Quick Steps to Reset an iOS Device If You Forgot Your Passcode

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Lost iPhone password? Here's how to get back in

Co-authored by Luigi Oppido and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: May 12, 2025 Fact Checked

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From the Lockout Screen

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Using Recovery Mode

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Using iCloud

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Resetting Apple Password

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Did you forget your iPhone or iPad’s passcode? Don’t panic–if you’re running the latest version of iOS, it’s easier than ever to reset your password so you can unlock your device again. While the easiest method is to reset directly from the security lockout screen, we’ll also teach you how to reset your device using a computer or even remotely from the iCloud website. We’ll also cover how to reset a forgotten Apple Account password. Read on to learn how, with helpful tips from computer & tech specialist Luigi Oppido about storing your passwords securely.

Quick Steps for Resetting a Forgotten iOS Passcode

Enter the wrong passcode several times until “[Device] Unavailable” appears.
Tap Forgot Passcode?
Enter your Apple Account password.
Tap Erase [Device].
Set up your iPhone or iPad again and set a new passcode.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Resetting from the Device Lockout Screen (iOS 15.2 & Later)

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1
Try to enter your passcode several times. After you enter the passcode incorrectly a few times, your iPhone or iPad will go into a security lockout mode. You’ll see a screen that says “[Device] Unavailable” or something similar.^{[1]
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- This method will work if you have an iPhone or iPad running iOS 15.2 or later. If you’re using an earlier version of iOS, you have to connect your device to a computer and reset it in Recovery Mode. You can also erase your device remotely from iCloud if you’re using iOS 14 or later and have Find My enabled.
- If you have an iPhone with an eSIM and you’re running iOS 16 or earlier, call your cellular network provider before you start this process and ask them for a QR code so you can set up your eSIM again.
- Your iPhone needs to be connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network for this method to work. You’ll also need to know your Apple Account password. If you’ve forgotten that, you can reset it.
2
Tap Forgot Passcode?. You should see this option at the bottom right side of your screen.
- In iOS 16 or earlier, you’ll see Erase iPhone/iPad instead.
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Next, you’ll be prompted to sign out of your Apple Account. Enter your Apple Account password to do so.
4
Tap Erase [device]. To reset your passcode, you’ll need to reset your iPhone or iPad completely. If you have a backup of your data, you can restore it when you set up your device again. Tap Erase iPhone or Erase iPad to start the process.
- If you’re running iOS 17 or later and your phone has an eSIM, you’ll be given the option to keep the eSIM while erasing the rest of your data.
5
Set up your device again and set a new passcode. After your iPhone or iPad resets, it will restart and guide you through the setup process. At this point, you can restore from a backup in iCloud or on your computer if you have one. During setup, you’ll be able to set a new passcode for your device.
- If you regularly forget your passcode, Oppido recommends writing it down and storing it in a secure place or keeping it in a password manager.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Luigi Oppido
  Computer & Tech Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
6
Log in with an old passcode if you changed it recently (iOS 17 or later). If you just changed your passcode and then forgot the new one, you may be able to temporarily log in with your previous passcode and reset it without erasing your device. You must do this within 72 hours of changing your passcode.^{[3]
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Research source} Here’s how to do it:
- Enter your passcode incorrectly 5 times or until the “[Device] Unavailable” screen appears.
- Tap Forgot Passcode? at the bottom right side of the screen.
- Tap Enter Previous Passcode. If you don’t see this option, you’ll need to reset your device instead.
- Enter your old passcode and follow the prompts onscreen to set up a new one.
- If you’ve just changed your passcode and are worried about someone else accessing your device with the old one, you can speed up the expiration process. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Enter your current passcode, then tap Expire Previous Passcode Now.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Resetting from a Computer with Recovery Mode

