The iPhone passcode is designed to help owners to defend against access with bad intentions. However, this unbreakable shield will become a barrier to iPhone users stopping their own access.
This happens when we forget the passcode on the iPhone and at the same time, the Face ID (or Touch ID) fails to unlock the device. Also, some people may complain that they buy a secondhand iPhone that’s locked as the sellers forget to unlock the phone.
In either case, a locked iPhone is indeed a brick. We have to unlock this locked iPhone even though we don’t have the passcode or even iPhone password. To find out how, continue reading. There’re 4 methods for you to get this done.
- Method 1 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use iTunes
- Method 2 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use Find My iPhone
- Method 3 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use 4uKey
- Method 4 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use Security Lockout
Method 1 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use iTunes
When we have a locked iPhone but don’t have the passcode, iTunes is always the first tool that pops into our heads. This official iPhone assistant is a great helper when it comes to unlocking an iPhone.
With iTunes, you don’t need the passcode. But iTunes can only work on a computer, if you don’t have a desktop or laptop around, try other methods.
Step 1: Sync your Locked iPhone to iTunes
To begin with, we need to enable the connection between iTunes and your locked iPhone. If you think you can just take out a USB lightning and connect them together, this is wrong though.
Every iPhone that’s locked for more than one hour will not be recognized by iTunes. This is the protection that Apple’s installed.
So, if you’re lucky that your iPhone is locked for a few minutes, connect your iPhone straight to a computer. iTunes will detect it and launch automatically.
If not, boot your iPhone to Recovery mode, an iOS built-in troubleshooter. More importantly, a locked iPhone under this mode can be found and synced by iTunes.
Follow the steps below to boot your iPhone to Recovery mode
- Power off your iPhone first.
- Then, press the Volume Up button and release, repeat it on the Volume Down button. Lastly, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button till you see the Recovery Mode Screen.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer now.
Step 2: Download Firmware
iTunes will detect your locked iPhone and launch automatically. It will pop out a sign telling you that you need to Restore or Update your iPhone to fix the current issue.
Click Restore to proceed. iTunes will now start to download the firmware that’ll be applied to unlock your iPhone.
Step 3: Unlock your iPhone
When the download is complete, you may have to click the Restore button on a pop-up again. Then, iTunes will start to unlock your iPhone without entering any passcode or password.
When it’s done, you can launch your iPhone and set it up again.
Caution:
iTunes will not just unlock your iPhone but also erase all content and settings on it. So, all data on the locked iPhone will be gone. You can recover them from a previous backup.
Method 2 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use Find My iPhone
Is the Find My iPhone active on this locked iPhone? If so, you can unlock your iPhone using this security feature without entering the passcode on the iPhone.
Also, when this is a secondhand iPhone, you may ask the previous owner to unlock the iPhone for you. They can do it remotely without touching the phone. So, if they’re unwilling to come over, this method will be perfect.
Option 1: Unlock iPhone without Passcode via Another iPhone/iPad
Step 1:
If there’s another iPhone or iPad that’s registered to the same Apple account, find the Find My app on this unlocked iPhone/iPad.
Step 2:
Then, go to Devices. There, find the target iPhone that you want to unlock. Scroll down and tap on Erase This Device. Hit again to confirm.
Next, Find My will reset your iPhone remotely. When the process is done, there’s no more lock screen stopping you from getting into the iPhone.
Option 2: Unlock iPhone without Passcode via Find My Web
If there’s no other iPhone with the same account, try to access Find My via a browser.
Step 1:
Go to Find My Web and log in with the target Apple ID and password.
When the browser asks you to verify on your iPhone and you can’t finish that when it’s locked, hit the Didn’t get a code option on the login page. Choose to send via a phone number or email. Enter the 6 digits and complete the verification.
Step 2:
After the login, locate your iPhone from the page and click Erase iPhone. Next, Find My will unlock your iPhone in minutes. Simply launch your iPhone and start to set it up again.
Method 3 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use 4uKey
There’s a robust method to unlock your iPhone without the screen passcode or the iCloud password – using 4uKey.
This is a powerful third-party unlocker tool for iPhones. With it, you can go straight up to unlock your iPhone without entering any digits. So, it doesn’t matter if this is secondhand or not. 4uKey will unlock this locked mobile for you.
Pin code, screen pattern lock, Face ID, or Touch ID will be cleaned up by 4uKey. You can enter your iPhone with a quick and handy swipe. Also, if your iPhone is disabled, don’t worry, 4uKey will unlock your disabled iPhone too.
On 4uKey, you will be surprised to find it compatible with every iPhone model running any iOS version. Whether you have the latest iPhone 14 or 15 (Pro, Max) or an aged iPhone 5, 6, or 7, 4uKey will detect and unlock each within minutes.
