How to unlock a phone when you forgot password - iPhone & Android

Whether you've forgotten the password for iPhone or Android phone, here is a full guide to unlocking your phone without the password, allowing you to regain control of your device.

• iPhones and certain Android brands have built-in features that allow you to unlock your phone without losing data if you forget your password.
• For iPhone users who forget their passcode, you can access an iPhone without passcode using your Apple account, recovery mode, or iCloud.
• You can use recovery mode, Google Find Hub or SmartThings Find to unlock your Android phone when the password is forgotten.
• iPhone Unlocker and Android Unlocker serve as advanced unlocking options, letting you unlock your phone with a forgotten password quickly, no additional requirements needed.

In most cases, unlocking your phone after forgetting the password requires a factory reset.

Whether it's an iPhone's ironclad encryption or an Android's diverse ecosystem of protections, a forgotten passcode can feel like a digital deadbolt, locking you out of your own device. Forgetting your phone's password can be frustrating, but it doesn't mean you're forever barred from accessing your device.

Both iPhone and Android devices offer multiple methods to unlock your phone without password — some even preserve your files, photos, and messages, allowing you to quickly regain access to your device.

This guide dives deep into how to unlock a phone when you forgot the password, covering robust solutions for both Android and iPhone platforms. From data-preserving options like using an old password to full reset methods when other tools fail, the key is knowing which approach fits your device and situation.

Table of Contents

• Can I unlock a phone when forgot the password without losing data?
• How to unlock an iPhone when you forgot the passcode
• How to unlock an Android phone when you forgot the password
• What to do after unlocking

Can I unlock a phone when forgot the password without losing data?

With the development of iOS and Android systems, iPhones and Android phones like Samsung and Vivo do provide options to unlock your phone without data loss after forgetting the password. You can use your old password to reset your lock screen password without needing to restore your phone to its original state.

However, this method comes with strict limitations, including the expiration of the old password and specific system version requirements. Below are clear conditions and step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Samsung phones.

For iPhone (iOS 17 and later)

Starting with iOS 17, the Apple ecosystem introduced a clever Passcode Reset feature, allowing users to reset their current passcode using their previous passcode within a 72-hour period to regain access if they forget the new password, effectively avoiding a complete data wipe.

The key for this method to work is that your passcode was changed within the last 72 hours.

1. Initiate the process by repeatedly inputting an incorrect passcode on the iPhone lock screen — typically around 4 incorrect attempts — until the screen displays "iPhone unavailable, try again in 1 minute."

2. Tap the Forgot Passcode? option in the bottom right corner of the iPhone Unavailable screen.

3. From the ensuing menu, opt for Enter Previous Passcode.

4. Accurately verify your old passcode as prompted.

5. Once verified, follow the instructions to set and confirm your new lock screen passcode and get into your iPhone again.

For Samsung phone (One UI 6.1 or later)

Starting with the Samsung Galaxy S24 or other devices running One UI 6.1 or later, your previous unlock information (PIN, password, or pattern) is retained for 72 hours after you change your screen lock. Therefore, if you forget the password that you're using, you can use the previous screen lock to unlock your Samsung phone within 72 hours of the password change, all while keeping your data intact.

1. On your Samsung phone, enter the wrong password five times consecutively until the Forgot Password option appears.

2. Tap Forgot Password and enter your previous screen lock (password, PIN, or pattern) to reset the password, then tap OK. You have only three attempts to enter the correct old password.

3. Change your current screen lock by selecting a lock type: PIN, password, or pattern.

4. Follow the prompts to create your new password, pattern, or PIN, then tap Continue.

5. Re-enter the new screen lock information to confirm, and tap OK to save.

Tip: Android devices also have a native feature called Smart Lock / Extend Unlock, which allows your phone to automatically unlock in trusted locations or when connected to trusted devices. If your Android phone has Smart Lock / Extend Unlock enabled in advance, you can also unlock a phone with a forgotten password, no data loss.

When certain conditions are met, it is possible to unlock your iPhone or Android phone when your password is forgotten without losing your data. However, in most cases, this brief password reset window has already expired. At that point, a factory reset (which erases all data) becomes the only way to unlock your phone without the password.

How to unlock an iPhone when you forgot the passcode

When you can't remember your iPhone passcode, here are four methods to get into your iPhone without passcode.

Use Apple account

Introduced with iOS 15.2, a new feature lets you reset your iPhone directly from the lock screen using your Apple account without needing a passcode or computer. After multiple incorrect password attempts, a "Forgot Passcode" option appears (iOS 17 and later), previously called "Erase iPhone" in iOS 15.2 to iOS 16. This option enables you to unlock your iPhone when you've forgotten the passcode, but its activation requires some conditions:

• Your iPhone is running iOS 15.2 or later.
• The iPhone is online (Wi-Fi or cellular).
• Find My is enabled on your device.
• You have the Apple account credentials linked to the iPhone.

If you satisfy all these conditions, you can proceed as follows to unlock an iPhone without a passcode:

1. Persist with wrong passcode inputs until the screen displays iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout, accompanied by escalating wait times.

