How to Reset an iPhone Without Using the Screen

You can reset an iPhone without using the screen by connecting the iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC, putting it in recovery mode with its buttons, and selecting Restore on the computer. This factory reset erases the iPhone, including its passcode, apps, settings, and any data that was not backed up.

If Find My was enabled before the screen stopped working, you may also be able to erase the iPhone remotely. Neither method bypasses Activation Lock or gives access to an iPhone that you do not own.

What do you need before resetting an iPhone with a broken screen?

To reset an iPhone without the touchscreen, prepare the following:

• A Mac or Windows PC that you are authorized to use.
• A compatible data cable in good condition. A cable that only supplies power will not let the computer communicate with the iPhone.
• The Apple Account email address or phone number and password linked to the iPhone. Apple Account is the current name for the sign-in previously called an Apple ID.
• A recent iCloud or computer backup if you want to recover your photos, messages, apps, and settings afterward.

A factory reset cannot create a backup first when the screen is unusable and the computer has not already been trusted. Anything stored only on the iPhone may be permanently lost. Charge the iPhone if possible, then leave enough power in the computer to complete the restore without interruption.

How do you reset an iPhone with recovery mode when the screen does not work?

Recovery mode is a startup state that lets a computer reinstall iOS even when the iPhone has a black, frozen, or unresponsive screen. Connect the iPhone to the computer before using the button sequence.

1. For iPhone 8 or later, including the second- and third-generation iPhone SE, quickly press and release Volume Up. Quickly press and release Volume Down. Then press and hold the Side button. Keep holding after the Apple logo appears, and release only when the computer detects an iPhone in recovery mode.
2. For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button together. Continue holding until the computer detects recovery mode.
3. For iPhone 6s or earlier and the first-generation iPhone SE, press and hold the Home button together with the Side or Top button. Continue holding until the computer detects recovery mode.

When trying to restore an iPhone with an unresponsive screen, use the computer’s message as confirmation. A damaged display may remain blank even after the iPhone has entered recovery mode.

How do you restore an iPhone from a Mac or Windows PC?

Once the computer detects the iPhone in recovery mode, restore it as follows:

1. On a current Mac, open Finder and select the iPhone under Locations. On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app and select the iPhone. On systems that use iTunes, open iTunes and select the device icon.
2. When offered Update or Restore, choose Restore. Update attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing data, while Restore erases the device and installs a clean copy of iOS.
3. Confirm the restore request and follow the instructions shown on the computer.
4. Keep the iPhone connected until the computer reports that the restore is complete. Do not unplug the cable merely because the iPhone restarts.

If the software download is interrupted or the iPhone leaves recovery mode before restoration begins, let the download finish and repeat the correct button sequence. The computer may need to download iPhone software before it can perform the reset.

How can you erase an iPhone remotely when the screen does not work?

Remote erasure may work if Find My was enabled on the iPhone before the screen failed. You also need access to the linked Apple Account through the Find My app on another Apple device or through Apple’s Find Devices service on a browser.

1. Sign in with the Apple Account linked to the broken iPhone.
2. Select the correct iPhone from the device list. Check the model or other identifying information carefully if several devices appear.
3. Choose the option to erase the device and confirm the request.

The iPhone must connect to the internet to receive the erase command. If it is offline, the request may remain pending until it reconnects. Remote erasure does not remove Activation Lock, and it may be impossible if Find My was never enabled or the iPhone cannot regain a network connection.

What should you do if the computer does not recognize the iPhone?

If a computer cannot detect an iPhone with a black or broken screen, check the physical connection and recovery-mode sequence before assuming the reset has failed.

1. Disconnect and firmly reconnect both ends of the cable.
2. Try another USB port directly on the computer instead of a keyboard, hub, dock, or adapter when possible.
3. Inspect the cable and charging port for visible damage or debris. Do not insert metal objects or force a connector into the port.
4. Install available updates for macOS, Windows, Apple Devices, or iTunes, then restart the computer.
5. Repeat the exact button sequence for the iPhone model. Quick presses on newer models must be separate, followed by a continuous hold of the Side button.
6. Try another compatible data cable or another trusted computer that you are authorized to use.

If several cables and computers cannot detect the iPhone, a damaged port, button, battery, or internal component may be preventing recovery mode or USB communication.

Will Activation Lock remain after the iPhone is erased?

Activation Lock may remain after erasure when Find My was linked to an Apple Account. Activation Lock is an ownership safeguard that requires the linked account credentials before the iPhone can be activated again.

After a successful factory reset, the iPhone displays the setup process if its screen works. You can set it up as a new iPhone, restore an available iCloud backup, or restore a backup previously saved on a Mac or Windows PC. If the screen is still unusable, setup will require a working display or an appropriate accessibility arrangement.

Enter only the credentials for the Apple Account that legitimately owns the iPhone. If you forgot the password, use Apple’s official account-recovery process. Erasing the iPhone does not bypass Activation Lock, prove ownership, or make an unknown account removable.