Below, I’ve outlined the three best methods to unlock your iPhone.
1. Unlock your iPhone with the Find My app
You can use the Find My app on another iPhone, iPad, or Apple device to erase your phone and bypass the Lock Screen if you need to unlock your iPhone without the password. Here’s how:
- Open the Find My™ app on your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device and sign in if prompted.
- Select your iPhone from the list of devices, then choose Erase This Device.
- Once your iPhone is erased, you can set it up as a new device or restore it from a backup.
2. Unlock your iPhone with iCloud
If you know your Apple ID and password, you can use iCloud® on another device to unlock your iPhone without the passcode. Here’s how:
- Go to iCloud.com on another device and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
- Select Find My and sign in if prompted.
- When you see the map and list of your devices, choose the iPhone you need to unlock and select Erase This Device.
- Enter your Apple ID and password—your iPhone will be erased, and you can then set it up as a new device or restore it from your last backup.
3. Unlock Your iPhone Using iTunes
The first method for unlocking your iPhone involves using iTunes, which Apple recommends for cases of forgotten passwords. However, this approach requires putting your device in recovery mode, which will restore your phone to its factory settings. This process will delete all your iPhone data—including photos, music, videos, social accounts, and contacts—rendering them unrecoverable unless you have a backup on your device or in iCloud.
Step 1: Turn Off Your Device
Before resetting your device, you’ll need to turn it off. Unplug your iPhone from its charger or connected computer.
Locate the appropriate power buttons for your device model and press them. Different iPhone models have different power-off methods.
For iPhone 8 and later models, turn them off by pressing the side and volume down buttons simultaneously, holding them until the power slider appears on the screen.
For iPhone 7 and earlier models, shut them down by pressing and holding their dedicated side buttons.
Step 2: Prepare Your Mac or PC
After turning off your device, prepare your PC or Mac for the unlocking process.
If you’re using a PC, it should be running Windows 10 or later. Ensure iTunes is installed on your PC if it isn’t already.
If you don’t have access to a PC or Mac, visit the nearest verified Apple Service Provider or Apple Store for assistance.
Step 3: Place Your Device in Recovery Mode
With your PC or Mac ready, proceed by putting your device into recovery mode.
For iPhone 8 and later, including recent SE variants, hold down the right side button to enter recovery mode.
For the iPhone 7 series, use the volume down button.
Step 4: Connect to Your PC or Mac
Connect your device to the PC or Mac while holding your iPhone’s designated button. Use your iPhone’s USB cable or another compatible connector.
Keep holding the button while connecting your computer and phone. Continue pressing until you see the recovery mode screen. If your iPhone’s lock screen appears instead, turn off your phone and restart the process.
Step 5: Reset Your iPhone
Once successfully connected and in recovery mode, your iPhone should appear on your PC or Mac.
For Macs running macOS Catalina, your device will pop up in the Finder sidebar. For PCs, open iTunes and locate your phone’s name under the Devices menu.
A pop-up notification will indicate an issue with your phone.
Click the restore option to initiate the reset process.
After the reset, your phone will display the setup screen. Detach your device from your computer and re-enter your Apple ID and password.