Forgot your iPhone passcode and can’t use Face ID? You may still be able to regain access, but the right solution depends on why you’re locked out.
If you changed your passcode recently, Apple may let you use your previous passcode without erasing the iPhone. Otherwise, removing a forgotten screen passcode usually requires resetting the device, which deletes locally stored data.
For users who want a more guided recovery process, AnyUnlock can also remove an iPhone screen passcode through a desktop-based workflow, avoiding some of the manual steps involved in Recovery Mode.
Before trying anything, compare the available methods below.
Quick Comparison: Which iPhone Unlock Method Should You Use?
| Method | Best For | Data Loss | Computer Required |
| Previous Passcode | Passcode changed within the last 72 hours | No | No |
| AnyUnlock | Users who prefer a guided screen-passcode reset | Yes | Yes |
| Lock Screen Reset | Users who see Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPhone | Yes | No |
| Apple Recovery Mode | Users who prefer Apple’s manual desktop method | Yes | Yes |
Important: If you recently changed your passcode, try the first method before resetting your iPhone. It may be the only option that preserves the data currently stored on the device.
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Method 1: Unlock iPhone with Your Previous Passcode
If you changed your iPhone passcode within the last 72 hours and still remember the old one, you may not need to erase your device at all.
On iOS 17 or later, Apple’s Passcode Reset feature temporarily allows the previous passcode to be used for up to 72 hours after a change.
How to Use Your Previous Passcode
- Enter an incorrect passcode until the iPhone Unavailable screen appears.
- Tap Forgot Passcode?
- Choose Enter Previous Passcode if the option appears.
- Enter the passcode you used before the recent change.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new passcode.
Your iPhone should then become accessible without a factory reset.
If Enter Previous Passcode does not appear, the 72-hour period may have expired or the previous passcode may no longer be available. In that case, you will usually need to reset the iPhone to remove the forgotten screen passcode.
Method 2: Use AnyUnlock to Remove the iPhone Screen Passcode
If the previous-passcode option is unavailable, the problem changes: instead of recovering the forgotten passcode, you need to remove the current screen lock and set up the iPhone again.
Apple provides its own reset methods, but they can involve Lock Screen requirements or manually entering Recovery Mode.
If you prefer a more guided desktop process, AnyUnlock offers an alternative designed specifically for iPhone screen-passcode removal.
Instead of manually managing the entire restore process, AnyUnlock detects the connected iPhone, guides you through the required preparation, downloads the appropriate firmware, and handles the passcode-removal process through one interface.
When AnyUnlock May Be Useful
AnyUnlock is worth considering if:
- You forgot a 4-digit, 6-digit, numeric, or alphanumeric screen passcode.
- Face ID or Touch ID cannot get you past the Lock Screen.
- Your iPhone shows iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout.
- The on-device reset option is unavailable.
- You would rather follow a guided interface than restore the device manually through Recovery Mode.
How to Unlock an iPhone with AnyUnlock
- Install and open AnyUnlock on a Mac or Windows PC.
- Connect the locked iPhone to the computer with a compatible USB cable.
- Select Unlock Screen Passcode.
- Follow the instructions and download the firmware package required for the device.
- Once the firmware is ready, click Unlock Now.
- Keep the iPhone connected until the process finishes.
After the reset, the iPhone will restart and you can go through the setup process again.
Before you start: Removing an iPhone screen passcode with AnyUnlock erases the data currently stored on the device. If you have an iCloud or computer backup, you can restore available data afterward.
What About Activation Lock?
Screen Passcode and Activation Lock are separate security features. Removing the screen passcode does not necessarily remove Activation Lock. If Find My was enabled, the iPhone may ask for the Apple Account associated with the device during setup.
AnyUnlock also provides a separate Activation Lock feature for supported devices and iOS versions, but it should not be confused with the Unlock Screen Passcode function described here.
For a typical forgotten-passcode situation on your own iPhone, it is a good idea to make sure you know your Apple Account credentials before resetting the device.
Method 3: Reset iPhone Without Passcode or Computer
Don’t have access to a computer? Depending on your iOS version and device state, Apple may allow you to erase the locked iPhone directly from the Lock Screen.
