3 Easy Ways to Unlock and Reset iPhone If You Forget Your iPhone Passcode

January 22, 2026Andrew Miller

Any Apple user will recommend putting a passcode on your smartphone to prevent others from accessing your information. However, except for the advantage of privacy, a possible occurrence is that you can forget the iPhone passcode. Without this passcode, it will be challenging to change almost anything on your phone, including Apple Pay, uninstallation of apps, and more.

Therefore, how to unlock iPhone if you forgot the passcode? To solve this, see the given solutions in this article. We will guide you to unlock and reset your iPhone step by step. Let’s go on!

Forget iPhone Passcode

How We Test

1. Testing environment

Devices: iPhone 15 Pro (iOS 17), iPhone 13 (iOS 16), iPhone X (iOS 15).

Scenario: Simulate situations such as "iPhone not available", screen damage, second-hand ID lock, etc.

2. Evaluation criteria

Average time consumption, success rate, and operational difficulty;

Security, free of advertising plugins and malware, and authenticity.

Part 1. Quick Comparison Table of 3 Ways

Pros Cons/Limits Best for
Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker • Supports 4/6-digit passwords/Touch ID/Face ID
• Easy to use with clear navigation
• Supports iOS 26
• Need a computer
• Clear all data
Ordinary users forget their iPhone password.
Recovery/DFU Mode • Official way with high success rate
• Can be used when the system fails to start
• Steps are complex and prone to errors
• Clear all data
The device system crashes and gets stuck in recovery mode
Find My (Erase iPhone) • No need for a computer
• Official method, safe and reliable
• Easy to operate
• "Find My iPhone" must be enabled in advance
• Phone must be synced with iCloud
• Clear all data
Users who have their Apple ID, enable Find My, and whose devices are connected to the internet

Part 2. What to Do If You Forget Your iPhone Passcode

Knowing Apple devices, unlocking an iPhone is not easy. And it becomes more difficult when there are too many attempts. The device will stay unlocked after ten attempts, which will require you to ask for help from Apple Support. This is too much work and probably costs you money, but here are some solutions to try.

1. Unlock iPhone with Aiseesoft 🔥

While a passcode can protect your privacy, it can hinder accessing your own device without it. But with Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker, it will be a quick process to unlock your phone. It is a cross-platform program that enables breaking 4-digit or 6-digit passcode and even removes screen time, Face ID, and Touch ID. Within a few minutes, the user will gain full control of the iPhone without any limitations. Moreover, the iPhone Unlocker provides more options to break the passcode. Indeed, it is the top solution when you forget the iPhone passcode.

iPhone Unlocker

Downloads

iPhone Unlocker

  • Unlock iPhone, iPad, and iPod to access Apple features and settings.
  • Suitable for damaged screen, second-hand iPhone, and several failed attempts.
  • The device will be untraceable and undisturbed by the old Apple ID.
  • Erase all data and old settings safely, and make features accessible with a new Apple ID.
Free DownloadFor Windows

Secure100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

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Note: Erasing the lock screen password will erase all your data.

Step 1:
Download the iPhone Unlocker on your computer. After following and completing the installation, launch it and choose Unlock iOS Screen.
iphone-unlocker-new-interface
Step 2:
Connect your device to computer with a USB cable. Then, click the Start Now button.
start-to-wipe-passcode
Step 3:
Next, the program will download a firmware for wiping passcode. When the firmware has been downloaded, there will be a pop-up for you to confirm the action. Carefully read the warnings on the screen, and click the OK > Confirm Again to continue.
unlock-confirmation
Step 4:
Wait for the software to verify the firmware package. After that, the Unlocker will start to wipe the screen passcode.

2. Reset Your iPhone Passcode

What if you did not back up the iPhone to iCloud? Is there a way to recover your passcode? Definitely, yes. The method is called Recovery Mode or DFU Mode. It helps to erase data and make the device restore factory settings. It requires a PC or Mac and will vary in steps for every model. See the demonstration below and look for your iPhone’s model unit. (Note: Using DFU mode will also erase all data.)

For iPhone 8/ X and later:

Step 1:
Press and hold the Volume Down and Side buttons on your phone. When the Power Off appears, slide it to the right to turn it off.
Step 2:
Position your finger on the side button and keep pressing it while connecting the iPhone to the computer. If the passcode screen appears, turn off the device again until the Recovery Mode is on the screen.
iPhone 8 and Later Recovery Mode
Step 3:
From your computer, open the iTunes app. Select the Restore button to download the software.
Step 4:
Once down, shut down the phone and restart it. The first thing to appear should be the setup menu.

