By Hally | Last Updated
When the iPhone restarts, you are asked to enter the passcode to unlock it, and since you are used to using Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your device, you have completely forgotten the screen passcode.
In addition to the popular "StandBy Mode", Apple has also built in a "Forgot Passcode" feature in iOS 17. In this article, we will share a tutorial on how to bypass or reset the lock screen passcode on iOS 17, or other iOS.
Prior to iOS 17, if a user forgot the iPhone passcode or accidentally entered the iPhone Security Lockout mode (no timer), the only way to unlock the device was to completely erase the iPhone. For some users who don't have a backup, erasing the iPhone will remove all the photos, videos, or information on their iPhone.
Now, in iOS 17, after entering a new password, users will be prompted: "For the next 72 hours, your previous passcode can be used to reset your new passcode if you forget it." That means within 3 days of changing your phone's lock screen password and forgetting the new one, you still have a chance to save the day. Let's make a move.
The easiest time for people to forget their passcode is when they have newly created or changed their passcode. If your iPhone is running iOS 17, you can easily reset your new passcode using your previous passcode on the iPhone's unavailable screen within 72 hours.
Step 1: Enter the wrong passcode six times to enter iPhone Security Lockout mode.
Step 2: Click on the "Forgot Passcode" button at the bottom right corner and select "Enter Previous Passcode" from the options it provides.
Step 3: Enter the previous passcode and then set the new combination. Now you can use the new passcode to unlock your iPhone without any data loss.
After setting a new iPhone passcode, if you are worried that your old lock screen passcode is a security risk, follow this step to disable the previous passcode.
Step 1: Open "Settings" > "Face ID & Passcode" and enter your current passcode to verify your identity.
Step 2: Scroll down and locate the "Expire previous passcode now" option and click on it, then later you won't be able to access your iPhone with your previous passcode.
On iPhones running iOS 15.2 and above, you can use Apple ID to unlock a locked iPhone without a passcode or computer.
Tip: Your iOS devices need to be connected to an available cellular or Wi-Fi network. Besides, it should be logged in with an Apple ID before it gets locked.
As we said before, iOS 17 has a "Forgot Passcode" feature that offers you two choices. You can either reset your passcode with the old one within 72 hours, or you can erase and restore your device. To do the second option, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click "Forgot Passcode" > "iPhone Reset" > "Start iPhone Reset".
Step 2: Enter the Apple ID password used to set up your iPhone and tap on "Erase iPhone", your iPhone will be completely wiped, including the lock screen password.
How do you unlock your iPhone without a passcode if your device is running another version of iOS, or if you encounter a device with "iPhone unavailable but no Forgot Passcode option" or "iPhone unavailable but on erase option"? Here are some general iPhone unlock methods.
A powerful iPhone unlocker can make the task of accessing a locked iPhone without a passcode much easier. iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius is often recommended for removing various locks on iOS devices, including screen passcodes, Apple IDs, MDM restrictions, and screen time passwords. It works with almost all iOS devices and versions.
Step 1: Launch iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius and select "Unlock Lock Screen".
Step 2: Click "Start" to start the process of unlocking your iPhone, then connect your iPhone to the computer with a USB cable and click "Next".
Step 3: Your device information will be loaded, and then the software will match a firmware package for your iPhone automatically. The firmware package is the key to unlock your iPhone. Click "Download" and wait for it to finish downloading.
Step 4: Click the "Unlock" button, then the passcode on your iPhone will be removed.
If you are a big fan of Apple, then you must be no stranger to iCloud. iCloud's main function is cloud backup, but apart from that, its other popular features are locating lost devices and remote wiping. If at this time your iPhone is completely locked because you can't remember its unlock code, iCloud is a good helper to reset your iPhone.
Step 1: Open any browser and sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID on your iPhone.
Step 2: Click "Find My iPhone", select the locked iPhone from "All Devices" and click "Erase iPhone".
Step 3: Enter your Apple ID password to confirm that you accept the terms and that this will erase all content and settings on your device. Be patient until the process is done and you will have a "New iPhone".
If you have iTunes installed on your computer, then using the iTunes "Restore" function to erase the iPhone is another option to unlock iPhone without a password. Since your iPhone is in Security Lockout mode, iTunes can't recognize it and you have to put the iPhone in recovery mode first.
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your computer with a lightning cable and then put it into recovery mode.
Step 2: Run iTunes, you will be asked whether you want to "Update" or "Restore" your iPhone.
Step 3: Click on the "Restore" option and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the iPhone reset process.
If your device is an iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, then even if your iPhone is locked at the moment, you can upgrade it to iOS 17 via iOS Repair Genius, and then you can use the "Forgot Passcode" feature to unlock your iPhone.
The "Forgot Passcode" feature on iOS 17 allows some forgetful users a chance to unlock their iPhones without a passcode and keep their data. considering that some users are using devices running lower versions of iOS, we also shared some universal iPhone unlocking solutions, hope they can help you.
