How to unlock your phone when you forgot the PIN - Android & iOS
Forgot your phone PIN? This comprehensive guide reveals multiple unlock methods for both Android and iOS devices, helping you regain access quickly.
Jasmin Woods Updated on Jun 27, 2025 5:58 PM
A 4-digit or 6-digit PIN provides essential security for your phone and personal data. However, forgetting this PIN can lock you out completely. If you forgot your phone PIN and the biometric unlock isn't working, don't worry — it's not permanent lockout. Multiple solutions exist to unlock your phone when you forgot the PIN.
If you forgot the PIN to unlock your phone, explore these options to recover Android/iOS access.
This guide provides step-by-step methods to unlock the forgotten PIN on your phone, covering solutions for both Android and iOS devices. From using Google's Find Hub service to performing a manual factory reset, these methods can help regain full access to your phone even when you've forgotten the unlock PIN. The unlocking process differs between Android and iOS; here are the most effective methods for each platform:
Locked out by a forgotten Android PIN? Android Unlocker is the fastest solution. It instantly removes all screen locks — 4-/6-digit PINs, passwords, and patterns — from Android phones and tablets, giving you immediate access to your device. No technical skills required.
How to unlock Android phone if you forgot PIN
Your phone typically allows multiple PIN attempts before locking completely. If you still can't remember it, try these proven ways to unlock your Android phone after forgetting the PIN.
Use Google Find hub to unlock Android phone without PIN
If you previously added a Google account and enabled Find Hub (formerly Find My Device) on your phone before lockout, you can perform a remote factory reset to unlock the forgotten Android PIN. This will permanently erase all current data on your locked device, including the forgotten PIN. Use this unlocking method only when:
- You remember the Google account credentials tied to your locked Android phone.
- The device is powered on and has internet access.
- You're willing to factory reset your Android phone and wipe all existing data.
Steps to unlock Android phone's forgotten PIN through Google Find Hub:
1. Open any browser and visit Google Find Hub website.
2. Sign in to your Google account with the same credentials used on your phone.
3. From left-side Devices menu, select the Android phone you want to unlock.
4. Click Factory reset device in the expanded card.
5. Confirm the Reset and Erase option on the following prompts. If asked, verify your Google account password to begin.
Wait for reset process to complete. Once done, your phone should be unlocked without needing a PIN. You can then set it up again and create a new lock PIN.
Use Android Unlocker if you forgot Android PIN, password, or pattern
Whether you forgot phone PIN or inherited a locked device, Appgeeker Android Unlocker stands out as the quickest solution to remove all Android screen locks from your phone or tablet, including 4-/6-digit PINs, passwords, patterns, fingerprints & facial IDs, and Google FRP locks.
Additionally, it provides universal compatibility, working with all major brands like Samsung, Motorola, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, OnePlus, LG, Huawei, and more. No tech skills needed, it automatically detects your Android phone and unlocks the forgotten PIN in clicks.
Working for Android 7 +, here's how to unlock Android phone without a PIN if you forgot it:
Step 1. Run Android Unlocker on your PC and choose Remove Screen Password mode.
Step 2. Select the brand of your Android phone and connect your device with a USB cable.
TIP: In case you encounter connection issue, follow the onscreen link to get your phone recognized, or click Try Other Unlock Methods to operate your Android accordingly.
Step 3. Click Remove Now to remove the forgotten PIN from your Android phone.
After removal, your Android phone will be unlocked and reset to factory settings, prompting initial setup screen. Go through the setups and create new screen lock as needed. If you have a recent backup, get help to recover Android data after factory reset.
Use Recovery Mode to factory reset Android phone
If you forgot your Android PIN completely, a factory reset is usually necessary to regain phone access. This involves booting your phone into Recovery Mode to manually remove the forgotten screen lock. While the exact steps may vary by manufacturer, here's the general process for unlocking a phone when you forgot your Android PIN:
1. Turn off the Android device first. For newer Samsung smartphone, connect it to your computer via a USB cable.
2. Enable Android Recovery Mode with buttons. The key combinations may differ, depending on the phone model you're using:
- For Samsung, Huawei, VIVO, Xiaomi, Redmi phones, press and hold both Power and Volume Up buttons simultaneously. TIP: If your Samsung phone has a Bixby/Home button, press and hold Power, Volume Up, and Bixby/Home buttons together.
