How to recover passcode on iPhone
Apple's iPhone doesn't have a built-in way to recover an iPhone passcode that you forgot. Instead, it requires you to restore the device to factory settings. Here's how.
Alex Griffith Updated on Sep 10, 2026 6:33 PM
If you forgot your iPhone passcode and can't recover it, you may try a reliable third-party tool named Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker to unlock your device and get back to Home screen.
If you can't remember your iPhone passcode, there is no way to recover it but erase the phone and data.
Like many of us, you likely rely on Face ID or Touch ID to get into your iPhone. But have you ever run into that frustrating moment after a restart or a password change a few days back, where your phone asks for your passcode and you just can't remember it?
Unfortunately, there isn't a way to recover your passcode for iPhone lock screen. Instead, recovering access requires resetting the device and restoring your data from a backup. If you have most stuff saved on the iCloud, or backed it up to somewhere, there is nothing to worry about. After resetting your iPhone, you can restore data during the setup process, and everything will be back to normal in no time.
Whether you prefer native Apple software, cloud-based tools, or specialized third-party desktop utilities, multiple reliable paths exist to recover your iPhone access. Here is everything you need to know to unlock your device step by step when you're looking for a way to recover your passcode.
Table of Contents
Can you recover passcode on an iPhone if you forgot it?
You can't recover a forgotten passcode for iPhone because it's stored only on the device itself. There is no backdoor to show the original codes or restore them. To unlock your iPhone, you only way forward is to reset the phone to factory settings, and erase all your data, including settings, photos, messages, and application files.
Thankfully, you can restore your data, apps, and preferences immediately after the reset process completes if you have an active iCloud or computer backup.
Recover iPhone passcode - How to reset passcode on iPhone without a computer
In the case that your iPhone runs iOS 15.2 or newer and maintains an active Wi-Fi or cellular network connection, there is no way to recover your iPhone passcode, but it would be possible to reset the device directly from the Lock Screen without connecting to a computer.
Instead of recovering 6 digit or 4 digit passcode on your iPhone, you can follow the steps outlined below to erase your iPhone with Apple ID password.
1. From the Lock Screen, enter incorrect passcode repeatedly until you see the "Security Lockout" or "iPhone Unavailable" message come up.
There is no way to recover passcode on iPhone without restore - you have to reset the device and erase all data.
2. Tap "Forgot Passcode?" or "Erase iPhone" that appears in the bottom corner of the display..
3. Tap "Start iPhone Reset" to confirm your intent.
4. Enter your Apple ID password when prompted to sign out of your Apple ID and remove Activation Lock.
5. Tap "Erase iPhone" to initiate the wipe process. The device will restart, display an Apple logo with a progress bar, and reset to factory settings.
After the iPhone is unlocked, you can set it up as new or restore data from a recent backup.
Related: How to transfer movies from iPhone to PC
Recover iPhone passcode - How to reset your iPhone passcode using a computer
But what should you do if you can't reach the "Forgot Passcode?" screen or the button doesn't respond? No worries - you can still reset your iPhone through a computer (you still can't recover your forgotten passcode). Here's how it works:
Via iPhone Unlocker
If you lose access to your iPhone, instead of recovering your passcode, you can use an excellent iOS unlocking program called Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker to help you reset and remove the passcode so that you can unlock the device again. The winning feature of this program is the ability to remove all kinds of locks you set on your iPhone: 6 digit passcode, 4 digit passcode, Touch ID, Face ID, and Screen Time passcode. Here are quick steps for unlocking your iPhone.
Step 1: Run iPhone Unlocker
Download and install the right version of this iPhone Unlocker on your computer. It works well on both Mac and Windows.
After installation, launch it from your desktop. Then select "Unlock iOS Screen" from its interface.
Step 2: Confirm your iPhone details
Connect your iPhone into the computer with an MFi-certified Lightning or USB-C cable. You should then follow the on-screen instructions to put it into restore mode if your device is not recognized.
Step 3: Download the most matching iOS package
Check your iPhone model and click "Start Now" to begin downloading iOS software that is matching for your iPhone model. The download speed is always fast, give it a few minutes.
Step 4: Unlock your iPhone to remove passcode
Click "OK." The program will unpack the firmware and begin reinstalling the iOS software on your iPhone and restoring to factory settings. All things on the device, including the forgotten code, will be erased completely.
Keep the iPhone connected to the computer. After a few minutes, The software will display a success screen. Your iPhone will reboot to the initial "Hello" screen, allowing you to set up a new passcode and restore data from your iCloud or computer backup.
Related: How to bypass unavailable iPad
Via Recovery mode
If you prefer standard desktop software, Apple's native tools—Finder on modern macOS, or iTunes on Windows —can reset your iPhone through recovery mode. You will need a computer to connect your iPhone and perform the reset. If you don't have a computer, borrow one from a friend.
- Disconnect your iPhone from the computer and turn it off completely. Follow the hardware combination specific to your model while plugging it into your computer: For iPhone 8 and later, press and hold the Side button while connecting to the computer. Keep holding until the Recovery Mode screen (computer icon with cable) appears.
- Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows / macOS Mojave or earlier) on the computer.
- Locate your connected device in the sidebar or top bar.
- When iTunes detects your iPhone and says "There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored," select Restore from the opening box.
- Finder or iTunes will download the latest iOS software for your device.
- Once complete, the device will restart as new.
You can't recover passcode for iPhone, but iTunes can help restore it to regain access.
That's all there is to it! Apple's iTunes won't let you recover old passcode to open your iPhone, but it gives you ability to reset the unavailable or Security Lockout iPhone through Recovery mode.
Via iCloud Find My
Need a way of recovering passcode on iPhone without iTunes? You can trigger a remote wipe through Apple's iCloud web portal as long as Find My feature isn't disabled on Settings app.
Note, you will need to restore the device using a computer or another available mobile device. The process will erase your data, as well.
1. Open iCloud website on any smartphone, tablet, or web browser, and then log in with your Apple ID and password.
2. Click on "All Devices" at the top and then select your iPhone you've lost access to.
3. Choose "Erase This Device" at the bottom.
4. Re-enter your Apple ID password to confirm the request.
5. Your iPhone will erase itself remotely if you do have an active internet connection, deleting everything including the passcode and restoring to the state it was in when you bought it.
Also see: How to delete photos from iPhone but not iCloud
Can you recover your data on iPhone after passcode is removed?
After resetting (not recovering) your iPhone passcode with or without connecting PC, you can restore your personal data:
1. Follow the on-screen prompts for language, region, and network setup.
2. When you reach the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen, select your preferred recovery source:
Restore from iCloud Backup: Sign in with your Apple ID and select the most recent backup timestamp.
Restore from Mac or PC: Connect your iPhone to your computer, open Finder/iTunes, and select Restore Backup.
3. Allow the restoration to finish. App downloads and background media sync will continue over Wi-Fi.
For the future, It is highly recommended to use something that can keep your lock screen passcode saved safely in a place so you don't end up locked out again. There are also many password managers available on the market to help you handle this. They make it easy to quickly retrieve your password without having to wrack your brain.
Hopefully, one of the above solutions worked to solve the "What do I do to recover passcode for iPhone" problem.
