Forgot iPhone passcode? Here’s 6 ways to Unlock a disabled iPhone

By Justin SabrinaUpdated on November 01, 2023

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If you've completely forgotten the passcode of your iPhone, you'll have to factory reset the device with iTunes, Finder or iCloud. If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, you cannot access the iPhone. There's no way to bypass the passcode without factory resetting the device, under these circumstances, you can use iTunes to restore the disabled iPhone to its factory settings, and then restore your apps and data from a recent backup.

CONTENTS

If you entered an incorrect passcode 10 times, you will receive a message “iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes.” In this case, the only way to unlock your disabled iPhone is to restore it, you can use iTunes to restore iPhone, which is a free tool to restore iPhone and unlock it.

iPad or iPhone Disabled? The 6 Effective Ways to Unlock Your Device

Forgot iPhone passcode? iPhone is disabled? Bought a second-hand iPhone but don’t know the password? Your iPhone broken screen? iPhone Face/Touch ID invalid? Don’t worry, here is 6 effective iPhone/iPad unlocking tips would helps you.

We have updated this iPhone/iPad unlock solution in 2021, after reading this article, you will know how to unlock a locked/disabled iPhone/iPad with iTunes, Finder, iCloud, Siri, some popular third-party iOS Unlock tool, or using Recovery Mode. Here, we also show you the most effective ways to unlock a disabled iPhone without iTunes or iCloud.

Way 1: How to Unlock iPhone with iTunes?

If you have synced your iPhone with iTunes before, you can put iPhone into recovery mode, the iTunes can detects the device, then you can unlock a disabled iPhone with iTunes. Just follow these simple steps to know how to unlock a locked iPhone with iTunes.

Step 1: Connect your device to your PC or Mac.
Step 2: If the iTunes detecs your iPhone, tap Summary. There, you will see the option to Restore iPhone. Click on that.

Step 3: Click "Restore" your device.

Step 4: Your iPhone will be restore and all data, information, settings and the screen lock passcode be erased, too.

If you don't have iTunes or a computer nearby, you can restore the iPhone to factory settings using Apple's Find My iPhone web page.

Way 2: How to Unlock Your Disabled iPhone with Apple Finder?

If you have updated your Mac computer to macOS Catalina or macOS Big Sur, you can use Finder to unlock your iPhone or iPad device.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. Your computer may initiate Trust This Computer or ask for a passcode.

Step 2: Choose your iPhone device from the Finder menu, then choose Restore Backup.
Choose your backup (the most recent before your device locked). If your backups are encrypted, you'll need to enter a password.

Step 3: Keep your device connected to your computer until it restarts and syncs.

After this process completes, your iPhone will be reset to its factory conditions. Then follow the on-screen instructions to restore your iPhone with a recent backup.

Tips: If you get an error message that “Find My iPhone” must be turned off, which means that iTunes and Finder cannot unlock the device. Don’t worry, you can use the iCloud method, or Recovery Mode instead, or you can use a third-party iOS unlocker tool to remove iPhone screen passcode directly.

Way 3: How to Unlock iPhone with Apple’s iCloud Find My iPhone we page?

If you have trun on “Find My iPhone” or “Find My iPad” function, you can use Apple's Find My iPhone feature to unlock your disabled iPhone. In addition, if your iPhone was stolen or loss, Apple's Find My Device feature can help you track your iOS devices and — worst case — reset them and erase the device. Let’s learn how to unlock a disabled iPhone with Apple’s iCloud Find My iPhone we page.

Stpen 1: Open iCloud - Find My iPhone in any web browser(PC, Mac and any mobile phone), plelase sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
Visit https://www.icloud.com/.

Step 2: Find iPhone icon in the list of devices in the drop-down menu at the top of the screen and click on it, then enter the password for your Apple ID and click Sign in again.

Step 3: The iCloud - Find My iPhone feature will locates all of your devices, click on All Devices on the top and choose your disabled iPhone that you want to unlock.

Step 4: Click "Erase iPhone" and then click "Erase" to confirm.

You'll still need to enter your Apple ID password to confirm this operating, but you won't need the iPhone's passcode.

Using Find My iPhone, you can erase your disabled device and reset iPhone to factory settings.

Step 4: After the device is erased, your iPhone will be returned to its factory settings. If you have backup iPhone to iCloud before, you can follow the directions to restore the iPhone with a recent iCloud backup.

If neither iTunes nor iCloud works for you, you can use a third-party iPhone unlocker or iOS unlocker to unlock the disabled iPhone or iPad, please keep reading the following solution.

Way 4: How to Unlock iPhone with an iOS Unlocker?

