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Forgot iPhone Passcode: How to Unlock Your iPhone Without the Passcode

If you’ve forgotten you passcode don’t worry! Apple has thought about you and you’ll be able to get back into your iPhone in no time. You’ve probably realised by now that guessing your passcode incorrectly, entering multiple wrong codes that it’ll lock your device for an ever increasing amount of time unless you configured the device to erase itself.

The summary of what we’re going to guide you through is that you’ll need to restore your device using a computer. You’ll be installing a blank version of iOS and you will lose your data unfortunately. There is no other way around it. Luckily iCloud automatically backs up by default so when you resync your iCloud data you should get everything back from the last backup point. This is unless you’ve turned things off in your settings.

If you’re thinking about taking your iPhone to an Apple store there isn’t really anything they can do. They cannot unlock your device.

Important Notice About iCloud

To unlock an iPhone without the passcode you will need to clear the device. You will lose the data not backed up to the attached iCloud account. If you don’t have the password to the iCloud account you cannot recover the iPhone at all.

Recover Your iPhone

  1. Turn off your iPhone & unplug from a computer if it’s connected.
  2. Next you’ll need to put your iPhone into recovery mode and connect it to a computer. Have your cable and computer ready as when you hold the button you’ll want to connect it straight away.
    – For iPhones with no Home Button/Face ID hold down the side power button.
    – For iPhone 7 (and 7 Plus) hold down the volume down button.
    – For Earlier iPhones use the home button.
  3. Keep holding the button while it’s connected and wait for the recovery mode screen. Once it shows you can let go.
  4. Now onto your computer. Open iTunes and in the sidebar select your iPhone.
  5. It will show a popup asking you to update or restore. Click restore.
  6. Your computer will install a new version of iOS and you’ll be able to setup your iPhone.

Your iPhone should now restore and you’ll be able to access your device using your iCloud account.

That Didn’t Work?

Not to worry, sometimes the recovery mode recover doesn’t work but there is a solution. Next we’re going to put your iPhone into DFU mode. DFU mode is essentially a level deeper than recovery and more like BIOS level.

  1. Turn off your iPhone and plug it into your computer.
  2. You must now open iTunes before you put the device into DFU mode.
  3. To put your device into DFU mode you have to do one of the following:
    – For iPhones with no Home Button/Face ID press and hold the power button, count to 3 then start pressing the volume down button. Hold both of these buttons for 10 seconds then releasing the power button only. Continue to hold the volume down for 5 seconds then release.
    – For iPhone 7 (and 7 Plus) press and hold the power button, count to 3 then start pressing the Home Button down. Hold both of these buttons for 10 seconds then release.
    – For Earlier iPhones press and hold the power button, count to 3 then start pressing the Home Button down. Hold both of these buttons for 10 seconds then releasing the power button only. Continue to hold the Home Button for 5 seconds then release.
  4. Your screen should now be illuminated but blank.
  5. Now onto your computer. Open iTunes and in the sidebar select your iPhone.
  6. It will show a popup asking you to update or restore. Click restore.
  7. Your computer will install a new version of iOS and you’ll be able to setup your iPhone.