As an iPhone owner, you’ve likely set up security measures like a passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID to protect your device. However, there may come a time when you find yourself locked out of your own phone. Perhaps you’ve forgotten your passcode or the Face ID isn’t recognizing you. Don’t panic—there are a few ways to unlock your iPhone without the passcode or Face ID. In this article, you’ll discover, How to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode or Face ID iTunes, iCloud, and the iPhone unlocking tools. By following the steps outlined here, you’ll be able to bypass the lock screen on your device and regain access to your iPhone. Even if you’re stuck on the disabled screen, these methods can help get you back up and running in no time. Read on to unlock your iPhone and leave the dreaded lock screen behind.
Hard Reset Your iPhone
If your iPhone is stuck on the lock screen, the hard reset may be able to unlock it. To hard reset an iPhone, follow these steps:
Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button simultaneously for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears. Release the buttons when you see the Apple logo. This will forcibly restart your iPhone.
Your iPhone will now restart. Once it has restarted, try unlocking your iPhone again using your passcode, Face ID or touch ID. If the issue persists, you may need to erase your iPhone and restore a backup.
Erasing your iPhone should only be done as a last resort. Back up your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes before erasing in case you need to restore it later. You will lose data like photos, messages and third-party app data that hasn’t been backed up. To erase your iPhone, go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings. Tap Erase [iPhone] to confirm. Your iPhone will reset itself to factory default settings. If erasing your iPhone didn’t resolve the issue, the problem may be due to a hardware or software issue with your iPhone itself. In which case, you should contact Apple Support for further help to get your iPhone unlocked and functioning properly again. With the proper backup measures taken and by following the recommended steps, you can get past the stuck lock screen and regain access to your iPhone.
Restore Your iPhone Using Recovery Mode
If your iPhone is stuck on the lock screen and unresponsive, you may need to restore it using Recovery Mode. This should only be done as a last resort, as it will erase your iPhone and install the latest iOS software.
To enter Recovery Mode, follow these steps:
Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
Force restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the Side or Power button and either the Volume up or Volume down button at the same time until the Apple logo appears. Release the buttons.
Once your iPhone restarts, you will see the connect to iTunes screen. This indicates your iPhone has entered Recovery Mode.
Open iTunes on your computer. You should get a message saying that your iPhone is in Recovery Mode and needs to be restored before it can be used with iTunes. Click Restore.
iTunes will download the latest iOS software and restore your iPhone to factory settings. Do not disconnect your iPhone from the computer during this process. It can take 10 minutes or more to complete depending on your internet speed.
Your iPhone will restart with a “Hello” screen. Follow the onscreen setup steps to configure your iPhone with a new passcode and restore from a backup or set it up as a new device.
Restoring an iPhone using Recovery Mode should only be used as a last resort. It will wipe your iPhone and install the latest software update. Be sure to backup your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes beforehand whenever possible to avoid permanent data loss. If issues persist after restoring your iPhone, you may need to contact Apple Support for further help.
Restore Your iPhone Using DFU Mode
To restore your iPhone using DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode, follow these steps:
Enter DFU Mode
Connect your iPhone to your computer while holding the Home and Power buttons.
Hold the buttons for 10 seconds, then release the Power button while continuing to hold the Home button.
Keep holding the Home button until your iPhone screen goes black. This indicates your iPhone has entered DFU mode.
Restore iPhone Using iTunes
If you have a backup of your iPhone in iTunes, you can restore from that backup:
Open iTunes on your computer and select your iPhone. You’ll see a message that your iPhone is in recovery mode.
Click “Restore iPhone” and follow the on-screen prompts to restore your iPhone from the latest backup. Your iPhone will restart with the selected backup once the process completes.
Restore to Factory Settings
If you do not have an iTunes backup, you can restore your iPhone to factory default settings:
Open iTunes and select your iPhone. Click “Restore iPhone” to begin the restore process.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download the latest version of iOS and install it on your iPhone.
Your iPhone will restart with the default factory settings, as if it were a brand new device. You will have to set up your iPhone with a new Apple ID and go through the initial setup process.
All content and personalization on your iPhone will be erased. Be sure to back up anything important before restoring.
The restore process can take 30 minutes or more depending on your internet connection speed. Do not disconnect your iPhone or close iTunes during the restore.
Your iPhone may restart a few times during the restore process. This is normal—do not be alarmed.
Once the restore is complete, you may need to update your iPhone with the latest carrier settings to enable cellular connectivity and calling again.
Restoring your iPhone using DFU mode is a last resort to unlock or fix a malfunctioning iPhone. Regular backups in iTunes or iCloud can help avoid data loss in these situations. If issues persist after a DFU restore, it may indicate a hardware problem and you should contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Remove the Passcode via Find My iPhone App
To remove the passcode on your iPhone via the Find My iPhone app, follow these steps:
Open the Find My iPhone App
Open the Find My iPhone app on another iOS device signed in with the same Apple ID. This could be an iPad, iPod touch, or another iPhone.