If iTunes cannot detect your locked iPhone unless entering the passcode, and you have disabled “Find My iPhone” function, you can unlock iPhone with a third-party iPhone unlocking tool, such as UkeySoft Unlocker, iMyFone LockWiper, Wondershare Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS), Aiseesoft iPhone Unlocker, FonePaw iOS Unlocker, iMobie Any Unlock, Apeaksoft iOS Unlocker, PassFab iPhone Unlocker, ApowerUnlock and FoneLab iOS Unlocker.

What is iPhone Unlocker and how does it work? Which is the best iPhone Unlocker or iOS Unlocker? Which one can I choose? Maybe you still have no idea about it, so here I am going to review on UkeySoft iPhone Unlocker to you and help you get out of the confusion.

To help iPhone users out some issues, like forgot passwords on device, iPhone is disabled, bought a second-hand iDevice but don’t know the password. UkeySoft released a iPhone unlock software named UkeySoft Unlocker, which is a complete and fast iPhone/iPad unlock tool and Apple ID unlock tool. It can help all iOS users remove screen passcode and Apple ID whenever you forgot them. Here are some main features you may be interested in and below are the steps on how to unlock iPhone without passcode:

• Unlock all types of locked screen - no matter you forgot iPhone password, or iPhone screen is disabled.
• Remove Apple ID and enjoy all iCloud services and Apple ID features again.
• Unlock Screen Time or Restrictions passcode.
• Unlock a disabled iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch without iTunes.
• iOS 14.6, 14.5.1, 14.5, 14.4, iPadOS 14.6, 14.5.1, 14.5, 14.4, iPhone 12 Compatible.

Free download UkeySoft iOS Unlocker and try to unlock your disabled iPhone or iPad.

Guide: How to Remove Passcode from a disabled iPhone?

Before unlocking your iPhone via iTunes, iCloud or third-party tool, you should know that:

Once your iPhone has been restored, it will start up like any new iPhone would. Follow the setup process. When it’s time to restore from a backup, use either the most recent iTunes or iCloud backup available. Let’s learn how to unlock a disabled iPhone without using iTunes or iCloud.

Tis: Before using UkeySoft Unlocker to unlock your devices, please update the iTunes to the latest version firstly, the unlocker need to works with the latest iTunes or Finder.

Step 1. Launch UkeySoft iPhone Unlocker
Download, install and launch UkeySoft iPhone Unlocker on the computer, if you want to remove passcode from your disabled iPhone, please click “Unlock Screen Passcode”, this feature can hleps you remove iPhone passcode, pattern, Touch ID or Face ID.

Step 2. Conect your iPhone or iPad to Computer
Connect the iPhone or iPad to the computer with an Apple USB cable.

Step 3. Enter Recovery Mode
If the software has not detect your device, please put your iPhone/iPad into recovery mode, follow the steps below to enter recovery mode on your iOS device.

Step 4. Download its Restored iOS or iPadOS software
Once your iPhone or iPad enters recovery mode, the software will detect your device and shows your device information and downloadable iOS firmware package.

UkeySoft Unlocker V2.0.0 Updated: Users can select different iOS firmware package to download, so, you can manually update or downgrade your iPhone/iPad, just select a matching firmware package for downloading, the software offers the latest iOS 14 software and iPadOS 14 software.

Step 5. Start Downloading Firmware Package
Please select a matching firmware package and click “Download” button, the program start downloading the iOS firmware package for your device, which used to unlock the disabled iPhone, the download will begin automatically and complete in a few minutes.

Tips: The downloading time depends on the size of the firmware package and the network speed, please be patient.

Step 5. Start Unlock the disabled iPhone
Once the firmware package has been downloaded complete, click “Start Unlock” button to start unlocking the disabled iPhone. The unlocking process takes only a few minutes, the iPhone will keep restarting several times, and all data and settings will be erased, including the screen lock password.

Please keep connecting your iPhone with the computer during passcode removing process, don't click any pop up windows from iTunes or Finder.

Step 6. Your iPhone has Unlocked Successfully
When the software tells “Removal Completed” and your iPhone finishes restarting and shows “Hello” screen.

Congratulations, you have removed the screen lock passcode and the disabled state been fixed, and you can use the iPhone as if you were using a new device.

Step 7. Set Up your iPhone and Access it
Now, your iPhone will start up like a new one, please follow the iOS setup process, you can set up a new passcode or skip the passcode setting, then you can use your iPhone as new one.

