By Lydia | Last Updated
A factory reset is one of the most effective ways to resolve various issues on your iPhone. However, it can sometimes lead to a frustrating situation where your device requests a passcode after the reset. If this happens, don’t worry—there are several potential reasons for this and plenty of solutions. Let’s explore why this occurs and how you can easily resolve the problem.
There are a few common reasons why your iPhone might ask for a passcode after performing a factory reset:
Retention of Old Passcode – If the reset was done through iTunes or Finder, the iPhone may still remember the previous passcode.
iCloud Activation Lock – If "Find My iPhone" was enabled prior to the reset, you may be prompted for your Apple ID password to unlock the device.
iOS Bugs– If there are bugs in your iOS software, this issue might happen.
Incomplete Reset Process—The entire reset process does not finish or there is something wrong occurs during the process.
Here are the methods you can take to resolve the issue of your iPhone asking for a passcode:
Before jumping to more complex solutions, try entering the passcode you had set before performing the reset. Sometimes, iOS may retain the last-used passcode for added security. Or you can try the default 4/6-digit passcodes, such as 0000,000000,1234,123456,8888,888888.
If your iPhone still asks for a passcode, performing a restoration through iTunes or Finder can help:
Step 1:Connect your iPhone to your computer.
Step 2: Open iTunes (on Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and newer).
Step 3: Place your iPhone in Recovery Mode.
iPhone 8 and later: Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, and then hold the Side Button until the recovery screen appears.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down and Power Button simultaneously until the recovery screen shows up.
iPhone 6s and earlier: Hold down the Home and Power Button at the same time until the recovery screen appears.
Step 4: In minutes, there is a prompt on iTunes. You can hit the Restore button to proceed. Wait for the restoration process to finish and set up your iPhone from scratch.
If the factory reset triggered Activation Lock (due to the Find My iPhone feature), you will need to log in with your Apple ID:
When the activation screen appears, enter your Apple ID and password.
If you’ve forgotten your Apple ID credentials, visit Apple’s iForgot page to reset your password.
After entering your credentials, your device will unlock, and you can continue setting up your iPhone.
In case the iPhone still requires the screen lock passcode and you cannot input the correct one, the powerful iPhone unlocker—iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius can help to remove iPhone passcode completely. After that, you can access iPhone after restarting or updating without passcode.
iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius is the reliable iOS unlocker to unlock iPhone screen lock, Apple ID account, screen time restrictions and MDM lock in minutes. This software supports all iPhone models, including the iPhone 16 Pro and iOS 18.
Step 1: Download and install iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius on your PC or Mac. And use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer.
Step 2: Launch the software and select Unlock Lock Screen.
Step 3: Hit the Start button and the Next button in the coming interface.
Step 4: Your iPhone is recognized by the software. Then hit the Download button to get the required firmware for your iPhone.
Step 5: Now comes the Unlock interface. Hit on the Unlock button to start unlocking the iPhone. Wait for the process to finish. After unlocking, your iPhone will be ready to set up as a new device.
If none of the above solutions work, the best next step is to contact Apple Support. They can guide you through unlocking your device, provided you have proof of ownership.
To prevent encountering this problem in the future, follow these steps before factory reset iPhone:
While it can be frustrating to deal with an iPhone asking for a passcode after a factory reset, there are multiple solutions available to fix the problem. Whether you try entering your old passcode, restore via iTunes, bypass Activation Lock, or use third-party tools, you can regain control of your device. If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact Apple Support for assistance.
