If you enter the wrong password multiple times, your iPhone will be locked. Much the same way it happens on devices. Complete device locking and data deletion functions when entering an incorrect code can be set in iOS Settings. In some cases, an iPhone can be unlocked even without a password or Touch ID.
If the phone is blocked, a corresponding message appears on the device display. It happens that you simply forgot your password and your smartphone is locked. In this case, you need to use the recovery function or completely erase the device’s memory.
Note that restoring data recorded on iPhone data This will only be possible if you previously made a backup in iTunes or iCloud. Otherwise, you will have to completely erase all existing information from the phone.
There are three different options performing such a procedure. One of them involves using iTunes, the second - iCloud. We will begin our description of iPhone unlocking options with the most universal method.
Unlock passcode on iPhone in recovery mode (DFU).
This method of erasing information from iPhone allows you to unlock your smartphone in any situation - even if you have not previously synced it with iTunes or activated the Find My iPhone feature in iCloud. During the recovery process, all settings and data on the smartphone will be erased, incl. and lock password.
- We connect the iPhone to the computer. Open the iTunes program.
- We perform a forced restart of the device. To do this, turn on and continue to hold two buttons at the same time. The first of them is “Sleep/Wake Mode”, the second depends on the smartphone model. To restart iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, you need to press the Volume Down button. If you have an iPhone 6s or earlier models, press the Home button. Hold both buttons until the recovery mode appears on the display.
- When the display prompts you to perform an update or restore, select “Restore.” After this, the device recovery program is launched, which downloads the software. If the process cannot be completed within 15 minutes, the iPhone will exit this mode and steps 2 and 3 will have to be repeated.
- After the restoration is complete, you will need to set up your iPhone and you can use it.
Unlock and reset iPhone password in iTunes.
If your smartphone was previously synced with iTunes, you can restore it using the method described below.
- We connect the iPhone to the computer on which the synchronization was carried out.
- Open the iTunes program. If you are prompted for a password, you can try using another computer (or you will have to erase the memory in recovery mode, as described above).
- We are waiting for iTunes to synchronize and create a backup copy of the device.
- After creating a backup, select “Restore device” from the menu.
- During the recovery process, the setup screen will appear. Click “Restore from copy”.
- Select your device in iTunes. We check the creation dates of each backup copy, and also pay attention to their size. We select the most suitable copy and start restoring it.
Unlocking iPhone using iCloud.
This method can be used if Find My iPhone has been enabled on your iPhone.
- We go from another device or computer to the page icloud.com/find.
- When prompted, sign in using your Apple ID.
- At the top of the browser window, click on the “All devices” drop-down list.
- Select the iPhone you want to unlock.
- Click “Erase” to delete all data and password.
- After finishing, we restore the data from the backup or set up the iPhone again.
To unlock a smartphone using the latest method, it must be connected to the network cellular communication or Wi-Fi. Otherwise, data exchange will not be possible.
You can successfully unlock your iPhone using any of the following methods. When choosing, focus on which one will be most convenient for you. If you saved a backup copy, then it is advisable to use iTunes; if not, then it is easier to erase the data in recovery mode.
If you cannot connect a locked iPhone to your computer, you can use the last method.
When is it necessary to unlock your iPhone? Despite the fact that most iPhone models have fingerprint scanners, many people continue to use digital passwords out of habit. There are also owners of phone models 4 and 4s, which do not have a built-in fingerprint scanner at all. Plus, there is a possibility of glitches in the scanner. That is why thousands of people are still faced with the problem of a forgotten password.
After the tenth attempt, your favorite iPhone is blocked forever. The company tries to protect phone owners as much as possible from data hacking, so it is quite difficult to recover the password, but it is possible. This article contains seven ways to unlock your iPhone if you have forgotten your password.
How to unlock an iPhone via iCloud
This method only works if you have the Find My iPhone feature set up and activated. If you are still wondering how to recover your iPhone password, use any of the other five methods.