Video guide: How to Unlock iPhone without Passcode

The trial version of UkeySoft Unlocker allows you free download the matching iOS firmware packge, free download and start to unlock your iPhone/iPad:

Way 5: Use Recovery Mode to Restore Your Disabled iPhone or iPad

If you looking for a free way to unlock/restore/fix your disabled iPhone or iPad, use recovery mode is another choice, if your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone or iPad, just put your iPhone/iPad into recovery mode, the iTunes/Finder will detects them, then you are able to use iTunes or Finder to fix your disabled devices. Let’s learn how to use recovery mode to fix your locked iPhone or iPad.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone with PC/Mac via a Apple USB cable.
Tips: If the iTunes doesn't launch automatically, open iTunes. For macOS Catalina or later, open the Finder.

Step 2. Force Restart your iPhone or iPad and Enter Recovery Mode
For different model of iPhone and iPad, please follow the different ways below:

For iPhone 6s or earlier, iPad with a Home Button, or iPod Touch 6th Generation and earlier: Hold down the Top (or Side) and Home buttons simultaneously.

When you see the Apple logo on your screen, do not let go of the buttons. Keep holding both until your device enters Recovery Mode.

For iPhone 7 or 7 Plus and iPod Touch 7th Generation: Hold down your Top (or Side) and Volume Down buttons at the same time. When you see the Apple logo on your screen, do not let go of the buttons. Keep holding both until your device enters Recovery Mode.

For iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, or 11 models: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, followed by the Volume Down button. Next press and hold the Side Button until your device enters recovery mode.

For iPads with Face ID: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button. Now, press and hold the Top Button until your device begins to restart, keep holding until your iPad goes into recovery mode.

Step 3. After putting your iPhone or iPad into recovery mode, find your device in iTunes or the Finder and click on it. A box will appear asking if you want to Restore or Update your device.

Step 4. Select Restore. It may take some time for your iPhone to download its firmware package - iOS or iPadOS software. If your download takes more than 15 minutes and exits the recovery mode screen, let the download complete, then try over with the force restart and enter recovery mode again(Refer to the step 2).

Step 5. Once restoring process completed, your iPhone will start up like any new iPhone or iPad would, which means that the screen passcode be erased successfully.

Step 6. The last step, please set up your iPhone or iPad, please follow the Apple set up process, then you can access your iPhone without passcode, or setting a new passcode to lock your device.

Tips: If you have backed up the device to iTunes/Finder or iCloud, you are able to restore a backup, select the most recent backup you have, either from the Finder, iTunes, or via iCloud.

Way 6: Bypass iPhone Passcode using Siri

Above six iOS unlock method would erase your existing data on iPhone or iPad, many iOS users may ask: Is it possible to unlock iPhone or iPad without data loss? To remove iPhone passcode without losing data, the only method is bypassing iPhone passcode using Siri, if you are lucky!

By using Siri, you not only bypass the password to unlock iPhone/iPad but also protect its existing data as well. Compare the above six iPhone unlocking methods, benefit for using Siri to bypass iPhone passcode:

• Unlock iPhone without computer
• Unlock iPhone without restore the device
• Doesn’t require Apple ID and passcode
• Won’t delete your existing data and settings on the iPhone or iPad
• Easy to unlock your devices

Let’s learn how to unlock iPhone or iPad with Siri.

How to Bypass iPhone Screen Passcode with Siri

Step 1. On your iPhone, press and hold the Home button to activate Siri, then ask Siri ‘What’s the time now?’ and Siri displays the local time.

Step 2. Click on the clock icon. Menu of the World Clock opens. Click on the + sign on the top right corner, then type any characters in the search box and ‘Select All’ these characters.

Step 3. Click ‘Share’and then select Message in the pop-up window.

Step 4. A new message window opens. In the ‘To’ field hold and click ‘Paste’. The copied text is pasted.

Step 5. Wait for a few seconds. Press the Home button. You are now on the home screen of your iPhone bypassing the device passcode.

Conclusion

If you forgot iPhone passcode, forgot Apple ID password, and don't know how to remove the locked screen passcode from your iPhone/iPad, please save this article, we have introduced top 5 most commonly used free iPhone unlocking solutions, using iTunes, Finder, Siri, iCloud, Recovery Mode. The easiest, fastest and most effective way is to use UkeySoft iPhone Unlocker that you can apply to unlock iPhone, iPad lock screen with a few clicks, no tech knowledge required, everybody can use it to unlock a locked iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

UkeySoft Unlocker is a professional and powerful iPhone/iPad unlocker, different from other iOS unlock tool, after entering recovery mode, it will automatically detects your device and offfer all downloadable firmware for your device, users can select different version of iOS/iPadOS software to download for unlocking the disabled iPhone/iPad, or update/downgrade your devices. With the help of this UkeySoft iOS unlocker, you can 1 click to remove iPhone and iPad passcode for locked, disabled, broken screen, remove Apple ID without password, remove screen time passcode, and bypass MDM from iDevices.

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