Forgot iPhone Passcode: How to Unlock without Restore Easily

Greetings! Can I unlock the device if I forgot an iPhone passcode without restore? I don’t recall mine, but I know that most solutions require restoring the device and deleting all data and settings. Hence, I can’t proceed with the process since I don’t want to lose my files, such as photos and documents. If anyone has experience with this, I’d appreciate some guidance!

It is a stressful experience to forget your iPhone passcode, especially if you know the solutions require a restore, which can cause you to lose all your device data. Perhaps you changed your passcode in a hurry, and you instantly forgot because it didn’t register well in your mind. In this case, the "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" screen can leave you feeling helpless.

Fortunately, you no longer have to restore your iPhone to regain access. While Apple’s security is tight, a method is still available to help you unlock your iOS device without losing data. To learn more, let us guide you through the following sections, which contain the necessary details you need to complete the process. Additional information on further methods is also available.

Part 1. Resolve Forgot iPhone Passcode without Restore

If you have already attempted to resolve a locked iPhone with a forgotten passcode before but failed, you don’t have to worry about it now. Unlike before, Apple now offers an Enter Previous Passcode option on the lock screen. If you haven’t heard about it yet, as its name suggests, it will allow you to use your previous passcode temporarily to reset the current one. However, Apple introduced this feature only in iOS 17.1 and later versions; thus, it won’t be an effective unlock solution if your iPhone runs an older version. But if this option is available on the device, you won’t have issues with complex processes because of the method’s straightforward steps.

Pay attention to the proper navigation below to handle your ‘forgot iPhone passcode how to unlock without restore‘ problem:

Step 1Attempt your passcode multiple times until the iPhone Unavailable note appears. When the Forgot Passcode selection is displayed on the lower lock screen, tap it to proceed.

Step 2Next, select Enter Previous Passcode from the options and enter your old passcode. Finally, abide by the prompts to create and confirm a new passcode for your device.

Aside from this method’s unavailability to older iOS versions, another drawback you must keep in mind is that the Enter Previous Passcode option will only appear if you have changed your passcode within the last 72 hours. Also, you mustn't have yet restarted your device since making the change. Or else the designated button won’t appear to help you unlock.

Part 2. Resolve Forgot iPhone Passcode with Restore

When the option above fails, leaving you still locked out of your iPhone, using unlock techniques to restore your iPhone with a forgotten passcode may be your only solution. While this means erasing all data on your device, they are sometimes the most reliable way to regain access. Hence, continue learning the two most efficient yet easiest methods below.

Method 1. Try FoneLab iOS Unlocker

When facing a locked iPhone with no passcode recovery options, FoneLab iOS Unlocker stands out as a professional yet straightforward solution. This tool goes beyond basic unlocking, as it can efficiently wipe your iPhone lock, regardless of the type. Whether you’re stuck on the lock screen because of a forgotten passcode, dysfunctional Face ID, or Touch ID, it’s not a problem, as this unlocker supports and can handle them. After all, learning the function is also effortless.

FoneLab iOS Unlocker’s Wipe Passcode is highly praised for its capabilities, requiring no technical knowledge from users. Notably, the tool’s direct and beginner-friendly interface makes the process even more convenient and comprehensible. Once you obtain it on your computer, you will no longer face challenges related to the forgotten passcode that prevents you from accessing the iPhone. Besides, exploring the other functions afterward is also a good idea.

Distinguish the hassle-free operation below as a model for unlocking your iPhone with a forgotten passcode with FoneLab iOS Unlocker:

Step 1Download FoneLab iOS Unlocker from their site with the Free Download button. Your browser will save the file to your Downloads folder, so double-click it from there to run and install the program. Once done, the Start tab should appear, and you can select it to proceed.

Step 2Once you’re in, pick the Wipe Passcode option from the main interface menu before choosing Start next. After that, plug in your locked iPhone using its Lightning cable, and when detected, the program will display your device’s specifications. Click Start to confirm them.

Step 3The tool will now acquire the firmware your iPhone needs. Sit back and let the process finish before proceeding with the Unlock button, which will appear. Then, input 0000 when asked on the next display. Lastly, click the Unlock tab one more time to complete the process.

Method 2. Boot iPhone into Recovery Mode

Meanwhile, Apple's built-in Recovery Mode serves as another reliable alternative for removing the iPhone lock when a passcode is forgotten. This official method, although more technical than others, provides a proven process for restoring access when you get locked out of your device. It works by booting the device into a special state where it can connect with the iTunes or Finder program on your computer. You must only watch out for its Restore option, which allows you to lose all the iPhone’s data and settings, along with the screen lock passcode. On the other hand, this method’s main advantage is that Apple developed it for all iPhone models.

Observe the detailed guide below to unlock an iPhone with a forgotten passcode using the Restore option by booting the device into recovery mode:

Step 1Start by entering iTunes or Finder on the computer, whichever is accessible. Next, plug your locked iPhone into a Lightning cable to connect and put it into recovery mode.

For newer iPhones (without a Home button): Press the Volume Up once, then the Volume Down once. Then, without pausing, hold the Side button until the iPhone displays the recovery mode screen.

For older iPhones (with a Home button): Press and hold down both the Home button and the Power or Side button together. Keep pressing them until the device boots into recovery mode.

Step 2When iTunes or Finder detects your iPhone in recovery mode, a prompt will appear. Select Restore and follow the next directions to erase everything, including your passcode.

Is iTunes or Finder unavailable on your computer? It must be because the operating system doesn’t support it. Therefore, it is essential to note that iTunes is compatible with Windows and older macOS versions, whereas Finder is compatible with later macOS versions.

Part 3. FAQs about Forgot iPhone Passcode without Restore

After careful research, the unlock solutions mentioned in this article have been proven on numerous occasions, so don’t be reluctant about their effectiveness.