1. First of all, you need to go to the link https://www.icloud.com/#find from any device, no matter whether it is a smartphone or a computer.
2. If you have not previously logged into the site and saved a password, at this stage you need to enter your Apple ID profile information. If you have forgotten your account password, go to last section articles regarding how to reset your iPhone password for Apple ID.
3. At the top of the screen you will see a list of “All devices”. Click on it and select the device you need, if there are several of them.
4. Click “Erase (device name)”, this will erase all the phone data along with its password.
5. Now the phone is available to you. You can restore it from an iTunes or iCloud backup, or re-set it up as if you just bought it.
Important! Even if the service is activated, but Wi-Fi access is disabled on the phone or mobile internet, this method will not work.
Without an Internet connection, most methods for hacking an iPhone password will not work.
How to Unlock iPhone Using Recovery Mode
This method will work even if you have never synced with iTunes or enabled the feature to find your iPhone. When you use it, both the device data and its password will be deleted.
Connect your iPhone via USB to any computer and open iTunes.
2. After this, you need to hold down two buttons at the same time: “Sleep mode” and “Home”. Keep them on for a long time, even when the device starts to reboot. You need to wait for the recovery mode window. On iPhone 7 and 7s, hold down two buttons: Sleep and Volume Down. Hold them for the same long time.
3. You will be prompted to restore or update your phone. Select recovery. The device may exit recovery mode if the process takes too long, then repeat all the steps again 3-4 times.
4. Once the recovery is complete, the password will be reset.
How to Unlock iPhone Using iTunes from Previous Sync
If the owner has forgotten the password on the iPhone, this method is recommended. Forethought in recovery is very important and if you are lucky enough to have a backup copy of your data, there should be no problems.
For this method, you will need a computer on which synchronization with the device was previously carried out.
Using a USB cable, connect your phone to your computer and wait until it appears in the list of devices.
2. Open iTunes. If at this step the phone starts asking for a password again, try connecting it to another computer or use recovery mode. IN the latter case you will have to put aside the question of how to unlock iPhone and recover the passcode first. More details about it in method 4. Don't forget to check if you have the latest version of the program, if necessary, update the program here - http://www.apple.com/ru/itunes/.
3. Now you need to wait, iTunes will synchronize the data for some time. This process may take a few hours, but it's worth it if you need the data.
4. When iTunes reports that synchronization is complete, select "Recover data from iTunes backup." Using backups is the easiest thing you can do if you forgot your iPhone password.
5. The program will display a list of your devices (if there are several of them) and backup copies with their creation date and size. The creation date and size determine how much of the information will remain on the iPhone; changes made since the last backup will also be reset. Therefore, choose the latest backup.
If you are not lucky enough to have a backup of your phone in advance or you do not need the data, read on and choose another method.
How to Unlock an iPhone by Resetting the Failure Counter
If your gadget is locked after the sixth attempt to enter the password, and you hope to remember the password, try resetting the counter of incorrect attempts.
Connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable and turn on iTunes. It is important that Wi-Fi or mobile Internet is turned on on your mobile phone.
2. Wait a little while the program “sees” the phone and select the “Devices” menu item. Then click “Sync with (name of your iPhone).”
3. Immediately after synchronization begins, the counter will reset to zero. You can continue to try to enter the correct password.
Do not forget that the counter cannot be reset simply by rebooting the device.
How to unlock iPhone by installing new firmware
This method is reliable and works for the vast majority of users, but requires selecting and downloading firmware, which weighs 1-2 Gigabytes.
Attention! Carefully select the source for downloading the firmware. If there is a virus inside it, it can completely break your iPhone. You will no longer be able to find out how to unlock it. Do not ignore antivirus program warnings and do not download files with the .exe extension.
Using a computer, find and download the firmware for your iPhone model with the .IPSW extension. This extension is the same for all models. For example, almost all official firmware can be found here.
2. Go to Explorer and move the firmware file to the folder located at C:\Documents and Settings\username you are using\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates.
