How to unlock an iPhone without a password in 2022

Maybe you recently changed your iPhone passcode to secure your information, but now you can’t remember the new one and find yourself locked out of your own phone. As frustrating as having a disabled iPhone can be, rest assured that there are several iPhone hacks and iPhone tricks to get back in.

While you were most likely locked out of your phone through your own actions, it’s possible that someone else locked it without your knowledge, in which case you’ll want to learn how to delete iPhone apps and how to lock apps on iPhone. But first, it’s important to know how to unlock an iPhone without a passcode, either for yourself or someone else—and possibly even save a life.

Why wouldn’t you be able to use a passcode on an iPhone?

There are several situations when you may need to unlock an iPhone without a passcode:

• You reset your password and forgot the new one.
• Someone else reset your password.
• You have entered the wrong password so many times that your phone has locked itself out of the security settings.
• Your phone is disabled.
• Your screen is cracked and won’t accept your password.
• The phone belongs to someone else who needs help.
• You’re stuck in an emergency where the only available phone has a password you don’t know.
• Many people only use Touch ID or Face ID, so they forget their password. “Apple’s Face ID feature relies on a learning algorithm, so it’s still not 100% accurate,” explains technology expert Jason Wise, editor-in-chief of Earthweb. “If the feature gets disabled or gets an error on your device, you have to resort to using the password.”

How to unlock an iPhone without a password

Not being able to get into your iPhone can be frustrating and maybe even a little scary, depending on the situation. If this happens to you, try one of these strategies to unlock it. Note that using these methods will factory reset your phone, but restoring your data is as easy as logging into iCloud with your Apple ID and password. That’s why it’s a good idea to back up your data to iCloud regularly. It’s too late to do that when you’re locked out of your phone.

How to unlock an iPhone with a computer

Using iTunes

Cornelius Fichtner, technical expert and president of OSP International, broke down the steps to use iTunes or Finder to unlock an iPhone without a password. Apple has changed things for users with macOS Catalina or later. For those running older operating systems or PC users, iTunes can still be used to unlock an iPhone.

1. Install iTunes on your Mac or PC.
2. Disconnect the phone from the computer (if connected) and turn it off.
3. Put the phone in recovery mode by pressing the appropriate button and connect the phone to the computer at the same time. For iPhone 8 and later, use the side button; for the 7 and 7 Plus models, use the volume down button; for iPhone 6 and earlier, use the home button.
4. Hold the button until you see recovery mode appear.
5. Find your iPhone in iTunes and select “restore” when you see the option to restore or update.
6. When the download is complete, the phone will turn off and restart. Once that’s done, disconnect it from your computer, set it up, and use your iPhone as usual.

via apple.com

via apple.com

Using Finder

1. Mac users running Catalina or newer operating systems without iTunes can unlock their iPhone using the Finder.
2. Open Finder on your Mac and connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.
3. Put iPhone into recovery mode: For iPhone X and later, quickly press and release the volume up and down buttons in sequence. Then press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
4. You will see a popup with options to update or restore; press “Restore”.
5. Accept the terms and Finder will begin downloading the latest iOS firmware.
6. Wait for the iPhone to restore.

via apple.com

via apple.com

User Find my

Another way to unlock an iPhone without a passcode is through Apple’s Find My feature. While the Find My app has many benefits, it can also open you up as a target for scammers, so be aware of that, but generally speaking, the benefits outweigh the risks. Fichtner breaks down how to unlock an iPhone using Find My.

1. Go to icloud.com on your Mac and sign in.
2. Open the Find My app.
3. Click on “All devices” on the top line; select the phone you want to unlock.
4. Tap “Erase iPhone.”
5. Enter your Apple ID to confirm.
6. The process starts when the iPhone is connected to a network.

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Should you unlock an iPhone using third-party apps?

You may see third-party apps advertised to unlock an iPhone without a passcode, but they aren’t necessary when Apple provides you with other, more secure tools to unlock your iPhone. “It is possible to unlock an iPhone with third-party software, but I would advise against it. Use iTunes or Finder, says Eric Florence, cybersecurity consultant at SecurityTech.

Alex Hamerstone, director of advisory solutions for TrustedSec, a company specializing in information security, agrees. “They’re basically just scams,” he says. “Even the FBI has famously struggled to unlock iPhones when investigating mass shooters and other criminals. If a company has actually been able to crack Apple’s iPhone encryption, they’re not going to sell it for a few bucks online.”

“The best-case scenario,” says Hamerstone, “is that these sketchy apps take your money and you get nothing back. If all you lose is the few pennies you paid for the app, consider yourself lucky. What’s more likely is however, that they will steal your account data, personal information or financial information for further crimes and fraud.”

Chris Hauk, consumer protection advocate at Pixel Privacy, also weighs in: “While several apps claim to unlock your iPhone, it’s best to stick to Apple’s recommended trilogy of using iTunes/Finder/Find My to unlock the device. Although there are quite reputable companies that offer tools that can unlock your iPhone, be aware that the app can send data back to the developer, which can lead to privacy and device security violations.

Consensus: Stick to their recommended methods or visit your local Apple Store for help. Don’t try to solve this yourself by downloading apps or tools you find online.

Hacks to unlock an iPhone

There are hacks for everything these days, like using hidden smartphone codes to disable call waiting or get better reception. Other hacks will teach you how to restart a frozen iPhone, how to turn off read receipts, and how to hide text messages on an iPhone. Not enough hacks for you? Check out TikTok, which has already convinced us that we need a desktop vacuum, but has the ultimate trick to unlocking an iPhone without a password.

This TikTok video is simple and foolproof. You can practice doing this on your own iPhone by covering the camera so Face ID doesn’t work.

Unlock an iPhone without a passcode by doing the following:

1. Swipe down from the top to open the Control Center.
2. Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data. Turn on airplane mode.
3. Open the calculator.
4. Turn your phone sideways to open the scientific calculator.
5. Enter a period.
6. Press in.
7. That is, Error.
8. Swipe up and your iPhone unlocks.

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