How to Factory Reset iPhone Without Password (Step-by-Step Guide)

February 4, 2026

4 Mins Read

Getting locked out of your iPhone is stressful, when you can’t remember the passcode, Face ID fails, or the screen is disabled after too many attempts. But don’t worry, you can factory reset an iPhone without the passcode, as long as you follow the correct method.

Whether you’re fixing a disabled iPhone, preparing it for resale, or troubleshooting serious software issues, this guide walks you through all legitimate ways to reset an iPhone without a password.

What Happens When You Factory Reset an iPhone?

Before resetting your iPhone, it’s important to understand exactly what a factory reset does, and what it doesn’t do.

A factory reset will:

Erase all data and settings from the device
Remove the screen passcode, Face ID, and Touch ID
Restore iOS to default system settings
Sign you out of Apple services on the device

What it does not remove:

Apple ID ownership (Activation Lock)
iCloud account association if Find My iPhone is enabled

All local data will be deleted. Data backed up to iCloud or a computer can be restored after reset.

Before You Factory Reset Your iPhone (Quick Checklist)

Before you proceed, take a moment to run through this checklist. It helps prevent data loss and setup issues later.

Check for iCloud or computer backups: If your iPhone was backed up, you’ll be able to restore your data after the reset.
Ensure you know the Apple ID email and password: You’ll need this to bypass Activation Lock after the reset.
Charge your iPhone or keep it plugged in: Interrupting a reset can cause restore errors.
Confirm device ownership (especially for used iPhones): Resetting won’t remove the previous owner’s Apple ID.

How to Factory Reset iPhone Without Password Using Recovery Mode (Most Reliable)

This is the most common and effective method when you’ve forgotten the iPhone passcode or the device is disabled.

Steps to Reset iPhone Using Recovery Mode

Connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC
Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows/macOS older versions)
Put your iPhone into Recovery Mode:

For iPhone 8 and later (including iPhone X–15):

Quickly press and release Volume Up
Quickly press and release Volume Down
Press and hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears

For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus:

Hold Volume Down + Power until recovery screen appears

For iPhone 6s and earlier:

Hold Home + Power buttons together

When prompted, select Restore
Wait for iOS to download and reinstall

This process may take 10–20 minutes depending on your connection.

Why Recovery Mode Works

Recovery Mode bypasses the lock screen entirely and reinstalls iOS from scratch. Since it operates at the system level, no passcode is required to initiate the reset.

How to Factory Reset iPhone Without Password Using iCloud (Find My)

If Find My iPhone was enabled and you remember the Apple ID credentials, this method works remotely.

Steps to Reset iPhone via iCloud

Visit iCloud.com on any browser
Sign in with the Apple ID linked to the iPhone
Go to Find Devices
Select the locked iPhone
Choose Erase iPhone
Confirm the action

Once erased, the device will restart to setup mode. You’ll still need the same Apple ID to activate the iPhone afterward.

How to Factory Reset iPhone Without Password Using Finder or iTunes (Manual Restore)

If Recovery Mode doesn’t trigger automatically, you can manually restore the device through a computer.

Here are the steps:

Connect the iPhone to a computer
Open Finder or iTunes
Force restart the device until recovery screen appears
Select Restore when prompted

This method mirrors Recovery Mode but gives more control during troubleshooting.

What to Do If You’re Stuck on Activation Lock

If your iPhone asks for the previous owner’s Apple ID after reset, you’re dealing with Activation Lock.

Why This Happens

Activation Lock is tied to Find My iPhone
It remains active even after factory reset
Designed to prevent theft and resale abuse

What You Can Do

Contact the previous owner and ask them to remove the device from iCloud
Request proof of purchase and contact Apple Support
Avoid “Activation Lock bypass” tools; they don’t work on modern iOS

There is no legitimate way to bypass Activation Lock without Apple ID access.

iPhone Reset Myths That Can Damage Your Device

When locked out, it’s easy to fall for quick-fix solutions, but many are misleading or dangerous.

Third-party iPhone unlock or reset tools: Often outdated, unreliable, or bundled with malware.
YouTube passcode or iCloud bypass hacks: Most are clickbait and no longer work on modern iOS versions.
Jailbreaking to remove passcode: Can brick the device, void warranties, and still won’t remove Activation Lock.
DNS or software exploits: These were patched years ago and offer no real access.

These methods either fail, compromise your data, or permanently damage the device.

After Reset: What You’ll Need to Set Up Your iPhone Again

Once reset, you’ll need:

Apple ID and password
Internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular)
Time to restore backups and update iOS

This is also the best moment to rethink your digital privacy. After a reset, your iPhone is clean, but once you reconnect, your data is back online. Using PureVPN can help protect your browsing and app traffic, even on public WiFi.

Final Thoughts

Forgetting your iPhone passcode doesn’t make the device useless. In most situations, you can still factory reset an iPhone without a password using Recovery Mode or iCloud erase. Just keep in mind that a reset will permanently erase all local data, and Activation Lock will remain active, meaning you’ll need the original Apple ID to complete setup.

Be cautious of third-party unlock tools, these rarely work and often introduce security risks. If you have access to the linked Apple ID, getting back in is usually quick and straightforward. If you don’t, the lock is doing exactly what it’s designed to do, protecting your data from unauthorized access.