3. Now connect your device to your computer via USB cable and log into iTunes. Go to your phone section (if you have multiple devices). Each model will have a full technical name and you can easily find yours.
4. Press CTRL and "Restore iPhone". You will be able to select the firmware file that you downloaded. Click on it and click “Open”.
5. Now all we have to do is wait. Eventually the password will be reset along with your data.
How to unlock iPhone using a special program (only after jailbreak)
If your favorite phone was hacked by you or the previous owner, all the methods above will not work for you. They will lead you to install the official firmware. You will have to download a separate program called Semi-Restore for this. It won't work if you don't have the OpenSSH file and the Cydia store on your phone.
Attention! On this moment The program only works on 64-bit systems.
Download the program from https://semi-restore.com/ and install it on your computer.
2. Connect the device to the computer via a USB cable, after a while the program will recognize it.
In order to hide some data from prying and prying eyes, we are forced to set a password on our phone. And in order to be as secure as possible, complex passwords are created that are quickly forgotten. In this article you will learn how to unlock an iPhone if you do not remember the previously set password.
exists on the Internet a large number of instructions that are absolutely incorrect and are either outdated due to or were initially untrue. If you were able to lock your phone by forgetting your password, then they will not help you. Be careful and attentive!
Unlocking an iPhone without losing data is only possible if the phone boots up normally and connects to the service via a PC. If any errors occur during downloading, then data loss is inevitable.
In order to reset your password settings without losing data even if your iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes. Next, find the “Devices” category in the program menu and select your gadget from the list. The “Overview” tab will appear on the right side of the screen, which you will need to expand, and then click on “Restore”. Depending on the version of the program itself, a text may pop up asking you to enter the password to unlock your iPhone backup. It is worth noting that the code required is not the one associated with the Apple ID. This window does not always pop up, so the above method may be useful to you.
Now let's look at the situation of how to unlock your personal iPhone if you forgot the password, and it was disabled at the time of unlocking:
- The computer operating system must be equipped with the latest version of iTunes, only then will it be possible to unlock the account. It is recommended to download all software from the manufacturer's website;
- The next step is to activate DFU mode on your iPhone. To do this, you must connect your phone to your PC via a USB cable. Then, press and hold the Home and Power buttons on your device. After the screen goes dark, you need to release the “Power” button, but continue to hold the home key. After a few seconds, information will appear in the program window indicating that the iPhone is connected and is in recovery mode;
- Next, when your iPhone is disabled, click “Restore” in the iTunes window. During the phone rehabilitation process, new firmware will be downloaded, and only the Apple logo on a black background will appear on the device screen.
After the final download, the gadget can be launched without entering a password, which means that the initial problem is solved.
The following method cannot be used to unlock this iPhone in disabled state. This method is relevant for models such as 4, 4s, 5, 5s and higher.
Unlock via iCloud
Many people are concerned about the question of how you can unlock your iPhone if you forgot the password and cannot carry out the recovery procedure through iTunes for some reason. For these occasions, unlock iCloud, which will surely come to your aid.
This method also formats all data. They can only be returned if they were sent in advance. You should also have Find My iPhone pre-installed on your device. Before connecting, make sure that your phone has access to the Internet via Wi-Fi or through your mobile operator. Through iCloud iPhone can be unlocked as follows:
- Through any connected gadget, go to the iCloud website, then to “Find iPhone”;
- Before you unlock iCloud, make sure that your device is found in the site menu and that it is found to be online. The green circle next to the phone name will tell you this;
- Go to the gadget menu through the specified application and select the “Erase iPhone” item, after which you confirm your actions;
- To unlock your iPhone you will need to enter the password for your Apple ID account.
It is possible to return the information that was on the phone through the settings assistant (backup). There is also still a method for unlocking an iPhone via ICCID, but it will be more relevant in case of theft. (Read about how if it was stolen)
What to do if you need to jailbreak
The main confusion is that before you can unlock your iPhone and gain full access to it, the above methods will require a firmware update. This may result in the loss of basic Jailbreak functionality and the inability to connect to cellular data.