Tap your Locked iPhone
Tap on the name or image of your locked iPhone in the list of devices. This will display the details and options for your iPhone.
Tap Erase iPhone
Tap the “Erase iPhone” option at the bottom of the screen. This will remove your passcode and all the data and settings on your iPhone, restoring it to factory default settings.
Enter your Apple ID Password
You will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password to confirm you want to erase your iPhone. Enter your password and tap “Erase” to proceed.
iPhone Erase Process
Your iPhone will now begin the erase process, which typically takes just a few minutes to complete. Your iPhone will reboot, the passcode will be removed, and your iPhone will be restored to factory settings.
Set Up iPhone as New or Restore Backup
Once the erase is complete, you can set up your iPhone as a new device or restore a previous backup to get your data and accounts back on the iPhone. You will need to create a new passcode as part of the setup process to help protect your iPhone going forward. While this method will remove your forgotten or unknown passcode, it does come at the cost of erasing all data and settings on your iPhone. If you have a backup, you can restore most information, but any data added since the last backup would be lost. This should only be used as a last resort to regain access to your iPhone. It is always best to remember and regularly update your iPhone passcode to avoid being locked out.
Remove the Passcode Using Siri
If Face ID or your passcode are not working to unlock your iPhone, you may be able to use Siri to disable the passcode and gain access. Siri is Apple’s virtual assistant, available on iOS devices like the iPhone. By following these steps, you can use Siri to remove the passcode from your iPhone:
Make Sure Siri is Enabled
To use Siri to unlock your iPhone, you must have Siri enabled. Go to Settings → Siri & Search and ensure “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” and “Allow Siri When Locked” are both toggled on.
Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone will reset Siri and ensure there are no software issues preventing Siri from working properly to disable your passcode. To restart, hold the power and volume up or volume down buttons simultaneously until you see the Apple logo.
Try Using Siri Without a Passcode
With your iPhone restarted and Siri enabled, try invoking Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or pressing and holding the side or home button, depending on your iPhone model. If Siri responds and is functioning, you should be able to use the following steps to remove your passcode.
Ask Siri to Disable Your Passcode
Politely ask Siri to disable your iPhone’s passcode by saying something like: “Siri, please disable the passcode on my iPhone.” Siri should respond that in order to disable the passcode, you will need to provide your Apple ID password for security verification.
Provide Your Apple ID Password
When prompted, provide your Apple ID password to Siri. Siri will then disable the passcode on your iPhone. You should now be able to access your iPhone without entering the passcode. If Siri is unresponsive or these steps do not work to disable your passcode, you may need to perform a restore of your iPhone using a computer. However, restoring your iPhone will erase all of its contents, so only do this as a last resort.
Unlock iPhone With Emergency Call
To unlock your iPhone without entering your passcode or using Face ID, you can access the emergency call screen to then access your contacts and other features.
Make an Emergency Call
On the locked iPhone screen, tap “Emergency” or swipe left to open the emergency call screen.
Tap the “Emergency Call” or “Call Emergency Services” option to bring up the phone dialer. Do not actually call 911 or your local emergency services unless you have a real emergency.
Access Options
Once the phone dialer is up, you have a few options to unlock your iPhone or access functions without the passcode.
Tap “Contacts” or “Keypad” at the bottom to open either of those apps, which then provide access to your contact list, recent calls, and iPhone’s other capabilities.
You can search for a contact by tapping the search bar at the top of the contacts app and then call or message them.
Tap any of the icons along the bottom menu bar to open that app, like Messages, Mail or Safari.
To fully unlock the iPhone and disable the passcode lock screen, go to Settings -> Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode to disable it. You may want to re-enable it again right after for security.
Why This Works
The emergency call screen provides access to certain iPhone functions in case of an actual emergency where you need to contact someone or access information. While not an actual emergency, you can leverage this screen to access a limited set of apps and features on a locked iPhone until you are able to enter your passcode or use Face ID to fully unlock it. This method will not work if your iPhone is in a disabled state after too many failed passcode attempts. As always, only disable the passcode lock or Face ID on your own iPhone, not someone else’s. In summary, the emergency call screen offers a way to temporarily unlock some capabilities on your iPhone when your passcode or Face ID are not available for whatever reason. Use this method judiciously and re-enable your iPhone lock screen security as soon as possible for the best protection of your data and access.
Unlock iPhone With Medical ID
To unlock your iPhone without your passcode or Face ID in an emergency, you can access your Medical ID information. This allows emergency responders to contact your emergency contacts and see critical health information, even with your iPhone locked.
Enable Medical ID on Your iPhone
Open the Health app on your iPhone.
