How to Restore an iPhone Without a Passcode

If you forgot your iPhone passcode or the device is disabled, you can erase and restore it using a computer, recovery mode, or—in some cases—Find My. Restoring removes the passcode by erasing the iPhone, so you’ll need a backup to recover data that is not synced elsewhere. Have your Apple Account details ready: Activation Lock may ask for them after the erase.

What You’ll Need

A Mac or Windows PC with an internet connection. On a Mac, use Finder; on Windows, use the Apple Devices app if available, or iTunes where Apple Devices is not available.
A compatible charging/data cable. Connect directly to the computer rather than through a hub if possible.
Your Apple Account email address and password, if Find My is enabled. These may be required to activate the iPhone after restoring.
A recent iCloud or computer backup if you want to restore your personal data. An erase cannot recover data that was never backed up or synced.

Step-by-Step

Check for data you can still access. If the iPhone is not disabled and you can unlock it using Face ID or Touch ID, back it up before proceeding. You cannot make a new backup through the locked screen without unlocking it. Check whether important items are already synced with iCloud or another service.
Turn off the iPhone. Disconnect it from the computer. For an iPhone with Face ID, press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it. For models with a Home button, press and hold the side or top button until the slider appears. If the screen is unresponsive, use Apple’s instructions for your model to force restart, then try shutting it down again.
Open the computer app. On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Windows PC, open Apple Devices; if that app is not available, open iTunes and make sure it is updated. Keep the app open.
Put the iPhone into recovery mode while connecting it. The button depends on the model. On iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation and later), press and hold the side button as you connect the cable to the computer. On iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, hold the Volume Down button while connecting. On iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation), hold the Home button while connecting. Keep holding the button until the recovery-mode screen appears; do not release it at the Apple logo.
Select the iPhone on the computer. In Finder, select it in the sidebar. In Apple Devices or iTunes, select the iPhone when it appears. If asked whether to Update or Restore, choose Restore. Update attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing; it does not remove a forgotten passcode.
Confirm the erase and wait. The computer downloads and installs iOS, then erases the iPhone. Keep the phone connected and do not close the app. If the download takes long enough for the iPhone to leave recovery mode, let the download finish, then repeat the recovery-mode button sequence and choose Restore again.
Set up the iPhone. When the Hello screen appears, follow the onscreen instructions. Connect to Wi-Fi or a mobile network. If prompted, enter the Apple Account previously used with the iPhone to clear Activation Lock. Choose to restore from an iCloud or computer backup, or set up the device as new. Restoring a backup does not reinstate the forgotten screen passcode.

Common Mistakes

Expecting a restore to preserve local data. Restore erases the device. Photos, messages, and other content that exist only on the iPhone may be lost without a backup.
Releasing the button too soon. Continue holding the model-specific button past the Apple logo until the recovery-mode screen appears.
Choosing Update when the goal is passcode removal. Update is intended to reinstall iOS while retaining data when possible; it does not erase the passcode. Choose Restore when you are ready to erase.
Using an outdated or unsupported computer app. Update macOS, Apple Devices, or iTunes where possible, and try a different cable or USB port if the phone is not detected.
Confusing the passcode with the Apple Account password. The screen passcode unlocks the phone. The Apple Account password may be required after erasure for Activation Lock; restoring does not remove that account requirement.

Tips

Before erasing, check from another device whether iCloud Photos, Contacts, Notes, or other syncing features contain the information you need.
If you know the Apple Account password but not the screen passcode, recovery mode is a practical option. If you do not know the account credentials, recover access to the account before erasing if possible.
Use a stable internet connection and keep the computer plugged in. A full iOS download can take time.
After setup, choose the most recent backup whose date is before the problem began. Some app data may require signing in to the relevant apps again.

Troubleshooting

The iPhone does not appear on the computer: Check that the cable supports data, try another USB port, and connect directly to the computer. Unlocking is not required to enter recovery mode, but the computer app must be open. Restart the computer and iPhone, then repeat the correct button sequence.

The iPhone starts normally instead of showing recovery mode: Turn it off and try again. Begin holding the correct button before or as you connect the cable, and keep holding through the Apple logo until the recovery screen appears. Button sequences differ by model, so identify the model if unsure.

The restore fails or the download is interrupted: Check the internet connection, update the computer app and operating system, and try another cable or computer. If the iPhone exits recovery mode during a long download, repeat the recovery-mode steps after the download finishes. Persistent failures may need support from Apple or an authorized service provider.

Activation Lock appears after restoring: Enter the Apple Account email and password associated with the device. If you cannot remember them, use Apple’s account-recovery process. A restore does not bypass Activation Lock; if the iPhone belongs to someone else, ask its previous owner to remove it from their account.

You cannot access a backup: During setup, check for the correct Apple Account and select the appropriate backup source. Computer backups are available only from the computer where they were made. If no backup or cloud-synced copy exists, erased local data generally cannot be recovered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I restore an iPhone without a computer?
If Find My was enabled and the iPhone can connect to the internet, you may be able to erase it remotely through Find My on another device or through iCloud’s Find Devices service. Otherwise, use recovery mode with a computer.

Does restoring remove the forgotten passcode?
Yes. Restore erases the iPhone and removes its screen passcode, but you must set it up again and create a new passcode.

Will I lose everything on the iPhone?
The restore erases data and settings on the device. You can recover backed-up or synced information during setup, but data without a backup may be permanently lost.

Can I restore without the Apple Account password?
You can erase the iPhone, but Activation Lock may prevent setup afterward. Recover the account password or have the previous owner remove the device from their account.

What if the computer asks me to update or restore?
Choose Restore to erase the iPhone and remove the forgotten passcode. Update is not a passcode-removal method.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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