Locked Out of iPhone? How to Reset iPhone When Locked Out?

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You know the iPhone is yours. Still, one forgotten six-digit code has turned it into a very expensive paperweight. Frustrating? Absolutely. But you are not stuck forever.

Yes, you can factory reset a locked iPhone without entering its screen passcode. The catch is that a factory reset erases the data and settings currently stored on the device. Before we go that far, I want to show you one quick check that could spare your photos, messages, and everything else.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to factory reset a locked iPhone, choose the route that fits your situation, and avoid a nasty Activation Lock surprise afterward.

Factory resetting is effective, but it is also final. So before you erase anything, let’s check whether Apple will still accept your previous passcode. It takes less than a minute, and I would try it before waving goodbye to years of photos.

1 Use Your Previous Passcode Within 72 Hours

If you changed your passcode within the last 72 hours and your iPhone runs iOS 17 or later, Apple’s Passcode Reset feature may let you regain access without erasing the phone.

• Step 1: After five incorrect attempts, tap Forgot Passcode?
• Step 2: Tap Enter Previous Passcode.
• Step 3: Enter the old passcode, then create a new one.

If the option is missing, the 72-hour window has probably closed, or the device does not meet the requirements. Annoying, I know. At that point, an erase is the practical path forward.

2 Know What the Reset Will—and Will Not—Remove

A factory reset removes the screen passcode by wiping the iPhone. It also deletes the content and settings currently on the device. You can restore your information afterward only if you already have a usable iCloud or computer backup.

Note

A factory reset does not remove Activation Lock, the Apple Account ownership link, or a carrier lock. If setup shows iPhone Locked to Owner, you will still need the linked account credentials.

If the 72-hour option is gone and you accept the data loss, we are at the reset stage. The good news is that you still have four workable routes.

The best method depends on what you still have: a computer, the on-screen reset button, or access to the linked Apple Account. This quick comparison should save you from trying every route in sight.

1 Factory Reset a Locked iPhone with LockWiper

If Recovery Mode instructions make your eyes glaze over, I get it. iMyFone LockWiper puts the connection, device-mode, firmware, and reset prompts into one guided workflow.

I would consider this route when you have forgotten both the screen passcode and Apple account password, the iPhone is disabled or unavailable, and you want clearer guidance on a Mac or PC.

Why LockWiper Fits a Locked iPhone

• Quickly factory reset locked iPhone without passcode, iTunes, or Finder.
• Handles different Apple locks, including Apple Account, Screen Time Passcode, as well as Face ID and Touch ID.
• Safe reset process in just 4 clicks, with no risk of damaging your device.
• Keeps each stage visible with clear progress prompts.
• Works when you cannot reach Settings on the iPhone.
• Supports a broad range of devices and iOS versions (iOS 27 included).

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How to reset the locked iPhone with LockWiper

• Step 1: Open LockWiper and connect your iPhone.



• Step 2: Choose Unlock Screen Passcode and follow the on-screen guide to start.



• Step 3: Let LockWiper detect the model, then download and verify the matching firmware package.



• Step 4: Start the unlock.



• Step 5: Keep the iPhone connected until the reset finishes, then set it up again.

Note

LockWiper’s screen-passcode mode erases the current device data. It removes the Lock Screen passcode, but if you want to remove Activation Lock, use the "Unlock Apple ID" feature.

2 Factory Reset an iPhone from the Lock Screen

Prefer not to install another program? Fair enough. If your iPhone already displays Apple’s reset option, you may be able to handle everything from the Lock Screen.

This is the neatest answer to how to factory reset an iPhone, but Apple’s requirements are quite specific. Your iPhone must run iOS 15.2 or later, Find My must have been enabled, the phone must be online, and you need the linked Apple Account password.

• Step 1: Keep entering the passcode untill the phone shows the Security Lockout or iPhone Unavailable screen.
• Step 2: On iOS 17 or later, tap Forgot Passcode?, then iPhone Reset. On iOS 15.2 or iOS 16, tap Erase iPhone.
• Step 3: Enter the Apple Account password to sign out and authorize the erase.
• Step 4: Tap Erase iPhone to confirm, then wait for the restart.
• Step 5: Set up the iPhone as new or restore an existing backup.

Note

• iPhone Unavailable: Appears after 5+ wrong passcodes, locking the device temporarily with a timer before allowing retry attempts.
• Security Lockout: Appears after more continuous failed attempts, disabling retry timers permanently and requiring a full device reset.

3 Reset a Locked iPhone with Recovery Mode

No reset option on the screen? Annoying, but not a dead end. This is exactly what Recovery Mode is for.

Recovery Mode is the standard computer route when you cannot use the Lock Screen controls. Use Finder on a current Mac or Apple Devices on Windows. iTunes is the fallback only for Windows without Apple Devices or a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier.

Enter Recovery Mode

• Step 1: Turn off the iPhone.
• Step 2: Connect the cable to your computer.
• Step 3: Connect the cable to the iPhone while immediately holding the correct button.
• Step 4: Keep holding until the computer-and-cable recovery screen appears.

Restore the iPhone

• Step 1: Select the iPhone in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
• Step 2: Choose Restore, not Update, to erase the device and reinstall iOS.
• Step 3: Follow the prompts and keep the iPhone connected. The complete process may take up to 60 minutes.
• Step 4: Set up the erased iPhone and restore an existing backup if you have one.

