized with iCloud, such as contacts or photos, may return after you sign in again, while an iCloud or computer backup can restore additional content and settings.

If Find My was enabled, Activation Lock remains associated with the iPhone after it is erased. Activation Lock is Apple’s theft-prevention feature that requires the Apple Account previously linked to the device before the iPhone can be activated again.

What do you need before resetting a locked iPhone?

Before starting a factory reset on an iPhone without the passcode, have the following ready:

• A Mac or Windows computer for the recovery-mode method.
• A USB cable that can connect the iPhone to the computer.
• A reliable internet connection because the computer may need to download iPhone software.
• The Apple Account email address or phone number and password associated with the iPhone.
• An iCloud or computer backup, if one exists and you want to restore your data.

Make sure you understand that the reset permanently wipes data stored only on the iPhone. If you have forgotten the Apple Account password as well, recover that account before erasing whenever possible.

How do you reset a locked iPhone with a computer and recovery mode?

Recovery mode lets a Mac or Windows computer reinstall iOS without requiring the screen passcode. On a current Mac, use Finder. On Windows, use Apple Devices; iTunes may be used on systems where Apple Devices is unavailable.

1. Turn off the iPhone. On a Face ID model, hold the side and volume-down buttons until the power slider appears. On a model with a Home button, hold the side or top button, then use the slider.
2. Connect the cable to the computer but not yet to the iPhone.
3. Connect the iPhone while holding its recovery-mode button. Hold the side button on iPhone 8 or later, including newer iPhone SE models. Hold volume down on iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. Hold the Home button on iPhone 6s, the first-generation iPhone SE, or earlier.
4. Keep holding the button past the Apple logo. Release it only when the iPhone displays a computer-and-cable image.
5. Open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes and select the iPhone.
6. When offered Update or Restore, select Restore. Confirm the choice and allow the computer to download and install the software.
7. Wait for the Hello screen, then disconnect the iPhone and begin setup.

If the software download takes long enough for the iPhone to leave recovery mode, let the download finish. Turn off the iPhone and repeat the recovery-mode steps.

How do you erase a locked iPhone with Find My?

Find My can remotely erase a locked iPhone if Find My was enabled before the lockout. The iPhone must eventually connect to the internet for the erase command to complete.

1. On another device, open the Find My app. Alternatively, sign in to iCloud.com and open Find Devices.
2. Sign in with the same Apple Account used on the locked iPhone.
3. Select Devices or All Devices, then select the locked iPhone.
4. Choose Erase This Device or Erase iPhone and confirm.
5. If the iPhone is offline, leave the erase request pending. Erasure starts when the phone next connects to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
6. After the erase finishes, start setup and enter the linked Apple Account credentials when Activation Lock requests them.

Can you erase an iPhone directly after too many failed passcode attempts?

An iPhone running iOS 15.2 or later may offer an on-device reset after repeated incorrect passcode attempts. Find My must already be enabled, the iPhone must have an active cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and you must know its Apple Account password.

On iOS 15.2 or iOS 16, look for Erase iPhone on the Security Lockout or iPhone Unavailable screen. On iOS 17 or later, select Forgot Passcode?, choose Start iPhone Reset, enter the Apple Account password, and then select Erase iPhone.

The exact wording may vary by software version. If the option does not appear, use recovery mode or Find My instead. Do not keep guessing possible passcodes merely to make the option appear, because additional failures can extend the lockout.

How do you restore your data after resetting the iPhone?

When the Hello screen appears, follow the setup prompts and connect to Wi-Fi. Sign in with the Apple Account previously associated with the iPhone.

• Choose the iCloud backup option to restore from an available iCloud backup.
• Choose the Mac or PC option and connect the iPhone to the computer that holds its backup.
• Choose to set up the iPhone without transferring data if no backup exists.

Select a backup made before the lockout and keep the iPhone connected to power and the internet while content returns. Some synchronized information and apps may continue appearing after the main setup finishes.

When should you contact Apple Support about a locked iPhone?

Contact Apple Support if the iPhone buttons do not work, recovery mode never appears, the computer cannot detect or restore the device, or repeated restore attempts produce an error. Apple can also explain service options if you do not have access to a computer.

Open {site}, choose Support, and select iPhone and the forgotten-passcode or update-and-restore topic. You can also use the Apple Support app on another Apple device. Apple cannot reveal the forgotten passcode or recover unbacked-up data, and you may need proof of ownership for help with an Activation Lock issue.