2. Spot and tap the Forgot Passcode? option at the screen's base.

3. Select Start iPhone Reset to go on.

4. Type your Apple ID password when prompted, verifying ownership and turning off the Activation Lock.

5. Tap Erase iPhone to confirm the erasure, watching as the device wipes itself and reboots to the Hello screen.

Your iPhone will then be unlocked without the forgotten passcode. You can follow the on-screen instructions to set up your iPhone as if it were a new device and choose to pull down your latest stored data from iCloud or your computer backup.

Try iPhone Unlocker

If you're looking for a one-stop solution to unlock your iPhone when you forgot passcode, Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker is undoubtedly your best choice. It doesn't require your Apple account or for Find My to be enabled to bypass your screen lock, allowing you to regain entry to your device.

Compatible with the latest iOS version and supporting all iPhone models, iPhone Unlocker can quickly unlock your iPhone without a passcode or Apple ID. Additionally, it has the capability to remove Apple account, Activation Lock, SIM locks, and Screen Time passcodes, making it the ultimate tool for iPhone unlocking.

1. Download and run iPhone Unlocker on your computer. Select Wipe Passcode to get rid of your forgotten passcode.

2. Connect the locked iPhone via USB and let the software detect it. If not, adhere to the tutorials in the link to put your iPhone into recovery mode.

3. Ensure the software displays the correct details for your iPhone, then click Start to download the matching firmware package.

4. Once the download is complete, start the unlocking process by entering 0000 and hitting the Unlock button. This will factory reset your iPhone without passcode and remove the lock screen passcode.

Use recovery mode

Recovery mode is an Apple-built security measure that allows a firmware-level reset and a clean reinstallation of iOS through iTunes or Finder. All you need is an available PC or Mac and a compatible USB cable. This method can restore your iPhone with the forgotten passcode, though the process will erase all existing media and data on your device.

1. Ensure your Windows PC has the most up-to-date iTunes installation.

2. Do not connect your iPhone to the computer yet, and power it off completely.

3. Force the iPhone into recovery mode using the model-specific button.

• For iPhone 8 and later models, press and hold the Side button.
• For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold the Volume Down button.
• For iPhone 6s and earlier, press and hold the Home button.

While holding the correct button, plug your iPhone into the computer at the same time. Continue holding the button until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone (a cable pointing to a computer), then release the button.

4. Open Finder (for macOS Catalina or later) and locate your iPhone in the left sidebar under Locations. Or, run iTunes (for Windows or older macOS), and click the device icon in the top-left corner to access the Summary tab.

5. A pop-up window with Restore and Update options will appear. Select Restore to begin unlocking your iPhone and downloading the latest version of iOS.

Visit iCloud.com

As an integral part of the Apple ecosystem, iCloud's Find My feature can remotely send an erase command to your iPhone that you forgot the passcode, so that you can access your iPhone without needing passcode.

This method works on the condition that your iPhone is associated with an Apple account, has Find My enabled before it was locked, and is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network. Your iPhone will only execute the erase command once it comes online.

1. Navigate to iCloud.com on any browser.

2. Sign in with your Apple account credentials and go through 2-factor authentication if needed to enter the dashboard.

3. Click Find My and expand the All Devices list to choose your iPhone.

4. Select Erase This Device from the action menu and confirm the decision after reviewing the warning about data erasure.

How to unlock an Android phone when you forgot the password

This section will explain the general methods for unlocking your Android phone when you forget the password, which are applicable to manufacturers like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, vivo, and Huawei.

Use Android Unlocker

When you're locked out of your Android phone after forgetting the password, Appgeeker Android Unlocker is the most efficient and fastest solution. This powerful software works with major Android brands like Samsung, Google Pixel, Huawei, Motorola, OnePlus, HTC, and LG, and supports multiple Android systems, including the latest version.

Android Unlocker is designed to communicate directly with your phone via USB, guiding you through a user-friendly wizard for firmware download, device detection, and the unlocking process. It allows you to remove screen locks from any Android phone, including numeric passwords, patterns, PINs, Face ID, Touch ID, and more, without needing to enter complex modes or meet technical requirements.

Moreover, it features a Google FRP lock bypass function, enabling you to access your Android phone after unlocking without requiring Google credentials.

1. After downloading and installing the program, launch it on your Windows desktop.

2. Select Remove Screen Password to unlock the Android phone without a password and choose your Android phone's manufacturer.

3. Physically connect the locked Android to your PC using a USB cable, allowing the software to automatically detect the model and OS version. If your device is not recognized, click the link provided on the screen to fix it.

4. Click Remove Now to begin resetting your Android phone without the password; this process will erase your screen lock.

Wait for the process to complete, and you'll be able to get back into your Android phone without the forgotten password.

Access Google's Find Hub

The relationship between the Android OS and Google services is close and symbiotic. Assuming your Android phone is linked to your Google account and has Find My Device turned on, then when you forget your lock screen password, Google's upgraded Find Hub — formerly known as Google Find My Device — can remotely locate your device and perform a full data wipe.