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1
Turn off your iPhone or iPad. If you’re using a version of iOS earlier than 15.2, or if the lockout screen reset method isn’t working for you, you can reset your device by putting it into recovery mode. You’ll need to connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer to do this. To start, shut down your device.^{[4]
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Research source} The right way to do this depends on your model of iPhone or iPad. ^{[5]
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- If you’re using an iPhone with Face ID, press and hold the side button and volume down button until the power slider appears. Drag the slider to the right to shut down your phone.
- For iPhones with a Home button, press and hold the side button until the slider appears, then drag the slider to shut down your phone.
- For iPads without a Home button, touch and hold the top button and either volume button at the same time, then drag the power slider when it appears.^{[6]
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- For iPads with a Home button, press and hold the top button, then drag the slider.
2
Connect your device to a desktop computer. You can do this on either a PC or a Mac, but if you use a PC, you’ll need to install either iTunes or the Apple Devices app. Use the USB cable that came with your device.
- Depending on what kinds of ports your computer has, you might need an adapter (such as a USB-A to USB-C adapter) to plug in the cord.
3
Put your device in Recovery Mode. The way you do this depends on what kind of iPhone or iPad you have.
- iPhone with Face ID: Plug in your phone and immediately press and hold the side button. Keep holding it while the Apple logo appears. You can let go after you see an image of a computer and a cable.^{[7]
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- iPhone with a Home button:^{[8]
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  - If you have an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or SE (2nd and 3rd generation), press and hold the side button until you see the computer and cable symbol.
  - If you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, hold the volume down button until the computer and cable symbol appears.
  - If you have an iPhone 6s or earlier, or an SE (1st generation), press and hold the Home button until the computer and cable symbol appears.
- iPad without a Home button: With the iPad plugged into your computer, press and release the volume button closest to the top button, then press and release the volume button farthest from the top button. Press and hold the top button until the computer with a cable icon appears.^{[9]
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- iPad with a Home button: Plug in your iPad and press and hold the top button and Home button at the same time. Your iPad will shut down. Release the top button but keep holding the Home button until the computer and cable icon appears.
You can also use iTunes if you’re on a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier.
In Finder or Apple Devices, you’ll see an image of your device in the left sidebar under the Locations header. In iTunes, you’ll see it in the top menu bar.
A window may pop up asking you if you want your computer to trust your iPhone or iPad. If so, click Trust.
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Select Restore. If you’re using Finder on a Mac, you should see an option to either restore or update your iPhone or iPad. Select Restore.
- In iTunes, go to Summary > Restore [Device] > Restore instead.
- If you’re using Apple Devices, go to General and select Restore Backup if you have a backup. If you don’t have a backup, click Restore [Device] instead. Click Restore to confirm.
- Wait for your device to finish resetting. This usually takes around 15 minutes. When it’s done, it will restart, and you can disconnect it from your computer.
If you have a backup of your device’s data, you can restore it now. You’ll also get the opportunity to set a new passcode.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Resetting Remotely from iCloud

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1
Visit www.icloud.com/find in a browser. You can use this method to reset an iPhone or iPad remotely from any device that has a web browser, such as a computer or another phone or tablet. Note that this will only work if you have Find My enabled on your device.^{[10]
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Research source} To get started, go to the iCloud.com/find website, click Sign In, and log in with the Apple Account associated with your device.
- You can also start this process from the Find My app on a friend’s iPhone or iPad. Have them open the app and tap Me > Help a Friend.
2
Select the device with the forgotten passcode. You should see an area on the left side of the screen listing all the devices connected to your account. Click the iPhone or iPad you’re trying to reset.
- If this window is collapsed, click the symbol to the right of the All Devices header to expand it.
- If another device is already selected, click All Devices at the top of the menu to go back to the list.
You’ll see one of these options near the bottom of the device menu.
A dialog window will pop up explaining that you’re about to erase all the data on your iPhone or iPad. Click Next to continue. Follow the instructions to complete the process and remotely erase your device.
Once you’ve successfully erased your iPhone or iPad, it will restart. Follow the prompts on your device’s screen to set it up again and set a new passcode. You can also restore your iPhone or iPad’s data from a backup, if you have one.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Resetting Your Apple Account Password

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1
From your device settings. If you forgot the password for your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID), you have several different options for resetting it. If you are still able to access your iPhone or iPad, you can easily do it right from the Settings menu on your device. Here’s how:^{[11]
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- Open the
  Settings app and tap your name at the top.
- Select Sign-In & Security.
- Tap Change Password. It’s under the Security header.
- Enter your device’s passcode when prompted.
- Enter your new password, then enter it again to verify. Tap Continue. Follow the prompts to complete the password reset process.
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On the web. If you can’t get into your iPhone or iPad, you can also reset your Apple Account passcode from a browser on your computer or another device. To get started:
- Go to iforgot.apple.com.
- Click the Reset Password button.
- Enter your email address or phone number. This needs to be a number or email address associated with your Apple Account.
- Enter the code in the grey box to verify that you’re a human, then click Continue.
- Enter the phone number linked to your account, then click Continue again.
- Check any trusted Apple devices for a notification. When prompted, select the option to continue with the password reset.
  - If you don’t have access to a trusted Apple device, you may need to use the Account Recovery option, which takes a lot longer. You’ll need to verify your identity with Apple Support and wait for them to process your request, which may take a few days.
- Enter the new password on your trusted device, then tap Change or Continue to confirm.

Expert Q&A

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How can I easily save my passwords to avoid forgetting them?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

There are two options. First, you can use a password manager to keep track of your different passwords. With a password manager, you'll only need to remember one master password. Second, you can just write your passwords down in a notebook and keep it in a safe place.

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Can I reset an iPhone 6 Plus without an iCloud account?

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Yes, you should be able to do this using your iTunes backup in Method 1.

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What should I do if I've forgotten my Facebook password?

Community Answer

Go to the login screen and press the button below the box to input your password that says "I forgot my password". Then you'll enter your email or phone number in the box provided. You should receive a message within a minute or two reminding you of the password you forgot. There will also be an option to change your password.

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Tips

If you're worried that your password has been compromised in some way, Oppido advises choosing a new password for your device just to be safe.^{[12]
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