This method does not preserve the current local data, but it can restore access to the device without Finder, iTunes, or third-party software.
For iOS 17 or Later
You may see Forgot Passcode? after repeated failed passcode attempts. To reset the iPhone:
- Tap Forgot Passcode?
- Choose Start iPhone Reset.
- Enter your Apple Account password.
- Confirm that you want to erase the iPhone.
- Wait for the reset to complete.
- Set up the iPhone again and restore an available backup.
This option requires the iPhone to have an active Wi-Fi or cellular connection, Find My to have been enabled, and the device to be signed in to an Apple Account.
If you use an eSIM on iOS 17 or later, you may also be given the option to keep the eSIM while erasing the device.
For iOS 15.2 or iOS 16
Older versions may show Erase iPhone instead of Forgot Passcode?.
The basic result is the same: enter your Apple Account password, erase the device, and set it up again.
If the option is unavailable, you will need a computer-based method such as AnyUnlock or Apple’s Recovery Mode.
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Method 4: Restore the iPhone with Apple Recovery Mode
Apple’s Recovery Mode is the free manual option when you cannot reset the iPhone from the Lock Screen. It works, but compared with the previous methods, it can require more manual steps.
The general process is:
- Turn off the locked iPhone.
- Connect it to a Mac or Windows PC.
- Use the appropriate button for your iPhone model while connecting the device to enter Recovery Mode.
- Keep holding the button until the computer-and-cable recovery screen appears.
- Open Finder on Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows.
- Select the iPhone and choose Restore.
- Allow the computer to erase the device and reinstall iOS.
Because the button used to enter Recovery Mode varies across iPhone generations, check Apple’s model-specific instructions if you are unsure which button to hold.
Once the restore finishes, you can set up the iPhone again and restore your data from an available backup.
Why Won’t Face ID Unlock My iPhone?
A common source of confusion is assuming that working Face ID should always let you bypass the passcode.
It doesn’t. iOS intentionally requires the device passcode in certain security situations, such as after restarting the iPhone or after repeated unsuccessful Face ID attempts. Other security events can also temporarily require manual passcode authentication.
That means Face ID can be functioning normally while iOS still refuses to unlock until the correct passcode is entered.
If you no longer know that passcode, Face ID cannot override the requirement.
Can You Bypass an iPhone Passcode with Siri or Emergency Call Tricks?
Videos claiming that Siri, Calculator, Emergency Call, or similar tricks can bypass a modern iPhone Lock Screen are not reliable recovery methods.
If neither the correct passcode nor an eligible previous passcode is available, there is no normal legitimate shortcut that simply opens the Home Screen while preserving inaccessible local data.
The practical options are to use Apple’s Passcode Reset feature when eligible or reset the device using an on-device method, AnyUnlock, or Recovery Mode.
What Should You Check Before Erasing the iPhone?
Before using any reset method, consider whether important data exists somewhere outside the locked iPhone.
For example, signing in to iCloud.com can help you see whether Photos, Contacts, Notes, or files have already synced to iCloud.
However, seeing data on iCloud.com does not necessarily mean you have a complete iCloud Backup. Synced iCloud data and device backups are separate things.
You may also have a previous backup stored on a Mac or PC.
Anything that exists only in the inaccessible local storage of the iPhone may be lost once the device is erased.
Final Thoughts
If you forgot your iPhone passcode and Face ID is not available, start with the option that causes the least disruption.
Changed the passcode within the last 72 hours? Check Forgot Passcode? > Enter Previous Passcode first. It may let you recover access without losing anything.
If that option is no longer available, resetting the iPhone becomes necessary. Apple’s Lock Screen reset provides a convenient no-computer method when available, while Recovery Mode remains the free manual desktop solution.
For users who prefer a more guided computer-based process, AnyUnlock provides another route for removing a forgotten iPhone screen passcode without manually handling the full Recovery Mode workflow.
Whichever method you choose, check your available backups and Apple Account credentials before starting. That can make the difference between simply resetting a forgotten passcode and creating another problem during setup.
