Factory Reset a Locked iPhone? The Ultimate Guide You Should Know

Lisa OuUpdated by Lisa Ou / Sept 08, 2021 16:30

I recently forgot my iPhone passcode and cannot get into the iPhone. Can I factory reset a locked iPhone? Is there any method to help me out?

When you have some minor problems with your iPhone, including forget the password of the iPhone, a factory reset should always be the initial choice. Is it possible to factory reset a locked iPhone without a passcode? Yes. But you have to bypass the restrictions to get into the locked iPhone. Here are 3 frequently used methods you should know.

Is It Possible to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone? The Ultimate Guide You Should Know
Guide

Guide List

Part 1. The Efficient Method to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone

Because you cannot use the key combinations or the Settings app to factory reset an iPhone directly with the “Apple Way”, you should be tech-savvy to factory reset a locked iPhone without a passcode. What should be the best alternative to get into the locked iPhone?

FoneLab iOS Unlocker provides an easy method to remove the restrictions of iPhone, including hard reset a locked iPhone without a password. Whether you need to get into the locked screen, or remove the Apple ID on the iPhone, it should be the initial choice. Moreover, it also enables you to bypass the screen time restriction password without losing data.

FoneLab iOS Unlocker
FoneLab iOS Unlocker

FoneLab Helps you unlock iPhone screen, Removes Apple ID or its password, Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

  • Helps you unlock iPhone screen.
  • Removes Apple ID or its password.
  • Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.
  1. Remove screen passcodes, Touch ID, and Face ID on your iPhone.
  2. Factory reset a locked iPhone, iPad, and iPod without a password.
  3. Wipe out the Apple ID directly if you forgot your Apple ID or password.
  4. Compatible with the latest iOS 17 as well as the previous versions.

Step 1Make sure the locked iPhone is connected to your computer via the original USB cable. Download and install FoneLab iOS Unlocker, then you can launch the program on your computer. Then choose the Wipe Passcode option to factory reset the locked iPhone.

unlocker interface

Step 2It will detect the information of the iPhone automatically, including the Device Category, Device Type, Device Model, iOS Version, and more other information. Once you have corrected the information, you can click on the Start button to factory reset the locked iPhone.

confirm device info

Step 3The program will download the firmware package automatically, you can choose the Unlock option to get into the locked iPhone. When you remove the screen-locked iPhone, all the data and settings on the locked iPhone will also be erased.

firmware downloaded successfully
FoneLab iOS Unlocker
FoneLab iOS Unlocker

FoneLab Helps you unlock iPhone screen, Removes Apple ID or its password, Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

  • Helps you unlock iPhone screen.
  • Removes Apple ID or its password.
  • Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

Part 2. How to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone without a Computer

To get into the locked iPhone on the go without a computer, you can simply use another device to factory reset a locked iPhone remotely via the Find My iPhone feature, which is the built-in option to reset an iPhone. Just learn more details about the process as below.

Step 1Make sure you have already set up the Find My iPhone option on the locked iPhone previously. You can log in to the iCloud account with Apple ID and password, locate the Find My iPhone option from the browser to factory reset the locked iOS device.

erase iphone via icloud

Step 2Locate the iPhone you want to restore to factory reset from the All Devices option. There are 3 different options within the interface, you can simply choose the Erase iPhone option and confirm the process. Now you will successfully factory reset the iPhone without a passcode.

unlock ipad via icloud
FoneLab iOS Unlocker
FoneLab iOS Unlocker

FoneLab Helps you unlock iPhone screen, Removes Apple ID or its password, Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

  • Helps you unlock iPhone screen.
  • Removes Apple ID or its password.
  • Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

Part 3. How to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone with iTunes

iTunes is the default method to reset a locked iPhone, even if you have forgotten the password. If you are using Windows, you have to download the latest version of iTunes on your computer, you should plug in a locked iPhone to the computer via the original USB hub.

Step 1Get your iPhone into the Recovery Mode

Here are the detailed processes to get into the Recovery Mode for different models of iPhone. Just check out the iPhone model and follow the steps to get into the Recovery Mode.

iPhone 8/8 Plus or later

Press the Volume Up button on the side of your iPhone and release it. After that, you can press the Volume Down button and release it quickly. Hold the Side button until the iPhone enters the Recovery Mode.

iPhone 7/7 Plus

Hold both of the Side and Volume buttons simultaneously. Keep holding the button until the screen shows the Recovery Mode.

iPhone 6 or earlier model

Press the Home button while pressing your Side button. Hold the two buttons at the same time until you get into the Recovery Mode.

Step 2Factory reset a locked iPhone via iTunes

Launch iTunes on your computer and choose the Summary option from the left menu. Choose the Restore button to restore the iPhone to factory settings, including the passcode. After that, you can restore the iPhone to a previous status or set up the iPhone again.

factory reset with itunes
FoneLab iOS Unlocker
FoneLab iOS Unlocker

FoneLab Helps you unlock iPhone screen, Removes Apple ID or its password, Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

  • Helps you unlock iPhone screen.
  • Removes Apple ID or its password.
  • Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

Part 4. Tips about How to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone

1. Can I use the DNS method to factory reset my locked iPhone?

No, you can't. DNS Bypass exploit works only for older iPhone models running on legacy iOS versions. And DNS Bypass supports only limited functionalities for you to manipulate the device. It works only as a temporary trick rather than a long-term solution.

2. Are there any suitable scenarios you could suggest when I need to factory reset my device?

People usually decide to factory reset their device when it feels too slow, or functions improperly, or the device gets disabled. It is always a good habit to back up your data routinely before performing a factory reset.

3. I have an old iPhone 4S model, how can I factory reset my iPhone 4S?

If you happen to not remembering your screen code, no need to worry. The unlocking process is virtually the same as other devices. Follow the guide I provided above, the details are more than enough to get you covered.

Conclusion

Given the situations that you might forget your passcode, thus a hard reset is necessary to bring your iPhone back to life, it is always possible for you to find out which method is working for your particular situation. With the tricks and tools that we collected in this article, you should be able to feel confident knowing that you could factory reset a locked iPhone without a hassle. If you have any query about the topic, you can leave a comment in the article.

FoneLab iOS Unlocker
FoneLab iOS Unlocker

FoneLab Helps you unlock iPhone screen, Removes Apple ID or its password, Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.

  • Helps you unlock iPhone screen.
  • Removes Apple ID or its password.
  • Remove screen time or restriction passcode in seconds.
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