Forgotten your iPhone or iPad passcode? Or maybe a relative can’t get into their device and has asked you to help?
Don’t panic – there are a few ways back in, and recent versions of iOS have made the process much easier than it used to be. First, though, let’s clarify the difference between a password and a passcode.
Password
If you forget your Apple Account password, you can reset it on any device where you’re still signed in. Go to Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password and enter your device passcode to confirm it’s you. You won’t lose any data.
Passcode
However, if you forget the Lock Screen passcode for a specific device (usually a 4- or 6-digit PIN), it’s not quite as simple to rectify. Typing the wrong passcode too many times will lock you out. If you have Erase Data turned on, ten failed attempts will wipe all your data.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to bypass a passcode without resetting the device and starting over. This is a vital security feature; if somebody steals your iPhone, there’s no way for them to unlock it without your passcode. Apple can’t help either, but the FBI might be able to if you have a million bucks spare. (That’s not an exaggeration.)
Thankfully, if you have a recent backup, you can restore without losing much data. Even in the worst case scenario with no backups available, you can re-download all your old apps for free. Here’s what to do.
Changed your passcode recently?
If you changed your passcode in the last 72 hours and have already forgotten the new one, you can still get in with the old one. After a few wrong attempts, tap Forgot Passcode? at the bottom of the screen, choose Enter Previous Passcode, type your old passcode, then follow the prompts to set a new one.
Erase from the Lock Screen
If that’s not an option, you can erase your iPhone without a computer. Keep entering a passcode until you see the iPhone Unavailable screen, then tap Forgot Passcode? at the bottom, followed by Start iPhone Reset. Enter your Apple Account password to confirm, and your iPhone will erase itself, ready to be set up again. For this to work, the device needs to be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data and signed in to an Apple Account.
Once it’s done, skip ahead to Restore from backup below.
Recovery mode
If you can’t use the Lock Screen option – say, you’ve forgotten your Apple Account password too – you’ll need a computer. On a Mac, the built-in Finder is all you’ll need. On a Windows PC, install Apple’s Apple Devices app (or iTunes on older versions of Windows). If you don’t have access to a computer, your best bet is to head into an Apple Store – they’ll be able to help.
Don’t plug the device into the computer yet. First, we need to force it into recovery mode. Turn off the device by holding the side button and either volume button until slide to power off appears. Slide it to the right to power down.
To enter recovery mode, plug your iPhone or iPad into the computer with its charging cable while holding down the right button for your model, and keep holding it:
- iPhone 8 and later (including iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation): the side button
- iPhone 7: the volume down button
- iPhone 6s and earlier (including the original iPhone SE): the Home button
- iPad without a Home button: the top button. iPad with a Home button: the Home button
If you timed it right, you’ll see a recovery mode screen appear. If it loads up the passcode screen as usual, you’ll need to power off and try again.
Once you’re in recovery mode, find the iPhone or iPad in Finder or the Apple Devices app on your computer. It should show up in the sidebar.
You should be prompted with an option to Restore or Update your device. Choose Restore and wait while the computer downloads and installs the necessary files. It may take a while – if your device exits recovery mode before it’s finished, you’ll have to follow the previous steps again. Wait for the download to finish first so you don’t get stuck doing this again and again!
Restore from backup
When it’s done, you have several options.
If you back up to iCloud: unplug your device and follow the setup prompts on screen until you reach Transfer Your Apps & Data. Choose From iCloud Backup and sign in to your Apple Account to confirm your identity. Choose the most recent backup – you will retain all photos, documents, and data up until the date shown. Once the essentials are ready you can start using the device while the rest of your apps download in the background.
If you back up to a computer: leave your device plugged in and find it in Finder or the Apple Devices app once again. This time, you’ll see more options. Click Restore Backup from the General section, and again choose the most recent backup – you will retain all photos, documents, and data up until the date shown. If you use encrypted backups, you’ll need to enter a password to unlock them first. Fingers crossed you haven’t forgotten that too!
If you don’t back up at all: set up the device as if it were new, following the prompts. Once you’ve signed into your Apple Account, you will at least get access to anything synced with iCloud, like contacts, photos and messages, depending on your settings. Open the App Store, tap your profile picture and choose Purchased to redownload apps you’ve already paid for.
That’s it! Though it can be a bit of a painful process to restore a device like this, it’s better than having passcodes that can be easily bypassed. If you disagree and prefer convenience to security, you can always turn your passcode off completely – though we really wouldn’t recommend it.