Note

If the software download takes more than 15 minutes and the iPhone leaves Recovery Mode, let the download finish. Then enter Recovery Mode again and repeat the restore.

4 Erase a Locked iPhone with Find Devices

Recovery Mode makes sense when the phone is in your hand. If it is somewhere else, or the screen is completely unusable, remote erase may be the cleaner route.

Find Devices lets you erase the iPhone remotely. It works only if Find My was enabled beforehand, you can access the linked Apple Account, and the iPhone eventually connects to the internet.

• Step 1: Visit iCloud.com/find and sign in.
• Step 2: Open Find Devices and select the locked iPhone.
• Step 3: Choose Erase This Device and follow the confirmation prompts.
• Step 4: If the phone is offline, leave the request pending. The erase begins the next time it comes online.

The reset may be complete, yet setup can reveal a second and very different lock. Let’s clear that up before you assume the restore failed.

If you see iPhone Locked to Owner after factory reset, the reset probably worked. Find My simply kept Activation Lock tied to the Apple Account that was already associated with the device.

A screen passcode protects local access. Activation Lock protects ownership. Recovery Mode, another factory reset, or a normal screen-passcode tool does not automatically erase that ownership link.

• If it is your Apple Account, reset its password through Apple’s account recovery options.
• If you bought the phone used, ask the previous owner to remove it from their account.
• If you have valid proof of purchase, submit an Activation Lock support request to Apple and check whether the device qualifies.

Note

Do not pay a stranger who promises a guaranteed Activation Lock bypass. If you cannot prove ownership or reach the previous owner, there may be no legitimate way to activate that iPhone.

That distinction explains the biggest post-reset surprise. Now let’s deal with the smaller, very common snags that can stop the restore before it finishes.

Sometimes the process refuses to cooperate. A stubborn cable, a missed Recovery Mode screen, or a damaged button can make a simple job feel oddly personal. Start with the exact symptom you see.

1 The Computer Does Not Detect the iPhone

Make sure the iPhone shows the computer-and-cable Recovery Mode screen, not its ordinary Lock Screen. Update macOS, Apple Devices, or iTunes as appropriate, then try a known-good data cable and another USB port.

If the required button, charging port, or screen is damaged, repeated button choreography will not magically heal it (sadly). At that point, Apple Support or an authorized repair provider is the sensible next stop.

2 The iPhone Leaves Recovery Mode During the Download

This often happens when the iOS download takes longer than 15 minutes. Let the download finish, put the iPhone back into Recovery Mode, and select Restore again. Hold the model-specific button until the recovery screen appears; ignore instructions that promise a universal five-second timing.

3 Restore Fails with an Error Code

Restart and update the computer, switch the cable or USB port, and retry the restore once. If the same error keeps returning, especially on a dropped, damaged, or unresponsive phone, the problem may be hardware-related.

Those fixes cover the usual roadblocks. For the questions people tend to ask right before clicking Restore, here are the straight answers.

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Locked iPhone refusing to reset? LockWiper offers a simpler way to remove the screen passcode and regain access when Recovery Mode, button combinations, or computer restores keep failing.

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1 Can I Reset an iPhone Locked to the Owner without Password?

You can erase it, but you cannot legitimately activate it without resolving Activation Lock. You need the linked Apple Account credentials, help from the previous owner, or an eligible Apple support request backed by proof of purchase.

2 Can I Factory Reset a Locked iPhone Without a Computer?

Yes, if the Lock Screen displays Apple’s reset option and you meet its requirements. You can also erase the phone through Find Devices if Find My was enabled and you can access the linked Apple Account. Otherwise, you need a computer.

3 Does a Factory Reset Remove the iPhone Passcode?

Yes. A factory reset removes the screen passcode by erasing the iPhone; it does not reveal or recover the old code. Activation Lock may still request the linked Apple Account during setup.

4 Can I Reset a Locked iPhone Without the Apple Account Password?

Recovery Mode or LockWiper can erase a forgotten screen passcode without the device passcode. However, if Find My was enabled, setup may still require the associated Apple Account password because Activation Lock remains.

5 Can I Recover Data After Factory Resetting a Locked iPhone?

You can restore data only from an existing usable iCloud or computer backup. Do not count on making a fresh backup after lockout because the computer may ask you to unlock or trust the iPhone first.

If you are still wondering how to factory reset a locked iPhone, start with Apple’s 72-hour previous-passcode option. It is the only route here that may reopen the phone without erasing it.

If that window has closed, choose the reset path that matches what you have: LockWiper for guided computer steps, the Lock Screen option when it appears, Recovery Mode for a manual restore, or Find Devices for remote erase. Each reset deletes current device data, and Activation Lock may remain.

Want a clearer way through the fiddly part? Try iMyFone LockWiper, check compatibility first, and reset the iPhone you own with step-by-step guidance.

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Factory reset feels complicated when every method has conditions. LockWiper gives you guided steps to remove a forgotten screen passcode and reset your iPhone when manual restore methods feel overwhelming.

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Article by

Melvin Cooper

Melvin Cooper has over 10 years of experience in the technology industry and is an expert at providing tips and handy solutions to Apple and Android users. Dedicated to helping millions of users improve their experience with mobile devices, he has maintained an impressive record of solving problems.