Download this iPhone unlocker on your computer and let’s start to unlock your iPhone.
echoshare 4uKey iPhone Unlocker
Remove Lock screen, Apple ID, and MDM restrictions in one tool
- Fix locked, disabled, unavailable iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch
- Remove Apple ID/iCloud account without password
- Bypass Mobile Device Management (MDM) with clicks
*Compatible with iOS 16 & iPadOS 16
Step 1:
On your computer, complete loading 4uKey on your computer. Then, launch the program. Hit the blue Start button to begin the unlock.
Step 2:
As prompted, connect your iPhone to the computer via a valid USB lightning. Note that if 4uKey fails to detect your iPhone, boot your iPhone to Recovery mode.
Then, read the notes that 4uKey lists below.
- Data and settings on your iPhone will be wiped out;
- Your iPhone will be updated to the latest iOS version that this device supports;
Click Next if you’re totally okay with the aftereffects.
Step 3:
Next, click on the Download button to load the firmware that’s helpful to unlock your iPhone. You may click Browse to select a better location to load it.
Step 4:
When 4uKey finishes loading the firmware, it will prompt you to start the unlock. You can just click on the Start Remove button on the interface.
4uKey will now function and unlock your iPhone without a passcode. When it’s complete, you can unplug your iPhone and boot it. No more lock screen will block your access.
echoshare 4uKey iPhone Unlocker
Remove Lock screen, Apple ID, and MDM restrictions in one tool
- Fix locked, disabled, unavailable iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch
- Remove Apple ID/iCloud account without password
- Bypass Mobile Device Management (MDM) with clicks
*Compatible with iOS 16 & iPadOS 16
Method 4 to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode: Use Security Lockout
After iOS 15.2, there’s this on-screen unlock option for iPhone owners when they can’t unlock the device, Security Lockout.
This feature allows users to unlock the iPhone with Apple ID and password. After typing the correct credentials, this iPhone will be unlocked straight without the help of any other tools.
Step 1: Activate Security Lockout
On your iPhone lock screen, there’s only one way to enable the Security Lockout feature. That’s to enter 7 wrong passcodes.
To protect the iPhone and its data, Apple has designed this “iPhone is disabled” limitation. Once too many wrong passcodes are entered on the iPhone, the device will be disabled and no one can unlock it.
- The iPhone will be disabled for 1 minute when there’re 5 failed attempts. You have to wait for this disabled status to pass before the next attempt.
- Another failure will extend the disabled status to 5 minutes.
- And the 7th failure will activate the “iPhone is disabled Try again 15 minutes” screen.
Step 2: Erase iPhone
Check the bottom-right corner of the iPhone screen, there’s this Erase iPhone option. Tap on it for more.
Next, a warning about erasing all the data and settings on this iPhone will be displayed. Hit Erase iPhone again if it’s fine for you.
Lastly, enter your Apple ID and password into the input boxes. Hit Erase iPhone one last time to initiate the unlocking.
FAQs
iTunes will not recognize any iPhone that’s locked or disabled for more than one hour. If you still want to use iTunes to fix your iPhone, you need to activate the Recovery Mode on your iPhone.
First of all, power off your iPhone. Next, depending on your iPhone model, we have different steps.
When you’re using iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, 14 (Pro/Max/Plus), or anything newer:
- Press the Volume Up key and release,
- Press the Volume Down key and release,
- Press and hold the Side button.
When you’re using iPhone 7 (Plus):
- Long press both the Volume Down and Side buttons.
If you’re using iPhone 6, 5, SE (1st Gen), or anything earlier:
- Long press both the Home and Side buttons.
Release the button(s) when you see the Recovery Mode screen. Take out a USB cable and connect your iPhone to iTunes now. iTunes will detect your iPhone this time.
If you’re talking about factory resetting your iPad with just the home, volume, and power buttons, to be frank, it’s impossible.
You can either reset your iPad through the Settings app on the tablet or use iTunes/iCloud to reset your iPad.
On your iPad, unlock the screen, and open the Settings app. There, go to General – Reset – Erase All Content and Settings. Enter your Apple password to start.
When your iPhone is locked, disabled, or bugger, we can connect the iPad to iTunes under Recovery mode. This is a system utility designed by Apple that aims to let owners fix some easy bugs by themselves.
To boot your iPad to the Recovery mode is easy. However, depending on different models, we have different ways of entering the mode.
First of all, power off your iPad.
If your iPad has no home button and is equipped with Face ID, you need to long-press the Sleep/Wake button.
When there’s a home button on your iPhone and you use Touch ID, press and hold the home and Sleep/Wake buttons.
Release the button(s) when you see the Recovery mode screen on your iPad. Next up, take out a USB cable and connect the iPad to a computer that’s installed with iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac).