It happens to the best of us. You changed your passcode late at night, or maybe an old device has been sitting in a junk drawer for three years and your brain has completely wiped the memory of those six digits. Now you're staring at a "Disabled" or "Unavailable" screen. It's frustrating. Honestly, it's terrifying if you haven't backed up your photos recently. But here is the cold, hard truth: unless you have a forensic tool used by the FBI, you aren't getting back into that phone without wiping it clean.
Apple’s security is airtight. That’s the point. If someone steals your phone, you don't want them guessing their way into your banking apps. So, resetting iPhone without passcode always involves a factory reset. You lose the data, but you get the hardware back. Let’s get into the weeds of how this actually happens in 2026, because the methods have changed slightly with recent iOS updates.
The "Erase iPhone" button is your best friend
If you're running iOS 15.2 or later, you might not even need a computer. This is the "Lockout" method. After you fail the passcode entry enough times, a button usually appears at the bottom of the screen. It'll say "Erase iPhone" or "Forgot Passcode?"
Tap it.
The phone will ask for your Apple ID password. This is the catch—you have to know your iCloud credentials. If you have those, the phone connects to the internet, verifies you own the account, and nukes everything. It’s the cleanest way to handle the situation. But what if the "Erase" button doesn't show up? This happens if your phone isn't connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. Without a connection, the iPhone can't talk to Apple's servers to verify your identity. It’s a bit of a catch-22.
Using a Mac or PC: The Recovery Mode deep dive
This is the old-school way. It's reliable but feels a bit like surgery. You’re going to need a cable—preferably the original one that came with the phone—and a computer. If you're on a Mac, you'll use Finder. If you're on Windows, you're stuck with Apple Devices or iTunes.
First, turn the phone off. This varies by model. For anything newer than an iPhone 8, you hold the side button and the volume down button until the power-off slider appears. Drag it. Wait for the screen to go pitch black.
Now, the tricky part. You need to hold the side button while immediately connecting the phone to the computer. Don't let go. Keep holding it until you see the recovery mode screen. It looks like a laptop and a cable. If you see the Apple logo, you failed. You held it too long or started too late. Try again.
Once Finder or iTunes detects the device, it will scream at you that there is a problem. It gives you two options: Update or Restore. Update tries to fix the software without deleting data. Spoiler alert: it almost never works for a forgotten passcode. You need Restore. This downloads the entire iOS firmware from Apple’s servers. Depending on your internet speed, this could take ten minutes or an hour.
Why the 15-minute rule matters
Here is a detail most people miss. If the download takes longer than 15 minutes, your iPhone will automatically exit recovery mode. It gets bored and restarts. If that happens, don't panic. Just let the download finish on your computer, then put the phone back into recovery mode again. This is where most people give up, thinking the process is broken. It's not broken; it's just Apple being impatient.
Finding your device via iCloud.com
Maybe your phone is lost, or maybe the screen is so shattered you can't even see the "Erase" button. If you have "Find My" enabled, you can do this from a web browser. Log into iCloud.com/find.
Select your device from the list and hit "Erase iPhone."
This is basically a remote kill switch. The next time that phone touches a network, it will commit digital suicide. It’s effective, but it triggers Activation Lock. Activation Lock is the "Anti-Theft" wall. Even after the phone is reset, it will ask for the Apple ID and password previously linked to it. You cannot bypass this easily. If you bought a used phone and the previous owner didn't sign out, you effectively have a very expensive paperweight.
Third-party software: Is it a scam?
If you search for resetting iPhone without passcode on Google, you will be bombarded by ads for software that claims to "unlock" any iPhone in three clicks. Be careful. Most of these programs are just fancy wrappers for the Recovery Mode process I described above. They charge you $40 to do something you can do for free with a USB cable and some patience.
That said, some of these tools like Tenorshare 4uKey or iMyFone Fixppo can be helpful if your hardware buttons are broken. If your volume button doesn't work, you can't enter Recovery Mode manually. In that specific case, these software tools use scripts to force the phone into the right state. But they still can't bypass Activation Lock. No legitimate software can. If a website claims it can remove an iCloud lock without a password for $20, it’s a scam. Every single time.
What about the "Emergency Call" trick?
You might see TikToks or YouTube shorts claiming you can dial a specific sequence of numbers in the Emergency Call dialer to bypass the lock screen. "Hit *#06#, then 112, then cancel..."
Stop. It’s fake.
These glitches used to exist in very early versions of iOS 6 and 7, but Apple patched them a decade ago. These videos are designed for engagement and views. They don't work on modern devices. Trying them is just a waste of your afternoon.
Nuance: The "Passcode Reset" feature in iOS 17
Apple actually added a small olive branch recently. If you changed your passcode less than 72 hours ago, and you forgot the new one, you can use your old passcode to reset it.
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When you get to the "Unavailable" screen, tap "Forgot Passcode?" at the bottom. If you're within that 72-hour window, you'll see an option for "Try Passcode Reset." This allows you to enter the previous code you were using. It’s a lifesaver for people who suffer from "new code amnesia." If it’s been longer than three days, though, that door is shut tight.
Preparing for the aftermath
Once the reset is finished, the phone will greet you with "Hello" in twenty different languages. Now comes the moment of truth.
- The Activation Lock: You must enter the Apple ID and password. There is no way around this unless you have the original receipt and visit an Apple Store.
- Restoring Data: If you have an iCloud backup, the phone will ask if you want to download it. This is why you pay for that $0.99 or $2.99 monthly storage plan. If you didn't have a backup, the phone is now a blank slate.
- The E-SIM factor: If you use an E-SIM (which most people do since the iPhone 14), erasing the phone might ask if you want to keep or delete your cellular plan. Always choose to keep your cellular plan unless you are selling the phone. If you delete it, you'll have to call your carrier to get your service back.
Actionable Steps for Success
- Check your cloud first: Before you wipe anything, log into iCloud on a computer. Make sure your "Latest Backup" date isn't from 2022. If it is, brace yourself for data loss.
- Update your computer software: If you’re using Windows, make sure the "Apple Devices" app is updated. Old versions of iTunes often fail to communicate with newer iPhones running iOS 18 or 2026-era firmware.
- Hardware Check: Use a USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C cable that supports data transfer. Some cheap gas station cables only carry power; they won't let your computer "see" the phone.
- The Apple Store Route: If all else fails, and you are the original owner, make an appointment at the Genius Bar. Bring your ID and your original receipt (digital or paper). They have proprietary tools to wipe the device, though they still cannot recover your forgotten data.
Resetting the device is a mechanical process. It’s predictable. The emotional part is losing the data, but if you follow the Recovery Mode or the "Erase iPhone" on-screen prompts, you'll have a working phone again in under an hour. Just write the new passcode down this time. Put it in a physical safe or a password manager. Seriously.