- For most Motorola, OnePlus, Google Pixel, LG, TCL, OPPO, Realme, Lenovo phones, press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time.
Keep holding the buttons until the Android Recovery menu appears.
3. Scroll to Wipe data/factory reset using either Volume button, then select it by pressing the Power button.
4. Use one of the Volume keys to highlight Yes, Yes - delete all user data, or Factory data reset, and press the Power key to confirm.
5. This will factory reset your locked Android phone and remove the PIN you've forgotten.
6. After reset, select Reboot system now to restart your phone.
Once completed, your phone unlocks with no PIN code required. When setup prompt appears, follow it to set up your phone again and use a new screen lock.
During setup, you may encounter Google account verification screen (also known as Factory Reset Protection) if a Google account was previously synced with this phone. If you don't remember any credential details, get help of this FRP bypass tool to regain login access.
Use SmartThings Find to unlock Samsung phone PIN
For Samsung devices, SmartThings Find (previously Find My Mobile) provides an additional unlock option when you forget your Samsung phone PIN. Like Google's Find My Device, it enables remote factory resets to bypass screen locks, unlocking your Samsung phone without a PIN.
To get started, make sure you've previously linked a Samsung account to your device and enabled SmartThings Find. With your phone connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, follow these steps to unlock your Samsung when you forgot the PIN:
1. On your computer or a different device, go to Samsung SmartThings website.
2. Log in with the Samsung account and password used on your phone.
3. Locate Devices and select your PIN-locked Samsung phone.
4. Choose Erase data from the pop-up options.
5. Confirm the Erase option and follow the prompts to verify your Samsung account identity.
This will remotely reset your locked Samsung phone, deleting the forgotten lock PIN permanently.
How to unlock forgotten Android PIN without factory reset
While a factory reset can unlock your phone when you forgot Android PIN, it results in permanent data loss. But luckily, you may be able to bypass Android lock screen without a reset if Smart Lock has been enabled in advance or your device runs Android 4.4 or older versions.
Use Smart Lock to auto-unlock your phone
If you previously enabled Smart Lock to automatically unlock your phone under trusted conditions (like specific locations or connected devices), you can bypass the PIN requirement to access your phone — but only if you've set it up before forgetting your PIN.
1. In Android Settings, select Lock screen > Smart Lock, or Security > Smart Lock.
2. Choose in which situation you want your phone to stay unlocked:
- On-body detection: Get your phone auto-unlocked when you're holding it.
- Trusted Places: Unlock your Android when you're in certain locations, like your home or work.
- Trusted Devices: Allow you phone to unlock itself when trusted devices are detected nearby.
3. Complete the following steps to add your trusted places or devices, based on your choice.
Note: Smart Lock won't reset or remove your forgotten PIN; it only temporarily bypasses it.
Use Forgot PIN option on Android 4.4 or lower
For Android 4.4 KitKat and earlier versions, the built-in Forgot PIN feature lets you reset a forgotten screen lock easily. After multiple failed PIN attempts, you'll be prompted to enter your linked Google account credentials to regain access.
- Enter incorrect PIN codes on your Android lock screen randomly.
- When reaching 5 unsuccessful attempts, the Forgot PIN? (or Forgot Pattern / Forgot Password) option appears, tapping on it.
- To proceed, select Enter Google account details and go Next.
- Enter the Google account username and password previously added to this phone.
- Reset your screen lock PIN: create a new code and enter it again to confirm.
When you reset the forgotten PIN successfully, use the new code to unlock your Android phone.
How to unlock iPhone when you forgot passcode
If you forget your iPhone PIN, Apple provides various unlocking options to help you regain access. Even if all else fails, powerful tools like Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker allow you to get into a locked iPhone without a passcode.
Use Forgot Passcode on iOS 17 or later
For iOS 17or later, the Forgot Passcode feature allows you to reset your unavailable iPhone directly from the lock screen when you can't remember your current lock code. If your iOS device has an active internet connection with Find My enabled prior to lockout, the following steps will help unlock your iPhone via Forgot Passcode option:
For iOS 17 + additional option: If you've changed your passcode within the last 72 hours, you can use a previous passcode to regain temporary access and immediately reset a new one.
