3 Ways to Reset a Locked iPhone

2025 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-23 12:04

If your iPhone is locked and you forget the password, you can still reset it. This process can erase all content and restore your personal data if you previously backed it up. There are three ways to reset a locked iPhone: restore it with iTunes, reset it with the Find My iPhone feature, or in recovery mode.

Step

Method 1 of 3: Restoring Using iTunes

Step 1. Connect iPhone to your computer using a USB cable

You must be using the same computer you first synced your iPhone with with iTunes. iTunes will run automatically when it detects your device.

If iTunes asks you for a password, or you never synced iPhone with iTunes on your computer, follow the steps for method three in this article

Step 2. Wait for iTunes to finish syncing your iPhone with your computer and back up the files

If iTunes fails to sync your iPhone, click the iPhone icon in iTunes, then click “Sync.”

Step 3. Click “Restore iPhone” when iTunes is done syncing and backing up your iPhone

Step 4. Select the “Restore from iTunes backup” option when your iPhone screen displays the settings

Step 5. Select your iPhone in iTunes, then click the latest file

iTunes will reset, unlock your iPhone and your personal data.

Method 2 of 3: Using Find My iPhone

Step 1. Visit the iCloud website at https://www.icloud.com/#find on your computer or other device

If you didn't previously activate the Find My iPhone feature using iCloud, you can't reset it using this method. Follow the third method in this article

Step 2. Click “All Devices” at the top of iCloud then select your iPhone

Step 3. Click “Erase iPhone

” iCloud will reset the password and delete all content from your iPhone.

Step 4. Select the option to reset your personal data from iCloud backup file or follow the instructions that appear on the screen to set up your device as a new device

Your iPhone will then be reset and unlocked again.

Method 3 of 3: Recovering Using Recovery Mode

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable

Step 2. Run the iTunes application

Wait until iTunes detects your iPhone.

If iTunes is not installed on your computer, visit the Apple website at https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ to download the latest version of iTunes

Step 3. Press and hold the “Sleep/Wake” and “Home” buttons on your iPhone simultaneously until the recovery mode screen appears

Recovery mode will appear when the Apple logo disappears.

Step 4. Click “Restore” when iTunes informs you that your device has a problem

iTunes will download and install any available software update files. This process can take up to 15 minutes.

If it's been more than 15 minutes, it's likely that your iPhone has exited recovery mode. Repeat steps 3 and 4 before moving on to the next step

Step 5. Wait for iTunes to finish resetting your iPhone, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your device as a new device

Your iPhone will be reset and unlocked.

Tips

Before resetting your locked iPhone, try to walk back to the place where you entered the password. Sometimes, it can bring up your memory and help you recover your password "mentally"

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