1. Head to android.com/find using a web browser on another device, then log in with the same Google account that's on the locked Android phone.

2. Navigate to the Devices tab on the left sidebar and select the Android phone you forgot the password for from the list.

3. Choose the Factory Reset Device option, then click Next > Erase to confirm. The phone will be wiped once it connects to the internet.

Note:

• Remote erase is irreversible. You can restore content afterward only from backups (Google Drive, manufacturer cloud, local backups).
• If you unlock Android phone via Find Hub, the phone will still require the Google account previously associated with it after the reset (FRP).

Try recovery mode

Sometimes, when you forget the password for unlocking Android phone, the most straightforward route to reclaiming access to your device is to start from scratch. Recovery mode is the phone's built-in rescue environment — a behind-the-scenes menu that operates independently from the locked system.

It's designed for maintenance and repair tasks, but it can also trigger a factory reset by accessing the device's boot-level environment, bypassing the screen lock.

You need to use specific button combinations, which vary slightly between different brands. Below are detailed steps for major Android brands to unlock your phone without a password or computer via recovery mode. Before starting, ensure your Android phone has at least 30% battery to avoid interruption.

1. Shut down the phone completely.

2. Use the model-appropriate button combination and keep holding until the recovery interface loads.

• Samsung: Simultaneously press Volume Up and Side buttons until the logo appears. If your phone has a separate Power button, press Volume Up + Bixby + Power buttons until you enter recovery mode. For Samsung phone with a Home button, press Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together until you see the Samsung logo.
• Motorola: Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time until the Fastboot menu appears. Then use Volume Down button to locate the Recovery Mode and press Power button to select it. When you see an Android robot, press and hold the Power button. While still holding the Power button, press and release the Volume Up button.
• Google Pixel: Hold the Volume Up and Power buttons simultaneously to enter Fastboot mode. Then, use the Volume buttons to select Recovery Mode and press the Power button to confirm. (The Pixel 6 and newer models use the Volume Down and Power buttons).
• OnePlus: Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time until the screen shows OnePlus logo.
• Huawei: Press and hold the Volume Up and Power buttons until the device vibrates and enters recovery mode. If your phone does not have physical volume buttons, press the Power button five times in a row after the phone turns on and vibrates to activate recovery mode.

3. Utilize the Volume buttons to scroll through the menu options, highlighting Wipe data/factory reset, then confirm selection with the Power button.

4. Select Factory data reset and press the Power button to initiate the data purge process which may span several minutes.

5. Once wiped, navigate to and select Reboot system now, then press Power button to restart into the initial setup wizard.

For specific guidance on entering recovery mode to perform a wipe on different Android phones/tablets, you can refer to How to get Android phone/tablet into recovery mode.

Visit SmartThings Find

This method is tailored for Samsung users, leveraging the built-in SmartThings Find service (evolved from Find My Mobile) to remotely bypass the screen lock. As long as your Samsung phone is logged into a Samsung account, has network connection, and has Find My Mobile and Remote Unlock enabled, SmartThings Find can unlock your Samsung phone without needing the forgotten password.

1. Open the SmartThings Find website and sign in with your Samsung account and password.

2. From the list of associated Samsung devices on the sidebar, select the Samsung phone that you forget the screen lock password.

3. In the provided window, choose Erase data. If necessary, you may need to enter a verification code to confirm your identity.

4. Click Erase, then re-enter your Samsung account password and click Next to start factory resetting your Samsung phone.

What to do after unlocking

Based on the methods described above, you can unlock a phone when you forget the password, whether you're using an iPhone or an Android. However, after your device is reactivated, you still need to complete certain steps to fully take back control of your phone.

Activation Lock on iPhone

Even after unlocking an iPhone, Apple's Activation Lock (tied to your Apple account) still requires your Apple account credentials for authentication. This is a core part of Apple's anti-theft measures. If you cannot provide the correct account information, your iPhone will remain locked by Activation Lock. You can seek help from iPhone Unlocker or Apple Support.

Factory Reset Protection (FRP) on Android

Similar to Apple's system, many Android devices have FRP enabled if your phone is linked to a Google account. During the setup process, you'll be prompted to enter the Google account credentials previously associated with the device. Without this information, the device will be unusable. FRP can only be disabled beforehand; if you still have access to the device's settings.

If you're stuck on the FRP screen, try using an FRP bypass tool or refer to the article How to Remove Google FRP lock from Android.

Data Recovery

Unlocking a phone with a forgotten password requires erasing the device. If you previously backed up your data to the cloud (e.g., iCloud or Google Drive) or a computer, you can retrieve your lost data from the backup to quickly resume normal use.

Conclusion

Forgetting your iPhone or Android phone's password is not an unsolvable issue. There are multiple methods to unlock a phone without password. Choose the most suitable method based on your phone's model, system version, and enabled security features to avoid unnecessary risks and better protect your phone in the future.