How to get into a locked iPhone - Complete guide

Need access to your locked iPhone if forgotten passcode? Discover the best ways to get into the locked iPhone by resetting with or without a computer.

Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker is a fantastic helper to unlock a locked iPhone after forgetting the passcode or the device is displaying iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout.

Apple has several legitimate ways to let you unlock your iPhone when you're locked out of the device.

Getting locked out of your iPhone? It's such a frustrating experience when you forgot your passcode, entered the code incorrectly too many times and stared at an "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" message, or purchased a second-hand device that's still locked.

Apple intentionally makes it difficult to get into a locked iPhone without the correct passcode. That's a good thing for security, but it can become a problem when you're the rightful owner and can't remember the lock code.

You are far from out of luck. There are a few effective solutions for how to get into the locked iPhone, all of which involve resetting the device and erasing the passcode for a fresh new setup. Depending on your situation and device configurations, you may be able to unlock a locked iPhone without a computer or via a wired connection.

Here's everything you need to know about getting in a locked iPhone when you forgot the device passcode. Once you regain full access, you can use your previous backup to restore your data.

Method 1: Use Forgot Passcode? on the lock screen

Reset a locked iPhone without passcode

The exact process for unlocking a locked iPhone without a computer depends heavily on which version of iOS your phone is running. Apple introduced a direct on-device reset feature since iOS 15.2, letting you erase and reset iPhone using your Apple Account credentials and a live internet connection.

If you've entered the wrong passcode several times to trigger a 1-minute or longer waiting timer, a "Forgot Passcode?" option will appear in the bottom-right corner ("Erase iPhone" option in iOS 15.2-16). When you tap this button, iOS will explicitly tell you that proceeding will completely wipe all data and settings from the local hardware. Simply confirm your choice by tapping Erase iPhone, and typing in Apple account password to kick off a factory reset, in an effort to get you back into your locked iPhone again along with the forgotten passcode removed completely.

To open a locked iPhone if you can't remember the passcode using Apple ID without the need of a computer, do the following:

1. On the iPhone Unavailable screen, tap Forgot Passcode? option at the bottom.

2. Tap Start iPhone Reset button to make sure that you really want to reset your locked iPhone.

3. Enter your Apple Account password that's linked to the device.

4. Tap Erase iPhone to wipe the device clean and restore it to factory settings.

Within a few minutes, the phone will reboot into the classic "Hello" setup screen, allowing you to sign back in and restore your most recent iCloud backup.

Get in to locked iPhone without erasing data - iOS 17 or higher

If your phone is updated to iOS 17 or any subsequent release, Apple refined the security mechanism even further to bypass the locked screen and recover access by using the previous passcode—the old one you actually remember—to create another fresh new passcode.

For users who have simply forgotten a brand-new passcode they recently changed within the last 72 hours, Apple saves you from a complete device reset, making it possible to unlock an iPhone that's locked or unavailable without erasing it. Here's how.

1- Ensure that your iPhone is actively connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.

2- After a few incorrect passcode entries, tap Forgot Passcode? option at the lower right corner.

3- Tap Enter Previous Passcode button - a passcode reset feature that's active for 72 hours. This only materializes if you recently changed your passcode on a whim and immediately forgets the new sequence.

4- Enter your old passcode you used to unlock the screen. Once entered successfully, the phone will bypass the lockout.

5- Now, reset your iPhone passcode by creating a new one.

Done! A fast recovery of access to a locked iPhone without passcode or losing data or computer.

Method 2: Use Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker

While lock-screen reset is remarkably convenient to unlock iPhone without passcode, it doesn't always work as expected. If Forgot iPhone option is missing, or you simply need a tool that can do more than the built-in options, then Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker could be your go-to solution.

The software is a brilliant passcode removal tool, designed for Apple users to unlock the iPhone when locked out without the passcode or Apple ID. Whether you forget the lock screen passcode or trigger the lockout after entering the wrong code too many times, the onscreen wizard will walk you through just a few simple steps to get past the screen lock and get into the locked iPhone effortlessly.

Steps for getting in a locked iPhone if you forgot password

1. First, click the Download button to get the software downloaded on your Mac or PC. Then follow the hints to install it.

2. Fire up the program. To start an iPhone unlocking process, click Unlock iOS Screen on the main screen.

3. When prompted, attach your locked iPhone to the computer using its charging cable. You won't be asked for the passcode here, but if the device cannot be recognized, you would be prompted to enter recovery mode. Follow the on-screen instructions to do that.

4. Choose your iPhone model from the drop-down menu, and then click Start Now button.

Give the software a few moments to download the firmware for your device.

5. Once that's done, a Unlock iOS Screen Confirmation reminds you that bypassing locked iPhone screen will erase all data and settings. Hit OK button to continue.

6. Finally, hit the Confirm Again button for iPhone unlocking.

Once the progress bar hits 100%, the program commands the phone to restart. This delivers a completely unlocked device that is ready to be configured from scratch, giving you option to restore data from a backup if you have one.

Method 3: Use Recovery Mode

When you forgot the passcode to gain access to your locked iPhone, Apple also offers wired bypass. This requires you to connect the device to a computer and boot into recovery mode with physical button press, in an attempt to completely wipe the device and the passcode, and let you start fresh.

Here's how Recovery Mode works to get you back inside to your iPhone when it's locked down permanently. The process involves turning off your iPhone, entering recovery mode and restoring the device to factory settings through iTunes, Finder or Apple Devices app.

Step 1- Power off your phone as usual.

Step 2- Put your locked iPhone into recovery mode.

Press a physical button while connecting iPhone to computer, and keep holding that button until you see the Recovery Mode screen - a cable pointing to a computer. The button for this is varied based on your device model.

• iPhone 8 or later, SE (2nd & 3rd gen): Side button
• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Volume Down button
• iPhone 6s or earlier, SE (1st gen): Home button

Step 3- Restore your iPhone on your computer and wipe off the locked screen

• Now start iTunes, Apple Devices app, or Finder on your Windows PC or Mac.
• Locate your iPhone.
• When asked to update to restore your iPhone, choose Restore to delete all information including the passcode.
• Your computer downloads a brand-new copy of the iOS software from Apple's servers, completely formats your iPhone's internal storage, and installs the fresh operating system.

Your iPhone should be unlocked. Go through the setup process and use it again.

Way 4: Use iCloud Find My

Even iCloud Find My is Apple's network-based tracking and security ecosystem, it also provides a remote reset function which works by erasing the passcode entirely and unlock the locked iPhone screen due to a forgotten password or too many failed passcode attempts.

As long as Find My iPhone feature was enabled before the lockout, your phone has an active network connection and you remember the Apple Account login details, take these steps for how to get into an iPhone if it's locked or unavailable by wiping or resetting it remotely without a cable connection.

1. Visit icloud.com/find on a computer. You can also do this on another device that you have access to.

2. Sign in with your Apple account and password.

3. On the All Devices panel, choose your locked iPhone that you can't get inside.

4. Choose Erase This Device.

5. Confirm the action and input your Apple Account password again to initiate the process of deleting all content and settings as well as the screen lock passcode.

Once your iPhone has been erased, set up your phone from the scratch and restore a recent backup. If, unfortunately, you don't have backup elsewhere, you're losing all data.