If you repeatedly enter the wrong passcode on the iPhone lock screen, you will see a warning that your iPhone is disabled. If you forget your passcode, you can use your computer to reset your phone to factory settings, restore apps and data from backups using backup services like iCloud and iTunes, and start using your iPhone again.
If you forgot your passcode, below we explain 3 different ways to reset your iPhone:
1- Reset your iPhone in recovery mode:
Use your computer to put your iPhone into recovery mode. Factory reset your phone and set a new password. To do this, follow these steps:
1- Connect your phone to a Mac or other computer with Windows 10 or higher and iTunes.
2- Turn off your iPhone and then enter recovery mode by following the method for your iPhone model in the methods below:
- iPhone 8, iPhone X and later, and iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation: Press and hold the side power button.
- iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models: Press and hold the Volume Down button.
- On the first generation iPhone SE and iPhone 6 and earlier: Use the center circular power button.
3- Keep clicking these buttons until you see the recovery mode screen on your phone.
4- Locate your iPhone in the Finder app if you are using a Mac computer or in iTunes if you are using a Windows computer.
5- Click on the restore option and wait for the factory reset process to complete. Then disconnect your phone from the computer and start using it.
2- Use the iCloud service:
You can also use iCloud to reset your iPhone if you forgot your iPhone passcode. To do this, follow these steps:
- Sign in to iCloud.com on a web browser with the Apple ID associated with your iPhone.
- Choose the Find My iPhone option and wait for the phone to appear.
- Select your iPhone and then tap Erase iPhone.
- A popup will appear to confirm your order. Click Delete.
3- Backup with iTunes:
If your phone uses the iTunes backup service, you can follow the steps below to reset your iPhone and restore the data backed up in iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac or Windows computer.
- If you're using a Mac computer, open the iPhone management screen in the Finder app, or if you're using a Windows computer, open iTunes and choose the Restore backup option.
- After entering the account information requested by the computer, select the most recent backup and click the Restore button.