For iPhone 7/7 Plus/6s/6:

Step 1:
Keep pressing the side button to reveal the Power Off slider. Turn off the device.
Step 2:
Press the Volume Down button, and while doing that, connect the iOS with a USB cable to the computer.
iPhone Seven Plus Recovery Mode
Step 3:
When the Recovery Mode appears, let go of the button. Open the iTunes on the computer and click the Restore button.
Step 4:
Downloading might take 15 minutes; wait patiently. Then, turn off the iPhone again and unplug it from the computer. Restart it and set up the device.

For iPhone SE and earlier (work too for iPad and iPod Touch):

Step 1:
Turn off the device by pressing the Side button until the slider appears. Wait for a minute until the iPhone is turned off completely.
Step 2:
Place your finger on the Home button. Keep on pressing it while connecting the device to your computer.
iPhone SE Recovery Mode
Step 3:
Don’t let go of the button until the Recovery Mode is on the screen. Then, go to iTunes on the computer and choose the Restore option. It will start downloading the software.
Step 4:
Once the download is done, restart the iOS device again. Disconnect it from the computer and set up the new iPhone.

3. Use Find My to Erase Your iPhone

Alternatively, you can use the Find My iPhone service to reset the device when you forget the iPhone passcode. It is a simple method but requires the device to enable the Find My iPhone. This will not work if, in the first place, the device is already locked and you cannot turn on the feature. Furthermore, your phone must be synced with iCloud and connected to a stable WiFi network; then, you can use the method. But if you are unsure, at least try the following steps and see if it can solve the issue:

Step 1:
Visit iCloud.com on a browser and enter your Apple ID and Password. Select the Find iPhone option when you are logged in to iCloud. If you are asked for Apple ID credentials, enter and click the Sign In button.
iCloud Find My iPhone
Step 2:
From the top part of the interface, click the All Devices button, and a dropdown menu will show all the devices with the same account. Choose the device with the forgotten passcode.
Step 3:
Click the Erase iPhone button. A prompt will show up, asking for a confirmation. Choose the Erase option. Again, you must enter your Apple ID credentials and the verification code that is sent to you.
iCloud Find My iPhone Erase iPhone
Step 4:
Input your phone number, then click the Next button. Finally, you will see the message "Erase Started". Your iPhone will start showing the logo with the parameter showing the process. The device will restart automatically, and then you can start setting it up.

Part 3. How to Prevent Forgetting the iPhone Passcode

Even if you are confident with your memory, you can forget things once in a while, especially when it is only a passcode you don’t always use after Face ID and Touch ID. But smaller things matter, and you can easily erase them from your mind. So, what to do if you forget your iPhone password, and how to prevent it from happening again?

First, you will need to back up the device, and if you haven’t done it yet, do it right now. Suppose you worry about the security of the cloud, and you don’t want to store confidential files on iCloud. Then, it is suggested to use iTunes. It is more than a music app or a library of movies for binge-watching, and this is because it can back up data with encryption. It offers the service to secure any file you don’t want to be seen, including browsing history or saved passwords. But, you will need to remember the iPhone backup password. So, backing up your device will allow you to reset the passcode using Recovery Mode or Find My without worrying about deleting data.

The second thing you must do is manage all your passwords or passcodes. It can be with the Notes app or a physical note you can hide in your home. If you frequently change the passcode, prepare a paper and pen and quickly take notes. If possible, stick to one familiar set of numbers to make it easier to remember. With this, you avoid getting a headache for forgetting the iPhone passcode.

Part 4. FAQs on If You Forget Your iPhone Passcode

What happens to the iPhone after 10 failed attempts?

After entering ten wrong passcodes, your phone will do a factory reset and delete all data. This is automatic, so anyone with the device will not access your information. The good thing is if you already backed up the device, you can recover the data on iCloud or iTunes.

Is it possible to unlock an iPhone without a passcode or computer?

Yes. There is a Reset option from your iPhone’s settings. It will help you reset the device with only the requirement of the Apple password. It will erase everything, and you must set up the iPhone again.

What is the best alternative for iPhone passcode?

Use Touch ID or Face ID as alternatives to locking your device. But remember, a passcode is still the most important thing for an iPhone user, as it will be asked when changing almost anything on your device.

How do you unlock the iPhone when you forget the password?

Use any of the methods mentioned in this article. Note that any solution will permanently erase data, and you can’t recover any files unless you back them up on iCloud or iTunes. Surprisingly, you can reset the iPhone passcode so you can lock the device again.

Conclusion

Right now, there are solutions you can try when you forget your iPhone passcode. Still, it will always be advisable to use any means to back up your data so as not to lose it even after resetting the device. For an easier way to unlock a phone, Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker will be the best tool to offer. Try it for free by clicking the Free Download button.

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To fix iPhone screen locked, wiping password function can help you a lot. And you also can clear Apple ID or Screen Time password easily.

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Free DownloadFor macOS

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