To unlock an iPhone without a password and without firmware, you need to download the SemiRestore application to your computer, which is free and compatible with iOS version 5 and older. To use this method, you also need to download a special component from Cydia called Open SSH. Next, it is written in detail about how to unlock your iPhone if you have forgotten your password:
During all of the above actions, your phone may reboot several times, blink the screen, and the like. You shouldn't pay attention to this. These are normal actions for him, and they should not mean that there is any problem. After all the manipulations are completed, the gadget will finally reboot, you will see the default settings.
Main advantage this method is that Jailbreak and Cydia will be saved along with all adjusted settings. It is also possible to recover all data through iTunes using a backup method, if it was done in advance.
How to remove Activation Lock and change Apple ID
Many people wonder how to unlock iCloud Activation Lock and how to change an existing Apple ID.
- To unlink the ID you will need to send official letter directly to Apple Corporation. You will need to attach photographs of your phone, all receipts, coupons and stickers to this application;
- There is no way to do without a box here, because you need to send a scan with all the stickers. You can cheat a little and just find a box of the model you need, but with different codes and numbers. Through, for example, photoshop you can enter the desired serial combinations. Next, print the desired sticker on a good printer and stick it on the box itself. Pay attention to proportions and exact dimensions. Similar actions must be carried out with a check. Possible variant sending a letter without this document, indicating in a separate column that the previous owner did not give it to you;
- You need to photograph the iPhone in such a way that all the stickers and the box are visible, and the phone itself should be with the back cover facing up.
Also read the article about unlocking iPad.
Protecting your smartphone from unauthorized access using complex and long passwords is the right thing to do. This iPhone protection is reliable, but sometimes works against the owner. A complex password may one day be forgotten or lost. If this happens to you, don't panic. iPhone can be restored by unlocking and lucky coincidence circumstances even to save all content. The main thing is to know how to do it correctly.
Unlocking via iTunes
Unlocking a smartphone through the iTunes media player suggests two options for the development of the situation. In the first case, all data will be saved, but in the second, not. To save all the information on your mobile device, you need to normally download the iPhone and be able to connect it to iTunes via a computer. If a force majeure situation occurs and the iPhone does not boot normally, unfortunately, the data will be lost. However, not forever if you are used to storing backups on cloud storage. A force majeure situation may arise if the mobile device freezes on the welcome screen or you only see the media player cable.Recovery with data preservation
If your device boots normally, you can reset the password and save all the content in memory. To do this, you need to open the “Devices” section in the media player and find your smartphone in the drop-down list. On the right side of the window there will be a “Browse” tab. On this tab, you need to click on the “Recovery” button. It’s very simple, but not quick, to reset a lost or forgotten password and at the same time save all data in the device’s memory.
After this, we recommend creating a backup of your settings and all content stored in your smartphone’s memory in iTunes. In order to avoid losing information in the event of force majeure, having received a clean mobile device after restoration. The “Create a copy now” button will save all your information in the media player, which can be easily restored later.
Recovery without saving information
If you were unable to use the first option or the mobile device did not boot normally (stuck on the greeting or shows the iTunes cable), you will not be able to restore the information. And here you will have to use the second option, in which the smartphone settings will be reset to factory settings. You will receive a mobile device without personal information and user settings. To restore your smartphone this way, follow these three steps:- You must have it loaded on your computer latest version iTunes media player.
- Enter Device Firmware Update mode. This can be done by connecting to a computer with a USB cable. Turn off your mobile device by simultaneously pressing and holding the Home and Power buttons. Once the device screen goes dark, release Power On/Off but hold Home. After 3-4 seconds, you will see information in the media player window that your smartphone has entered Device Firmware Update mode. But the display of the mobile device is still turned off.
