How to unlock iPhone passcode without losing data
Forgot the passcode and locked out of your iPhone? If you're lucky enough, you're able to unlock iPhone passcode without data loss. Here's how to do.
Alex Griffith Updated on Mar 20, 2025 3:37 PM
iPhone Unlocker makes it extremely easy to unlock passcode you forgot on the iPhone or iPad. And it can remove lock screen when it says disabled, security lockout, or Unavailable quickly, bypass Activation Lock, remove Apple ID, and more. The seamless combination of user-friendly design and powerful unlock capabilities earns it a spot on the top screen unlocking tools list.
Unlocking an iPhone passcode without losing data is possible by signing in with an old passcode temporarily.
If you're anything like me, you may keep a large amount of personal data and important documents on your iPhone — and typically, you can't afford to lose them. Whether you haven't used the phone too long time or changed the passcode recently, chances are you forgot the iPhone passcode and are locked out.
In the past days, if you've forgotten your passcode to unlock the iPhone, Apple requires resetting the device to factory defaults, so you will set the iPhone up again and use it. While doing a full reset may not sound too difficult, the process can erase all your personal data and preferences. Thankfully, you can now unlock iPhone passcode without losing data if your device has a modern iOS 17 and newer software version. You can also set a new passcode there.
Whether you forget the passcode, or the iPhone says security lockout, disabled or unavailable, here's how you can unlock iPhone without losing data.
Table of Contents
This article is based on iPhone models, but it applies for iPads if you forgot the passcode.
How to unlock iPhone passcode without erasing data
Apple introduces a Passcode Reset feature that works with iOS 17 or later, enabling Apple users to use an old passcode to temporarily unlock an iPhone when forgetting the passcode without losing data. Notably, the feature will only be available within 72 hours that you change your passcode recently.
Prerequisites
- Your iPhone runs iOS 17 or newer version
- You recently changed passcodes in the past 72 hours
- You must immediately unlock the iPhone before the feature expires
How to unlock iPhone without passcode and data loss
1. Enter your passcode repeatedly until the iPhone Unavailable message appears, along with a 'try again in [X] minutes' prompt.
2. Tap Forgot Passcode? option, which should be located at the bottom right.
3. Select Enter Previous Passcode. You will see a message indicating "You change your passcode [time]. Your previous passcode can still be used to unlock this device." along with a support.apple.com/passcode link. The link will appear a few times when you're locked.
4. At the Passcode Reset page that comes up, enter your previous passcode.
5. After unlocking your iPhone, set a new passcode.
That's it! Without losing any data, you will regain access to your iPhone instantly.
Also: How to transfer videos from PC to iPhone without iTunes
Unlocking iPhone passcode with iPhone Unlocker app (data loss)
You forgot the passcode and things goes worse: there isn't an old passcode available for unlocking iPhone without erasing data, now what? Unfortunately, you will need to erase and reset the iPhone to get back to your device desktop.
That being said, you can use an efficient software application to help you complete the task quickly. That's where iPhone Unlocker comes in. It is a straightforward software suite with multiple significant utilities capable of doing what other programs offer but in 1 simple application, including the ability to wipe 4-/ 6-digit passcodes, remove Apple ID, bypass Activation Lock, unlock remote management, and even reset Screen Time passcode if you forget it.
Unlocking iPhone passcode is as simple as connecting the device to computer, let the program detect it and download proper firmware, and you're good to go.
Here're detailed steps on how to unlock passcode on iPhone with the software. You will eventually reset the device and lose all the data, but at least you will get your iPhone back to working again.
Step 1. Launch iPhone Unlocker and select "Wipe Passcode" tool from its interface. You should find the tool easily there.
Next, plug your locked iPhone into your computer and make it recognized. If not, click the "Device connected but not recognized?" prompt to fix it
Step 2. Confirm your phone information after connection.
Step 3. When you're ready, click the "Start" button to begin downloading firmware suitable for your phone model from Apple server.
Step 4. After download, click the "Unlock" button, review the warning message carefully, and you're good to go.
