On iOS 17 or later, tap Forgot Passcode? on the iPhone Unavailable screen, choose Start iPhone Reset, enter your Apple Account password, then tap Erase iPhone. This works only if the iPhone is online and Find My was already on; otherwise use a computer and recovery mode.
The short version
- On iOS 17 or later, your previous passcode can restore access within 72 hours by default if Find My is on.
- The lock-screen erase needs iOS 15.2 or later, Find My already on, an internet connection and your Apple Account password.
- Use Find Devices in a browser to request a remote erase.
- If those options are unavailable, use recovery mode and a computer.
- After erasing, restore an existing backup or set up the iPhone again.
| Method | What it does | Time | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Previous passcode | Recovers access without erasing | A few minutes after lockout | You changed the code within 72 hours |
| Lock-screen reset | Erases the iPhone directly | A few minutes for prompts | iOS 15.2 or later, Find My on, online, account password ready |
| Find Devices | Requests a remote erase | A few minutes to send the request | Find My was already enabled |
| Computer recovery | Erases and reinstalls iOS | Up to 60 minutes | You cannot reset from the phone |
Try your previous passcode before erasing
Passcode Reset works on iOS 17 or later when the iPhone is online, signed in to your Apple Account and has Find My turned on. The window lasts 72 hours by default, unless you expired the old code early. This recovers access without a factory reset.
After five incorrect passcode attempts, tap Forgot Passcode? on the unavailable screen. Choose Enter Previous Passcode, or Try Passcode Reset if that label appears. Enter your old code and follow the prompts to create a new passcode immediately.
If you regain access and still want a factory reset, back up first. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, supply the requested passcode or Apple Account password, then tap Continue to confirm.
If you have an eSIM, choose whether to keep or erase it during the Settings erase. If you erase the eSIM, contact your carrier to reactivate your plan.
Reset from the iPhone Unavailable screen
On iOS 17 or later, use this route when you cannot recover access with your previous code. Find My must have been enabled before lockout, the iPhone must have an active cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and you need your Apple Account password.
Try entering your passcode until iPhone Unavailable appears. When the option becomes available, tap Forgot Passcode?, then Start iPhone Reset. Enter your Apple Account password to sign out, then tap Erase iPhone. On iOS 15.2 or iOS 16, the entry point is Erase iPhone instead.
With an eSIM on iOS 17 or later, you can keep the eSIM while erasing your data or delete both. If you use an eSIM on iOS 16 or earlier, contact your carrier before erasing and request a QR code to set it up again.
If Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPhone never appears, or your iPhone runs a version earlier than iOS 15.2, use recovery mode and a computer below. That route also works when you cannot meet the lock-screen reset requirements.
Erase remotely through iCloud
If Find My was already enabled, open icloud.com/find in another device's browser and sign in to your Apple Account. If you cannot receive a verification code, select Find Devices at the bottom of the sign-in window. That entry point lets you access Find Devices without entering the two-factor authentication code.
Select the locked iPhone in the device list, choose Erase This Device and follow the prompts. Don't choose Remove This Device; it removes the iPhone from Find My rather than sending an erase request.
An online iPhone starts erasing after you complete the prompts. An offline phone waits until it next connects to the internet. Activation Lock remains enabled after a remote erase, so you still need the linked Apple Account and password to reactivate it. For the full browser walkthrough, see using Find My iPhone on a computer.
Put the locked iPhone into recovery mode
Use a Mac or Windows PC with internet access and a cable that can charge your iPhone. Recovery mode prepares the phone for the computer restore; entering it does not complete the erase. Allow up to 60 minutes for the computer reset.
Turn off the iPhone first. On a Face ID model, hold Side and a Volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the power-off slider. On a model with a Home button, hold its Side or Top button until the slider appears, then drag it.
Connect the cable to the computer before connecting the iPhone. On a Face ID iPhone, iPhone 8 or 8 Plus, or iPhone SE second or third generation, connect the phone and immediately hold Side. Keep holding through the Apple logo until the computer-and-cable image appears.
On iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, hold Volume Down as you connect the phone instead. On iPhone 6s or earlier, including the first-generation iPhone SE, hold Home. For either group, continue holding through the Apple logo until you see the computer-and-cable image. If the phone only restarts, repeat the connection step and keep holding past the Apple logo.
Finish the restore on your Mac or Windows PC
Keep the iPhone in recovery mode for this step. An ordinary restore can ask for the forgotten device passcode, so return to the recovery procedure above if that blocks you. The computer restore erases the phone and installs the latest compatible iOS software.
On macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder and select the iPhone under Locations. Click Allow if asked to allow the accessory connection. Choose Restore when offered Restore or Update.
On Windows, get Apple Devices through the Store link on Apple's Windows app download page if needed. Open the app and select your iPhone in the sidebar. Select Trust [your device] if prompted, choose General, then select Restore and follow the prompts.
On macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or Windows without Apple Devices, use iTunes with the phone in recovery mode. Accept the recovery restore prompt, or select the Device button, Summary and Restore. The separate steps for restoring an iPhone with iTunes or Finder cover the computer controls.
Wait for the restore to finish and the Hello screen to appear. A computer restore keeps your eSIM.
If the download outlasts recovery mode
If the software download takes more than 15 minutes, the iPhone may exit recovery mode. Let the download finish on the computer first. Turn off the iPhone, repeat its recovery button sequence, then choose Restore again.
If the required button is broken or stuck, the iPhone may need service. If you cannot complete recovery, or cannot access or borrow a computer, get help from an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Set up the iPhone and restore your backup
From the Hello screen, follow the setup prompts and create a new passcode. At Transfer Your Apps & Data, choose From iCloud Backup if you have one. Sign in to your Apple Account and choose the relevant backup by its date and size.
Stay connected to Wi-Fi while the backup restores. Some content continues restoring in the background after setup, so keep connecting the phone to Wi-Fi and power. For a saved computer backup, restore your iPhone from a backup after the factory restore.
If Activation Lock asks for the linked account, supply that account's credentials. If you also forgot that password, follow Apple's account password reset steps from another device or browser. Resetting the device passcode does not bypass Activation Lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will 10 wrong passcode attempts automatically erase my iPhone?
Only if Erase Data was enabled beforehand, or a management policy requires erasure. The personal setting erases the phone after 10 consecutive failed passcode attempts. It is under Settings > Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode; it must already be enabled for that automatic erase.
Is Reset All Settings the same as a factory reset?
No, Reset All Settings resets settings without deleting data or media. Once you recover access, use Erase All Content and Settings under Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone for a factory erase.
Do I need two-factor authentication to erase with the Find My app?
Yes, two-factor authentication must be enabled on your Apple Account to erase remotely with the Find My app. If it is not enabled, use icloud.com/find instead. If you cannot receive a code at browser sign-in, select Find Devices to continue without entering one.
Can my employer remove a forgotten iPhone passcode without erasing it?
Possibly, if your iPhone is enrolled in your organization's device management service, IT may be able to send a Clear Passcode command. This works only if the service holds the device's unlock token, and not every management product offers it. Apple Configurator can also clear the passcode on a supervised iPhone if the managing Mac saved an unlock token. Contact your IT team before erasing a work phone.
Can I reset the iPhone without losing my data?
The previous-passcode option can recover access without erasing if you qualify. The erase and computer restore methods delete data from the phone. An existing iCloud or computer backup lets you restore saved content afterward.