Tap your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen. Select ‘Medical ID’ from the menu.
Turn on ‘Show When Locked’ to allow emergency access to your Medical ID information even when your iPhone is locked.
Enter your personal information like name, age, and medical conditions. You can also add emergency contacts.
Set a Medical ID passcode to prevent unwanted access to your information. This passcode is different from your iPhone passcode and protects your Medical ID details.
Access the Medical ID Screen
On the locked iPhone screen, tap ‘Emergency’ or ‘Medical ID’ in the bottom left corner. This will bring up your Medical ID information. Your emergency contacts and health info will be displayed, allowing emergency responders to get the details they need to assist you. To prevent unauthorized access, disable the ‘Show When Locked’ option in your Medical ID settings when your iPhone is not in use. You can also remove the Medical ID passcode, but this may allow anyone to see your emergency details if they access the Medical ID screen. Using your iPhone’s Medical ID feature responsibly allows for emergency assistance when you need it most, while still maintaining your privacy and security during normal use. By taking a few minutes to set up your Medical ID and emergency contacts, you can have peace of mind knowing critical information will be available in a crisis situation.
Unlock iPhone With SIM Card
To unlock your iPhone without using your passcode or Face ID, you have the option of using your SIM card. This method will work if you have enabled SIM security on your iPhone.
Check if SIM Security is Enabled
Go to Settings → Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on earlier iPhone models).
Tap on “Use SIM PIN” to enable the option. You will be prompted to enter a 4-digit SIM PIN which you will need to remember.
Enter the PIN to activate SIM security. Your iPhone will now require the correct SIM PIN to unlock the phone whenever the SIM card is removed and re-inserted.
Unlock iPhone with SIM Card
Power off your iPhone.
Use the SIM tool or a paperclip to pop out the SIM tray located on the side of your iPhone. Remove the SIM card from the tray.
Wait 30 seconds, then re-insert the SIM card into the tray and push the tray back into the iPhone.
Power your iPhone back on. You should see a message on the lock screen prompting you to enter your SIM PIN.
Enter the correct 4-digit SIM PIN. If the PIN is accepted, your iPhone lock screen will unlock and you will have access to the phone.
What to Do if SIM PIN is Forgotten
If you have forgotten your SIM PIN, you will need to contact your mobile carrier to request a SIM PIN unlock. They will verify your identity and unlock your SIM card remotely to remove the PIN. You may be charged a small fee for this service. Using your SIM card to unlock your iPhone can be a convenient method, especially if you frequently need to remove the SIM for travel or to use in another device. However, enabling SIM security does come with the risk of being locked out if you forget your SIM PIN, so be sure to choose an easy to remember number. By taking proper precautions, this option provides an alternate way to access your iPhone without relying on your passcode or biometric authentication.
FAQ: How to Unlock iPhone Without Passcode or Face ID
If you’ve forgotten your iPhone passcode or Face ID is not working, don’t worry—there are a few ways to unlock your iPhone without it.
Recovery Mode
To enter Recovery Mode, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, then hold the Side button until the recovery mode screen appears. Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC with a USB cable and open iTunes. Select your iPhone, then click “Restore iPhone.” This will reset your iPhone to factory default settings and remove your passcode.
DFU Mode
DFU stands for “Device Firmware Update” mode. To enter DFU mode, press and hold the Volume Down and Side buttons for 10 seconds, release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button until the screen goes black. Connect your iPhone to iTunes and click “Restore.” This is a more intensive restore method but can unlock an iPhone with a forgotten passcode.
Third Party Tools
Some third party tools like iMyFone LockWiper or Dr.Fone can unlock an iPhone without the passcode. They work by placing the iPhone into DFU or Recovery mode and using a data extraction tool to reset the passcode. These tools do require payment and there is some risk to using third party software, so only use them as a last resort.
Factory Reset via Settings
If Face ID is enabled but passcode is forgotten, you may be able to reset your iPhone via the Settings app. Go to Settings → General → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings. Tap Erase [Device] to confirm. Your iPhone will reset to factory default settings, removing your passcode. This method requires Face ID or Touch ID to access Settings in the first place. Resetting or restoring your iPhone will remove your passcode but will also delete all data, settings, apps, and content on your iPhone. Be sure to back up your important information before attempting any of these methods. If your passcode is known but Face ID is not working, it’s best to contact Apple Support for help disabling Face ID.
Conclusion
After following the steps outlined above, your iPhone should be unlocked and ready to use once again. While bypassing the passcode or Face ID may seem concerning from a security standpoint, rest assured the methods discussed only provide temporary access and do not remove your iPhone’s built-in protections. The next time you restart your device, the passcode or Face ID will be required to unlock it as usual. Should you continue to experience issues unlocking your iPhone or have additional questions not covered here, contact Apple Support for further assistance. They are available 24 hours a