Let the software reset the iPhone and unlock the passcode for you. The process will delete everything permanently and reinstall the iOS software. Be patient.
When it goes to 100% on the progress bar, congratulations, it's been successfully reset. You can now use the iPhone again.
How to unlock iPhone without passcode via Recovery mode (data loss)
There's relatively complicated trick for unlocking an iPhone without passcode with iTunes that involves entering recovery mode to perform a full restore. This works the same way whether you're doing an update of iOS software or troubleshooting serious problems on an iPhone or iPad.
Here's what to know about using Recovery mode to unlock iPhone passcode. Either a Mac or PC is involved.
Step 1. Press the Side button or Side + Volume down buttons to turn off your iPhone, depending on what model you have.
Step 2. Put an iPhone 8 and later model into Recovery mode. Plug your iPhone into your computer with a cable and quickly hold the Side button. Keep holding the button until the recovery mode appears on the screen.
Step 3. Put iPhone 7 into Recovery mode. Plug the device into your computer with a cable and quickly hold the Volume down button. Keep holding the button until the recovery mode appears on the screen.
Step 4. Put iPhone 6s and earlier or iPhone SE (1st gen) into Recovery mode. Plug the device into your computer with a cable and quickly hold the Home down. Keep holding the button until the recovery mode appears on the screen.
Step 5. Use your computer to restore your iPhone.
Open iTunes in PC, and select your phone icon from the window, then in Summary click Restore iPhone or Restore Backup, depending on whether you backed the device up before.
Open Finders app if you're running Mac, choose Restore when you have the option to Restore or Update.
Step 6. It will download iOS software to update your iPhone before restoring it.
Step 7. Set up your iPhone manually after restore.
Also: How to get Android into recovery mode
Unlocking iPhone passcode with Apple Account (data loss)
Unlocking iPhone from recovery mode when you don't have the passcode isn't new to Apple users, but Apple has made improvements to the whole experience over time. In iOS 17 update, it introduced the ability to erase and unlock an iPhone without computer using your Apple Account and password. It is worth mentioning that this will result in data loss.
1. Make sure your iPhone running with iOS 17 and later, and has internet access.
2. Try to enter your passcode several times until you see a "Forgot Passcode" option on the bottom of the screen. You will also see an iPhone Unavailable error above the button.
3. Tap Forgot Passcode.
4. Select Start iPhone Reset.
5. Enter your Apple Account password.
6. Wait for it to erase your iPhone completely.
If you don't remember the passcode, you will lose data on your iPhone after being reset and unlocked, but at least you will be able to set it up and restore your data and settings from a backup if you have.
In the event that the "Forgot Passcode" option doesn't appear, you will want to use other approaches mentioned in this article.
How to unlock iPhone when you forget passcode via iCloud (data loss)
As long as you're signed into your Apple ID on the iPhone and enabled Find My iPhone feature, follow the steps below.
Step 1. Visit iCloud.com on any web browsers on your computer or mobile device.
Step 2. Log in with your same Apple ID and password that used for iPhone.
Step 3. Choose Find My from the menu in iCloud.
Step 4. In All Devices list, choose your iPhone you need to unlock passcode.
Step 5. In the phone menu that comes up, click the "Erase This Device" option.
Step 6. Click "Next" to confirm. Unlocking iPhone passcode using iCloud requires erasing data to regain access. If you're sure what you're doing, keep going.
Step 7. Enter your Apple Account password and allow the iPhone to erase.
FAQs: unlock iPhone without erasing data
Q1. How do I unlock iPhone without passcode and not losing data?
If by "without losing data," you mean without resetting the iPhone, you can only use your old passcode you changed in the past 72 hours to temporarily change your current passcode. If not, you won't do that.
Q2. Does a restore from recovery mode lose everything on an iPhone?
Yes. If you forgot passcode, recovery mode helps erase all your iPhone's data, apps, and settings, restoring it to factory settings.
Q3. Does iCloud unlock my iPhone forgotten passcode without losing data?
Now, without losing data, you can't unlock your iPhone when you forget passcode using Find My app, or via Erase This Device option after signing in to iCloud website.
