If you’ve forgotten your iPhone passcode or your iPhone is disabled

If your iPhone uses iOS 15.2 or later, reset your passcode on your device without the need for a computer.

What you need

  • null A Mac or a PC

  • null A cable that could charge your phone

  • null An internet connection

  • null Up to 60 minutes

To use a PC to reset your iPhone, you must have either Apple Device or iTunes installed on your computer. Get the iTunes app from the Microsoft Store, or get the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store.

If you reset your device with these steps, the process will erase the data currently on your iPhone. After you’ve reset your device, you can restore your iPhone from a backup if you’ve created one previously.

Turn off your iPhone

On an iPhone with Face ID

Press and hold both the side button and the Volume down button until the turn off slider appears.

These are the Volume down and side buttons on an iPhone with Face ID.

Drag and hold the slider to turn off your iPhone.

On an iPhone without Face ID

If your iPhone has a Home button or a top button, press and hold either the top button or the side button until the turn off slider appears.

Drag and hold the slider to turn off your iPhone.

Connect to your computer as you hold the side button

On an iPhone with Face ID

Connect the cable to your Mac or PC. As you connect the cable to your iPhone, simultaneously hold the side button and do not release it.

Continue to hold the side button while the Apple logo appears. Do not release the side button until an image of a computer and a cable appears.

To put your iPhone in recovery mode, you need to hold the side button on an iPhone with Face ID as you connect the device to your computer with a cable.

On iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)

Connect the cable to your Mac or PC. As you connect the cable to your iPhone, simultaneously hold the side button and do not release it.

Continue to hold the button while the Apple logo appears. Do not release the side button until an image of a computer and a cable appears.

To put an iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) in recovery mode, you need to hold the side button as you connect the device to your computer with a cable.

On iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Connect the cable to your Mac or PC. As you connect the cable to your iPhone, hold the Volume down button.

Continue to hold the button while the Apple logo appears. Do not release the side button until an image of a computer and a cable appears.

To put an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus in recovery mode, you need to hold the Volume down button as you connect the device to your computer with a cable.

On iPhone 6s and earlier or iPhone SE (1st generation)

Connect the cable to your Mac or PC. As you connect the cable to your iPhone, simultaneously hold the Home button and do not release it.

Continue to hold the button while the Apple logo appears. Do not release the side button until an image of a computer and a cable appears.

Your iPhone is in recovery mode when a picture of a computer with a cable appears.

Use your computer to restore your iPhone

On your Mac

Open the Finder or iTunes and locate your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations. Select Trust [your device] on your Mac if necessary. Choose Restore when you have the option to Restore or Update.

On your PC

Open Apple Devices and select your iPhone in the sidebar. Select Trust [your device] on your PC if necessary. Then select General. If you have a backup, select Restore Backup and follow the onscreen instructions. If you don’t have a backup, select Restore [device] and follow the onscreen instructions.

If you don’t have Apple Devices, open iTunes. Select Trust [your device] on your PC if necessary. Then select the iPhone icon in the top of the window. Click Summary in the sidebar. Then click Restore iPhone. Choose Restore when you have the option to Restore or Update.

Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone

After the restore process has finished, the Hello screen will appear on your iPhone. Disconnect your phone from the computer and set up and use your iPhone.

Find out more about the process to set up your iPhone

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