- Enter more than 5 wrong passcodes on your lock screen until the iPhone Unavailable, try again screen appears.
- Tap Forgot Passcode? option at the bottom and tap Start iPhone Reset to confirm. For iOS 15.2 - iOS17, it would be an Erase iPhone option instead.
- Enter your Apple Account password to sign out of your Apple Account on your iDevice.
- When prompted, confirm Erase iPhone to erase all data and settings permanently. Before proceeding, you can decide whether to keep or delete your eSIM.
- Wait for your iPhone to be unlocked and set it up again from the Hello screen.
If a recent backup is available, try restoring your iPhone data from it to minimize loss.
Use iPhone Unlocker if you forgot the passcode
When you're locked out of your iPhone with no access to the Forgot Passcode option, Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker can be a life savior. This reliable tool removes various types of screen locks from iPhone & iPad, including 4-digit/6-digit passcodes, Touch ID & Face ID, Apple ID, and more.
It's very easy to use, working perfectly for users who've forgotten their PIN code or purchased a locked second-hand device. Simply install it on your computer; here's the step-by-step guide for unlocking iPhone when you forgot passcode:
Step 1. Launch Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker on your computer. It works for both Windows PC and Mac, compatible with all iOS versions.
Step 2. Choose Wipe Passcode mode and click Start button.
Step 3. Connect your locked iPhone with a USB cable. If not recognized, click the onscreen link to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode.
Step 4. Confirm device information and hit Start button. A suitable iOS unlocking firmware will be downloaded for your phone.
Step 5. When prompted, enter 0000 and click Unlock to initiate iPhone unlocking process.
Once unlocked, all your data and settings will be erased completely. Your iPhone will restart like a new device, allowing for fresh setup and data restoration.
Use iPhone Recovery Mode to unlock your phone
If you have access to a computer, you can unlock your iPhone by performing a factory reset through iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac) using Recovery Mode. This method requires a physical connection and will completely erase your phone, including the forgotten PIN and all other data.
1. Open iTunes / Finder on your computer. For Windows PC and macOS 10.14 Mojave or earlier, use iTunes; for macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer, run Finder.
2. Connect your locked iPhone to computer with a USB cable.
3. Enter iPhone Recovery Mode with buttons.
- For iPhone 8 and later, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, and keep holding the Side button until a cable-to-computer image appears.
- For iPhone 7 & 7 Plus, keep holding the Volume Down and Side buttons simultaneously; release the buttons only when you see an image of a computer and a cable.
- For iPhone 6, 6s, or older devices, keep holding the Home button and Side button at the same time, don't release the buttons until a computer-and-cable screen displays.
4. A dialog box will pop up on your computer, asking for Restore or Update.
5. Select Restore and then confirm Restore and Update to start resetting.
The process will factory reset iPhone without passcode to get it unlocked. When it restarts, follow the onscreen prompts to set up your phone again.
Use iCloud Erase to unlock iPhone passcode
When Recovery Mode is not an option, you can still unlock your iPhone if Find My was enabled previously. Simply visit iCloud.com and remotely erase your iPhone to remove the forgotten passcode. To get started, make sure you have your Apple Account and password ready.
- Open a browser and head to iCloud.com.
- Sign in with the same Apple Account credentials associated with your iPhone.
- Select Find My option and click All Devices at the top.
- Locate the iPhone that you wish to unlock.
- Choose Erase This Device and follow the onscreen instructions to confirm it.
Then, your phone will unlock and restart with everything erased. If possible, restore your iPhone data from an available iCloud backup or iTunes/Finder backup. Also see: Restore data from iPhone without backup.
Prevent forgotten PIN on your phone
After regaining access to your phone, take these steps to avoid future lockouts while maintaining security:
- Set a memorable but secure PIN. Choose a combination of numbers that's easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.
- Enable biometric locks. Add fingerprint or face recognition for convenient unlock when the passcode is not working.
- Extra security if you forget your PIN. Back up your data regularly using Google Drive (Android) or iCloud (iOS), so that you're able to restore data if a factory reset is needed.
