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If you are locked out of your own iPhone and do not know the passcode, you can still factory reset it using recovery mode on a computer with iTunes or Finder, or by using Erase iPhone through Find My on another Apple device. Neither method needs your forgotten passcode, though both do require the Apple ID and password linked to the phone once it restarts, because of a security feature called Activation Lock.
That last point catches a lot of people out, so it is worth understanding before you start. This guide walks through both official Apple methods step by step, explains exactly what Activation Lock means for your reset, and covers what to do if you are trying to reset a secondhand iPhone that still shows someone else’s account.
Before You Start: Passcode vs Apple ID
There is an important difference between the two things you might be locked out of. Your passcode is the four or six digit number, or Face ID or Touch ID, used to unlock the screen day to day. This is what a factory reset through recovery mode gets around, since erasing the phone wipes the passcode along with everything else.
Your Apple ID is the account tied to the phone through Activation Lock. Once the phone erases and restarts, it will ask for the Apple ID email and password that were signed in before the reset. If you know your own Apple ID login, you are fine. If you do not, Apple offers an account recovery process through their website that can take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on your account security settings.
Pro Tip
If you can still remember your Apple ID and password but simply forgot your screen passcode, it is often faster to use Erase iPhone through Find My from another Apple device or iCloud.com rather than plugging into a computer, since it can be done from anywhere with an internet connection.
Where access to the device is still available before a reset, it is worth learning how to transfer photos from iPhone to laptop so important images can be backed up first.
Method 1: Factory Reset Using Recovery Mode
This is the standard method when you have a computer available and cannot unlock the phone at all.
- Turn off your iPhone completely. Press and hold the side button along with either volume button until the power off slider appears, then slide to turn off.
- On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Windows PC or an older Mac, open iTunes.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer using a cable while holding down the correct button for your model. On an iPhone 8 or later, press and hold the side button. On an iPhone 7, hold the volume down button. On an iPhone 6s or earlier, hold the home button.
- Keep holding the button until you see the recovery mode screen, which shows a computer and cable icon rather than the normal Apple logo.
- Finder or iTunes will detect a phone in recovery mode and offer an option to Restore. Click Restore to begin the factory reset.
- The process downloads fresh software and erases everything on the phone, which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed.
- Once finished, the phone restarts and shows the setup screen, where it will ask for the Apple ID password linked to that device before you can use it again.
Method 2: Erase iPhone Through Find My
This works if Find My iPhone was already turned on before you got locked out, and does not require a computer or cable at all.
- On another iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the Find My app, or go to icloud.com and sign in with the same Apple ID that is on the locked phone.
- Select the locked iPhone from the list of devices.
- Choose Erase This Device.
- Confirm the action, and the phone will wipe itself remotely the next time it has an internet connection.
- Once erased, it still requires the same Apple ID password during setup, exactly as with recovery mode.
This method is particularly useful if the phone is not physically nearby, since the erase command is sent over the internet rather than through a direct cable connection.
What If the iPhone Belongs to Someone Else
If you have bought a secondhand iPhone and it still shows a previous owner’s Apple ID after a reset, this is Activation Lock working exactly as designed to prevent stolen phones from being reused. The only legitimate fix is contacting the previous owner and asking them to remove the device from their Apple ID through Settings, iCloud.com, or by signing out of Find My before you buy it. Apple does not offer any official way to bypass Activation Lock for a phone that is not yours, and this is worth checking before you buy any used iPhone, not after.
If you are buying devices in any quantity for a business, event, or short term project, this kind of ownership headache disappears entirely with a managed rental instead. Our iPhone rental UK service supplies devices that are fully wiped, tested, and free of any prior account locks before they reach you.
Resetting an iPhone Before Selling or Returning It
If your goal is the opposite, wiping a phone you do want to give away, sell, or return, the same recovery mode or Find My erase steps work perfectly, but you should sign out of iCloud first if you still have access to the lock screen. Go to Settings, tap your name at the top, scroll down, and tap Sign Out, which removes Activation Lock automatically and saves the next owner from running into the exact problem described above.
Anyone setting up a replacement iPhone after switching platforms can also follow our guide to transfer photos Android to iPhone without leaving important images behind.
Rent Tech Devices for Business Events and Professional Use
When a Reset Does Not Fix the Problem
If recovery mode fails repeatedly, shows an error code, or the phone will not enter recovery mode at all, this usually points to a hardware fault with the buttons or the charging port rather than a software issue, and an Apple Store or authorised repair centre is the next step rather than trying the same reset again.
Once your iPhone is set up and working again, you may also need to connect phone to printer for printing documents, tickets, or photos directly from your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I factory reset an iPhone without the Apple ID password?
No. Apple’s Activation Lock requires the Apple ID password linked to the device after any reset, including recovery mode and Find My erase. This is a deliberate anti theft protection and cannot be skipped legitimately.
Does a factory reset delete everything on the iPhone?
Yes, both recovery mode and Erase iPhone through Find My remove all apps, photos, messages, and settings, returning the phone to its original factory state. Anything not backed up to iCloud or a computer beforehand will be lost.
How long does resetting an iPhone through recovery mode take?
Most resets complete within 15 to 30 minutes, though the exact time depends on your internet connection speed, since the phone downloads a fresh copy of iOS during the process.
Can I unlock a stolen iPhone with these methods?
No. These methods reset a phone’s software but cannot bypass Activation Lock on a device tied to someone else’s Apple ID, which is precisely the protection Activation Lock is designed to provide.
What happens if I forgot my Apple ID password too?
Apple offers an account recovery process through iforgot.apple.com, which can take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on the security settings already on the account, such as two factor authentication.
