Forgot iPhone XR passcode? Here's how to regain access

If you forget the passcode to your iPhone XR, you'll need to reset the device to its factory default settings to regain access. Here're steps on how to unlock iPhone XR.

Apple secures any iPhone by asking you for a passcode on the Lock Screen. What happens if you're locked out and forgot iPhone XR passcode? No worries. Even you can't recall the forgotten passcode to unlock your iPhone XR, there's great chance that you can get back in easily by resetting the device and erasing the passcode.

The article covers a few effective iPhone reset strategies to overcome "I forgot my iPhone passcode" barrier and help you access iPhone XR even you can't remember the lock passcode.

Forgetting passcode on iPhone XR doesn't mean that you're locked out permanently. A factory reset will unlock the iPhone XR.

iPhone Unlocker is a robust solution to easily unlock iPhone XR passcode you forgot, allowing you to erase or resetting the device without passcode.

Table of Contents

• What to do if you forgot your iPhone XR passcode? The ultimate solution
• Via recovery mode on computer
• Use Forgot Passcode button
• Use iPhone Unlocker
• Use iCloud Find My
• Forgot iPhone XR passcode without restore

What to do if you forgot your iPhone XR passcode? The ultimate solution

Let's be clear right away: Forgetting your iPhone XR's password can lock you out of your device. Indeed, if you enter the passcode wrong too many times, your iPhone becomes disabled, unavailable or security lockout. The lockscreen will be stuck there for a certain period of time.

Apple's security protocols prevent direct bypassing of the lock if you do not remember or know the passcode for iPhone XR. To fix the forgotten passcode and unlock your iOS device, the only approved solution involves a complete reset. This means that it is unlikely that you will be able to get into the iPhone XR when you forget password unless your erase iPhone XR entirely, which deletes all data and settings.

Now let's look at 5 routes you can take so that you can reset an iPhone XR without passcode, whether you have a computer or not.

Via recovery mode on computer

You don't have to be concerned about forgetting your screen lock passcode of your iPhone XR, as Apple offers a solid way to reset the lock screen code using a computer. Once you get your device into recovery mode, Finder, iTunes or Apple Devices app allows you to restore your locked iPhone and get in it with no passcode or Face ID needed.

To enter recovery mode and erase iPhone XR if you've forgotten the passcode and are getting locked out permanently, follow these steps:

Step 1- Power off your iPhone XR.

Step 2- Press the Side button while plug your iPhone into your computer with a lightning cable.

Step 3- Keep holding down the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen. It should be a black screen with a cable and a computer.

Step 4- On Mac, open Finder and locate your iPhone. In macOS 10.14 Mojave or earlier, launch iTunes. And if you have a Windows (10, 11) PC, open iTunes or Apple Devices app.

Step 5- A dialog window opens, giving you option to update or restore your iPhone XR. Since you forget the passcode and can't access iPhone XR, choose Restore.

Step 6- Your computer will first download the software on your device. If this takes more than 15 minutes and your phone restarts, wait for the download to finish, then turn off the phone, re-enter recovery mode.

Step 7- After download, the restore process begins automatically, deleting your content and settings as well as the device's password you forgot or you don't know.

Once iPhone XR is unlocked, you'll be guided through a series of setup steps, including the part of restoring data from a backup and creating a new passcode.

Use Forgot Passcode button

Newer versions of iPhone XR — iOS 15.2 and later — have an integrated way to unlock your passcode if you forget it. To find this feature, first enter an incorrect passcode five times at the lock screen. You'll see an "Erase iPhone" or "Forgot Passcode" button appear. Tap on it to attempt to an iPhone reset. You'll be prompted to enter the username and password of the Apple Account associated with your iPhone XR, and the forgotten screen passcode should be reset.

Here's how to unlock iPhone XR without password or without a computer:

1. Tap Forgot Passcode (iOS 17 or higher) at the bottom. If your iPhone XR is operating with iOS 15.2 or iOS 16, tap Erase iPhone button.

Note: If "Erase iPhone" or "Forgot Passcode" button isn't showing up within the iPhone Unavailable screen, this method doesn't work for you. Try a computer to reset the password.

2. From the iPhone Reset screen, choose Start iPhone Reset.

3. When you're required to sign out of your Apple Account, input your Apple ID password.

4. Tap on Erase iPhone to begin resetting the iPhone XR to delete any data.

Wait a few minutes, and your current password that you cannot remember on iPhone XR will be deleted. You can then set up a new lock screen passcode from scratch, and restore your device from either an iCloud backup or computer backup.

Use iPhone Unlocker

There are many third-party programs that claim to save you when you've completely forgotten passcode and can't unlock iPhone XR. One easy way is to use iPhone Unlocker.

This desktop-based software carries an easy-to-use interface and powerful tools that make it pretty easy for iPhone/ iPad users to unlock the lock screen without a passcode or Face ID in a few clicks: It factory resets the iPhone XR and gets rid of the screen lock.

Now download iPhone Unlocker utility and install it on a PC or Mac. Open it up and then use the wizard on how to unlock forgotten passcode on iPhone XR.

• After you launch the tool, choose Wipe Passcode mode.



• Plug your iPhone XR you forgot password to into your computer via a lightning cable. If it cannot be detected, click "Device connected but not recognized" link and follow the onscreen steps to put the iPhone into recovery mode.



• Once connected, confirm the device info of your locked iPhone XR and ensure a successful reset.



• Click Start button to install the iOS software package on your device. Wait for a few minutes to let the download complete.



• When that's done, a Unlock Confirmation window opens, reminding you that unlocking an iPhone could erase the forgotten passcode and any other data.
• Enter "0000" to confirm and click Unlock button to begin resetting iPhone XR without knowing the password.



• When the progress bar reaches 100%, you should resolve the issue with iPhone XR forgot passcode. Open your iPhone XR and get to use it.

Use iCloud Find My

Users that have previously set up Find My iPhone feature could have the best option when it comes to recovering an iPhone XR if the passcode have been forgotten. You can use the Erase This Device feature within iCloud Find My website to reset and unlock the device remotely with no need to enter the lock password. The only catch is you know the Apple ID that is used to sign into your iPhone, and it needs to have a Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.

First, head over to icloud.com/find on a desktop browser. After log in with your Apple Account and password and grant location permission, you'll see a list of your connected devices. Select the iPhone XR you need to unlock.

Now, click on Erase This Device from the tool menu.

A menu will explain that your phone will be remotely wiped clean, and all the content and settings will be deleted. Select Next. Enter your Apple ID password to verify your identity to factory reset the iPhone XR.

Wait for your forgotten password on locked iPhone XR to be removed and regain access to your phone. You'll be asked for your Apple ID to sign into your device.

Forgot iPhone XR passcode without restore

Forgetting password to iPhone XR requires you to reset the iDevice and restore it from a backup that's made previously before the lockout. It's a process that could lose any data that wasn't part of your backup. There's chance that you're looking for a way to get into an iPhone if you forgot the passcode without restoring.

In the past, forgot iPhone passcode without erasing is not possible. Things have been changed since iOS 17. This new system gives you some kindness and keeps your old passcode still valid for 72 hours since after the swap.

Here's what to do if you forgot iPhone XR lock code without restore and using a computer:

• In iOS 17 or newer, entering the wrong passcode until your iPhone displays Forgot Passcode? at the bottom. Click on it.
• Choose Enter Previous Passcode.
• Enter your old passcode to access your locked device.
• Follow the prompts to set up a passcode.

This resets your forgotten password without restoring data. Your iPhone XR unlocks while keeping your data intact.