Factory Reset a Locked Phone: Step-by-Step Password Bypass

To factory reset a locked phone, erase it through recovery mode or the remote device-finding service connected to your account. The reset removes the forgotten screen password, PIN, or pattern, but it also permanently deletes data that was not backed up.

A factory reset does not remove the manufacturer’s ownership protection. During setup, you may need the Apple Account, Google Account, or manufacturer account that was previously signed in on the phone.

When should you factory reset a locked phone?

Factory reset is the right option when you own the phone, have truly forgotten its screen lock, and cannot recover access through an available passcode-reset option. It is a last resort because photos, messages, downloads, apps, and other locally stored information will be erased.

Check whether your photos, contacts, and other important information were backed up before proceeding. Data already synchronized with a cloud account may return after setup, but a reset cannot recover files that existed only on the phone.

These instructions are for regaining access to your own device. A reset will not bypass Activation Lock or Factory Reset Protection, which are security features that require the previous owner’s account after an unauthorized reset.

What do you need before resetting a locked phone?

• The email address and password for the Apple Account or Google Account previously used on the phone.
• Any separate manufacturer account credentials associated with the device.
• A charged phone and a reliable internet connection for activation after the reset.
• A Mac or Windows computer and a compatible USB cable if you are resetting an iPhone through recovery mode.
• Access to another phone or computer if you plan to erase the device remotely.
• Proof that you own the device, such as its receipt, serial number, or IMEI, in case support must verify ownership.

Confirm that you can sign in to the required device account on another device before erasing the phone. If you recently changed a Google Account password, Google advises waiting 24 hours before performing a factory reset.

How do you factory reset a locked phone through recovery mode?

Recovery mode is a special startup screen used to repair or erase a phone when its normal settings cannot be opened. Button combinations vary by brand and model, so use only the sequence published for your exact device.

For a Google Pixel 6 or later, Google provides these steps:

1. Turn off the Pixel.
2. Hold the Volume Down and Power buttons together until the Fastboot mode screen appears.
3. Use either volume button to highlight Recovery mode, then press Power.
4. When “No command” appears, hold Power, press Volume Up, and quickly release both buttons.
5. In Android Recovery, use Volume Down to highlight Wipe data/factory reset and press Power.
6. Select Factory data reset. When the wipe finishes, select Reboot system now.

Earlier Pixel phones use Volume Up and Power to enter Fastboot mode. Other Android brands can use different combinations and may require a USB connection, so check the manufacturer’s official instructions rather than repeatedly trying unrelated buttons.

For an iPhone, the recovery button depends on the model:

1. Turn off the iPhone and connect a suitable cable to a Mac or Windows computer.
2. While connecting the cable to the iPhone, hold the Side button on an iPhone with Face ID, iPhone 8 series, or iPhone SE second or third generation. Hold Volume Down on an iPhone 7 series. Hold the Home button on an iPhone 6s or earlier or iPhone SE first generation.
3. Keep holding the specified button through the Apple logo. Release it only when the computer-and-cable recovery image appears.
4. On a Mac, select the iPhone in Finder and choose Restore. On Windows, open Apple Devices, select the iPhone, and choose Restore.
5. Keep the phone connected while the computer downloads and installs the software.

How do you remotely erase a locked phone?

Remote erasing works only when the phone is associated with your account and the required finding feature was enabled. The phone normally must have power and an internet connection; if it is offline, the request may remain pending until it reconnects.

For an Android phone using Google Find Hub, formerly called Find My Device:

1. Open Google Find Hub on another phone or computer.
2. Sign in with the same Google Account used on the locked phone.
3. Select the correct device and confirm its identifying details.
4. Choose the factory-reset option, review the warning, and verify your account when prompted.
5. Confirm the erase request and leave the locked phone powered on so it can receive the command.

A Samsung device may also be erased through SmartThings Find when it was set up with a Samsung account. Sign in with that same account, select the device, choose Erase data, and complete the displayed verification.

For an iPhone, use Find My from another Apple device or the web-based Find Devices service. Sign in with the Apple Account connected to the iPhone, select the phone, choose Erase This Device, and follow the verification prompts.

What happens after a locked phone is reset?

The first startup can take longer than a normal restart. When the welcome screen appears, connect to Wi-Fi or mobile data and follow the setup instructions.

An Android phone may require a Google Account that was previously synced to it. This check is Factory Reset Protection. An iPhone with Find My previously enabled may require the Apple Account and password associated with Activation Lock. Some Android manufacturers may also request their own account credentials.

These checks are not the forgotten screen lock, and another factory reset will not remove them. Recover the correct account through the provider’s official account-recovery process if you cannot sign in.

After verification, create a new screen lock. Restore an available backup when prompted, or set up the phone as new if no backup exists.

What should you do if the factory reset does not work?

Restart the process if the phone left recovery mode before the software finished downloading. Try another compatible cable or computer port if the computer does not detect an iPhone.

If recovery mode never appears, the buttons do not respond, the erase command remains pending, or account verification rejects credentials you know are correct, contact the phone manufacturer’s official support team. Do not use a third-party “unlock” service that claims it can remove ownership protection.

Have the phone’s model, serial number or IMEI, account email address, proof of purchase, and a description of the exact screen or error ready. Manufacturer support can confirm the correct procedure and available service options, but it generally cannot remove ownership protection without satisfactory proof that the phone is yours.