Can you factory reset a locked iPhone or iPad? Forgetting the passcode to your iPhone or iPad can be incredibly stressful, especially if the device becomes disabled after too many incorrect attempts. Luckily, it's possible to reset a locked iPhone or iPad and regain access. This guide will offer you multiple proven methods to reset a locked iPhone or iPad, explain what you need to prepare, and give useful tips for setting up your device afterward..

Part 1: Why You Need to Reset a Locked iPhone or iPad

There are several situations where you need to factory reset your locked iPhone or iPad:

Forgotten passcode: If you've entered the wrong passcode too many times and your device is disabled, you may need to factory reset the device to access it. That's also the only way to do that.

Second-hand device: If you get a second-hand iPhone or iPad that is locked, you need to open it. The only way is to factory reset it.

Device malfunction: If your screen is frozen, unresponsive, or stuck at the Apple logo, you have to reset the locked iPhone or iPad, which is the only solution.

Part 2: Things to Prepare Before Resetting Locked iPhone or iPad

Before you start resetting a locked iPhone or iPad, you need to prepare some stuff below.

1. A computer or phone. If you want to factory reset a locked iPad or iPhone via iCloud, you need to operate on a computer or another phone that is trusted by your Apple account. If you want to reset your iOS device with iTunes, you must have a computer.

2. A USB cable. If you want to factory reset your locked iPhone or iPad with iTunes or Finder, you need to prepare a USB cable to connect your iOS device with your computer.

Part 3: How to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone or iPad with iCloud

Do you want to know how to factory reset a locked iPhone without a computer? iCloud is your best solution. If your other device is trusted by your Apple ID, you can easily reset a device, whether it's locked or not.

Step 1. Go to the official webpage of iCloud Find or your iCloud app. Log in to your iCloud account, which is also your Apple ID. Then, you will find a list of iOS devices that are associated with this iCloud account.

Step 2. Find your locked iPhone or iPad, and click the Erase This Device button to factory reset the locked iPad or iPhone easily. You only need to access your device with your iCloud password.

Part 4: How to Factory Reset a Locked iPhone with iTunes or Finder

In most situations, your device is not trusted by your Apple ID or iCloud account, so you can factory reset a locked iPad or iPhone with iTunes or Finder. It is very easy to do that even without an internet connection. What you need is just a computer and a USB cable.

Step 1. Put Your Locked iPhone or iPad into Recovery Mode

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer. Launch iTunes or Finder on your computer. Then, you need to put your iPhone or iPad into Recovery Mode, which is a straightforward process. The steps differ slightly by model:

iPhone 8 or later, and iPads with Face ID:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Side or Top button until the recovery mode screen appears.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus:

Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Keep holding until you see the recovery mode screen.

iPhone 6s or earlier, iPads with Home button:

Press and hold the Home and Top (or Side) buttons at the same time. Keep holding until the recovery mode screen shows up.

You'll see an image of a cable pointing to a computer. That means recovery mode is active. Then, you can start factory resetting your locked iPhone or iPad with iTunes or Finder.

Step 2. Factory Reset Locked iPhone or iPad

Now, switch to your Windows or Mac computer. On Windows, you need to click the Device button on the top left side. If you use a Mac, you just need to click your iPhone or iPad on the left side.

Then, iTunes or Finder will notify you that your iPhone or iPad has a problem. You just need to click the Restore or Update button to factory reset your locked iPhone or iPad.

Part 5: How to Access a Locked iPhone or iPad Quickly

There's actually a better method that can quickly access your device, so you don't need to factory reset the locked iPhone or iPad. Apeaksoft iOS Unlocker can easily help you unlock a locked iPhone or iPad with only a few clicks. You can get into your device without a screen password, Face ID, or Touch ID. After the operation, you can use the device as normal without restriction.

Related Articles