If you forgot your iPhone passcode, use your Mac or PC to reset it

Locked out of your iPhone? Reset your device without a computer with iOS 15.2 or later. Otherwise, use a computer to put your iPhone into recovery mode to erase your phone and set it up again.

• Forgot the passcode on your iPad?

• Forgot the passcode on your iPod touch?

• Reset your iPhone passcode without a computer on iOS 15.2 or later

• Use your old passcode to temporarily access your iPhone or iPad in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, or later

If you enter the wrong passcode on your iPhone Lock Screen too many times, an alert lets you know that your iPhone is unavailable. (Learn what to do if you see "[Device] unavailable" or "Security Lockout" on your iPhone or iPad.)

If you can’t remember your passcode when you try again, you can use a computer to put your iPhone in recovery mode. Recovery mode allows you to erase the iPhone, which gives you access to set it up again. You will need your Apple Account and password to set your iPhone up again.

After you erase your iPhone, you can restore your data and settings from a backup if you previously created one. If you didn't back up your iPhone, you can set it up as a new device and then download any data that you have in iCloud.

Step 1: Turn off your iPhone

1. Unplug your iPhone from the computer if it’s connected.

2. Turn off your iPhone using the method for your iPhone model:

   • iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation): Press and hold both the side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears.

     

   • iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6: Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears.

     

   • iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5s, and earlier: Press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears.

     

3. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone, then wait a minute to make sure that it turns off completely.

Step 2: Put your iPhone in recovery mode

1. Find the button on your iPhone that you'll need to hold to start recovery mode:

   • iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) use the side button.

     

   • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus use the Volume down button.

     

   • iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPhone 6s and earlier use the Home button.

     

2. Press and hold the correct button for your iPhone while simultaneously connecting your iPhone to the computer with your cable.

3. Continue to hold the button while the Apple logo appears. Don't let go of the button until the image of a computer and cable appears.

If you see the Enter Passcode screen, you need to turn off your iPhone and start again.

Step 3: Restore your iPhone with your Mac or PC

1. Locate your iPhone in the Finder, or in iTunes or the Apple Devices app if you connect to a PC. (Learn how to find your connected iPhone.) Select Trust [your device] on your iPhone and computer if necessary.

2. Choose Restore when you see the option to Restore or Update. Your computer downloads software for your iPhone and begins the restore process. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then turn off your iPhone and start again.

   

3. Wait for the process to finish. When the process finishes, your device will restart and show a setup screen.

4. Disconnect your iPhone from the computer, then set up and use your iPhone.

Need more help?

Learn what to do if you see an error when you update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod

Learn how to change your iPhone passcode

Learn how to use iCloud to erase and restore your iPhone