- Click the "Recovery" button in iTunes. The media player will load new version firmware and update the smartphone. You can monitor the recovery status by the loading bar and icon.
After updating the firmware, the smartphone will boot without a password. If you have iTunes backups, you can easily restore your settings and user content by copying them to your smartphone.
Unlock via iCloud
Using this option, you will also update the firmware, and in the absence of backup copies on cloud storage, you will lose all personal information: settings and content.Unlocking using iCloud is not possible without the Find My iPhone app. The application must be installed on your mobile device in advance. To unlock your smartphone, you need to have access to the network. The Internet can be connected to both a mobile device (using wireless connection, or operator cards) and to a personal computer.
Do the following:
Step one Check your smartphone's network connection.
Step two On the iCloud website you need to log into the “ ” application. Check that your mobile device is marked with a green circle.
Step three Select your locked mobile device by clicking on the icon. And when the menu opens, click “Erase iPhone.”
Step four Confirm your actions.
Step Five A window will open in which you must enter the password for your Apple ID account. After that, click "Done".
You can observe the firmware update process by the status bar and the Apple logo.
Note! After updating the firmware, restore user data and settings that are stored in iTunes or iCloud.
Unlocking iPhone after jailbreak
For jailbreak owners, these two options are inconvenient because they install factory settings. If you use them, you may lose the benefits of jailbreaking and the ability to connect to a mobile operator.In this case, jailbreak owners may not update the firmware, but use a special program. It will help you properly restore Jailbroken smartphones. To take advantage of its capabilities, go to an alternative software store for iOS and download a special OpenSSH kit.
SemiRestore will remove user settings and information, but will preserve the Jailbreak.
How to unlock:
- Install SemiRestore on your computer.
- Connect the device to the PC.
- Open SemiRestore and wait for the iPhone to be recognized.
- If everything went well, click on “SemiRestore”. Clearing information from your smartphone will begin.
While the process is ongoing, you can watch the display turn on/off. After you boot up your iPhone, create a new password and use backups to restore user settings and content.
Now you know how you can unlock your smartphone and restore all information. This is a lengthy process, so use strong passwords to protect yourself, but save them so you don't have to update the firmware.
What to do if your smartphone asks you to wait a couple of days before entering your password.
What happens when blocked
iPhone quite zealously protects the owner’s data. Simply enable the password. The smartphone immediately becomes useless in the wrong hands, unless taken apart for parts.
The lock screen cannot be bypassed right away; it is well protected, including from password guessing. After five incorrect attempts, the iPhone will allow you to move on to the sixth only after a minute. To the seventh in 5 minutes. By the eighth - in 15.
Even if the owner received his phone back, he simply will not be able to enter the password. Example. One day my iPhone was in my nephew's hands. The blocked “brick” has returned.
There are three ways to help revive your iPhone:
Via iTunes
*if Find My iPhone is disabled
We connect the iPhone to iTunes and make a backup copy if there is none. Click "Restore iPhone"
After restoring the firmware, we roll up a backup copy. Then the iPhone itself will ask you to enter a new password.
Via iCloud
Go to iCloud.com and enter your Apple ID.
Choose "Find iPhone" - All devices- the device we need.
Click "Erase iPhone", after which the smartphone connected to Wi-Fi will go through the recovery procedure.
Install a backup via the cloud (or via a computer) and enter a new password.
Through recovery mode
We connect the smartphone to iTunes and enter it into recovery mode. To do this, you need to hold down the lock button and the Home button until the iTunes logo appears.
A window will pop up on your computer in which you need to click on the button "Restore".
After the restoration is complete, roll up the backup copy and set a new password.
Extra headache. True, if you need a smartphone urgently, there is nowhere to go. Of course, when it's only locked for 15 minutes, it's easier to wait. Recover longer.
It makes sense to try one of the methods listed above only if the block is standing for several hours.
P.S. For those who “found” a smartphone on the street: if you don’t know the Apple ID, don’t even try to reset the password from someone else’s handset, nothing will work anyway.
