Forgot iPhone Passcode? Here’s How to Fix It Without Hassle
Forgetting your iPhone’s passcode is terrible, but even worse is that your device will automatically disable itself once you enter the wrong passcode six times. However, that’s not the primary cause for concern if you know your Apple ID.
You should be worried about whether you’ve backed up important files on your iPhone to the iCloud, as resetting your iPhone is the only way to reaccess it. If you have a backup, that’s good news! Otherwise, you’ll lose those files that mean a lot to you.
But what better feeling than being able to use your precious iPhone again? The methods in this guide will help reset your iPhone while it’s locked. Read on below to find out.
How to Reset iPhone via iCloud
This method should be your go-to option if you enabled Find my iPhone on your device before you forgot its passcode. It allows you to perform a reset remotely on your Windows PC, even without the iPhone in your hand. Just ensure the iPhone has mobile data or is connected to a WiFi network.
With that done,
- Log in to iCloud on your PC using your Apple ID and select Find my iPhone on the homepage.
- Click on your iPhone under MY DEVICES
- Select Erase iPhone next to Lost Mode
Provided your iPhone has Internet access, this procedure will wipe its contents. Restart the iPhone afterward and sign in to your Apple ID again to set it up.
How to Reset Your Your iPhone via Recovery Mode
This method sends your iPhone to a recovery screen, after which you’ll need to connect it to a Mac and follow some prompts. More importantly, you’ll need a button combo for your iPhone to work. For iPhone 8 and newer models, the button combo involves pressing the volume up button, the volume down button, and then the power button (sequentially). You can check your iPhone model’s recovery mode button combo on Apple’s website.
With that out of the way, follow the steps below to restore your iPhone via Recovery Mode:
- Open the iTunes app on your Mac (an up-to-date version)
- Power off your iPhone
- While off, press the recovery mode key combo for your iPhone model
- You should see the recovery screen indicating that you should connect your iPhone to a Mac. Do as prompted
- Locate your iPhone on the iTunes screen and select the Restore option
- Follow the prompts from there and set up your iPhone
How to Restore Your iPhone after Resetting It
If you have a backup of your iPhone on iCloud,
- Open the Settings app and select iCloud
- Next, tap Manage Storage
- Select Backups
- In the Backups section, select your iPhone, and you’ll see information on your last backup.
Alternatively, if you’d like to restore apps you’ve purchased on iTunes,
- Open the Apps Store
- Select Today at the bottom of the screen
- Sign in to your iTunes account, the one used in purchasing the items
- Once you’ve logged in, tap Purchase
- You’ll see all purchased items listed. Tap the download icon in front of them to restore.
Final Notes
That’s how you reset and restore your iPhone. You must input your Apple ID when restoring your Apple iPhone after a reset, so ensure you remember it. Otherwise, unlocking your phone will prove impossible.
