When you forget the passcode, you may find yourself unable to access your own device. Entering the wrong passcode more than once will often result in a disabled iPhone with the "iPhone unavailable" prompt on the screen.
When most people see this prompt, they immediately think that they will lose all data not included on their latest backup and this may very well be true.
In this article, we will explore if there is any chance of bypass your iPhone passcode without losing your data.
The answer to this question depends on whether you frequently back up your iPhone to iTunes or iCloud.
If you have a recent backup, you can bypass iPhone passcode then restore your iPhone from a previously made backup to avoid data loss.
The only way you will be able to keep your data after resetting your iPhone passcode is to restore your data from a backup.
But if you don't have a backup, you will lose the data on the device since the only way to reset an iPhone's passcode is to erase all the contents and settings on the device, no matter which method you choose.
By erasing all contents and data and essentially resetting the iPhone to its factory settings, you will also remove the device's passcode.
You can then restore the iPhone from a recent backup and you should be able to set up a new passcode, one you will hopefully not forget.
If your device is locked, the answer will depends on whether your locked device had trusted the computer with iTunes or iCloud installed.
You shouldn't have to enter the passcode while backing up or restoring your phone if you're using the last computer the phone synced with and the trust file is still valid.
In this situation, you may still be able to back up your locked iPhone without entering the passcode you forgot.
But if you haven't synced your device with the computer, you'll have to enter the passcode to trust the computer to backup the device. In this case, you can't back up your locked device.
If your device is already disabled or shows Unavailabe or Security Lockout message, then you can't creat a new backup anymore.
The following steps will show you how you can back up your locked iPhone. Please note however that this method may not work for a untrusted computer or a disabled device:
Step 1: Connect the locked iPhone to a computer. This must be a computer that you have previously synced the device with.
Step 2: if you are on macOS Catalina or later, open "Finder." If you are on PC or macOS Mojave and earlier, open "iTunes."
Step 3: On Finder, select the iPhone from the sidebar. On iTunes, click on the iPhone icon at the top.
Step 4: Click "Back up Now" in the Summary screen and iTunes/Finder will start to back up the data on your device.
If you see a grayed-out backup button or the computer keeps asking you to trust the device, you will not be able to use this method to back up the device.
The following are the best solutions that you can use to bypass your iPhone without the passcode. Choose the solution that best suits your needs and situation:
One of the most straightforward way that you can bypass your iPhone passcode is through the iOS unlocking tool Unlockit iPhone.
This tool is effective in removing all kinds of locks from the iPhone including the 4-digit or 6-digit passcode, Touch ID and even Face ID.
It is also a simpler and faster alternative. Here's how to use it:
Step 1: Once Unlockit iPhone is installed on your computer, run it and choose "Unlock Screen Passcode" from the options on the main window.
Step 2:Connect the locked iPhone to the computer and then select "Start" to begin.
Step 3: On the next screen, you will be prompted to download the latest firmware for the device. When the new firmware has been installed on the device, click on "Remove" and the program will start to unlock the iPhone.
Ensure that the device remains connected to the computer until the device is unlocked. Unlockit iPhone will notify you when the process is complete.
This is the official solution to bypass iPhone passcode. You will need to connect the iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
When the device appears in iTunes, click on the "Restore iPhone" button and wait while iTunes erased the device.
If you are using a Mac, the same process can be completed in Finder.
Here's a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Step 1: Use the device's lightning cable to connect the iPhone to your computer.
Step 2: Open iTunes or Finder, depending on the suitable operating system.
Step 3: You can use recovery mode to restore the device in iTunes if iTunes/Finder is unable to detect the connected device.
To use this method, you will need to shut down the iPhone completely and then use a specific combination of physical buttons to put it in recovery mode, depending on the model.
For iPhone 6s or earlier: You'll need to press and hold down the Power and Home Buttons until the recovery mode screen appears.
For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: You'll need to press and hold the Side and the Volume Down buttons until the recovery mode screen appears.
For iPhone 8 and later models: Press and let go of the Volume Up button, do the same with the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
Step 4: In the popup that appears in iTunes or Finder, select "Restore" and follow the instructions to restore the device.
Once the process is complete, you will be able to set up the device as new.
The Find my iPhone option in iCloud is typically used to locate or erase a device that has been stolen.
But it is also a good way to erase a locked iPhone as it will have the same effect as restoring the device in iTunes.
Here's a detailed guide to follow:
Step 1: Go to https://www.icloud.com/ on a browser on your computer and log in with your Apple ID and password.
Step 2: Click on the "Find iPhone" menu.
Step 3: Then select the locked iPhone from the "All Devices" section.
Step 4: Select "Erase iPhone" and enter the Apple ID and password when prompted.
Once iCloud erases the device, you should be able to set up the device as new.
Despite what you may have seen online, there is no such secret passcode.
We can understand why this idea may be appealing since it can help you regain access to your device without having to erase the device.
But we can tell you that there is no magical solution. The only way to unlock your device is to use the solutions outlined above.
No. You will not be able to use your Apple ID to reset the device's passcode because these two are independent security measures that have nothing to do with each other.
If you enter the incorrect passcode too many times on the same iPhone, the device will be locked or disabled.
When this happens, the only way to regain access to the device is to put the iPhone in recovery mode and erase it using the steps we have seen above.
If you had enabled the option in the Settings app, your device may automatically be erased if you enter the wrong passcode 10 times.
The only way that you can unlock an iPhone if you have forgotten the passcode is to erase the device using one of the methods above.
If you back up your device regularly, you shouldn't lose any of your data. But if don't have made any backup, then we have to say that you will have to erase the data to regain access to your device.
Mako is a technical writer with a passion for all things tech. Whether you're wondering about how to fix your iPhone or Android device or trying to get something to work in your settings, Mako is your go-to for professional help. He loves writing, testing solutions, and most of all, making sure his research is factually accurate.
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