3 Ways to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device

How to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device

Few things are more frustrating than a forgotten password. If you’ve been locked out of your iDevice (iPhone, iPad, iPod), you may feel like you’re out of luck. Fortunately, resetting your screen lock passcode or Apple ID password is actually fairly straightforward. Follow this guide to make your device accessible again.

Method 1 of 3: Resetting the Screen Lock Passcode

1. Attach your USB cable to your computer. Leave the iDevice end of the cable disconnected. Start iTunes on your computer.

2. Turn off the device. Hold down the Power button then swipe it until it turns off.

3. Launch the Recovery Mode. Press and hold the Home button and connect the iDevice to the other end of the USB cable that is attached to your computer. Connecting the device will cause it to turn on.

• Continue holding the Home button until a window pops up in iTunes. A message will appear in iTunes telling you that an iDevice in Recovery Mode has been detected.

4. Restore the device in iTunes. Click OK for in the window that appears. Select the Summary tab in iTunes, then click the Restore button.

• This will wipe ALL of your data and settings from your phone, resetting it to factory defaults.

5. Load a backup. If you want to put your data back on the phone, you will be given the option to restore an iCloud or iTunes backup. To restore from iCloud, you will need your Apple ID and password, plus a previous backup file on iCloud. To restore from iTunes, you will need a previous backup file on your computer.

Method 2 of 3: Resetting Your Apple ID Password

1. Visit the Apple ID website. Apple has a special website called iForgot for resetting and changing passwords. You can also use this website if you can’t remember your Apple ID.

2. Enter your ID. This is usually the email address that you signed up with. Click Next. If you forgot your ID, click the link below the text field and follow the instructions.

3. Verify your identity. Apple will either send you an email with a confirmation link, or you can answer security questions to verify who you are. You will also need to verify your birthdate.

4. Change or reset your password. Make sure that it is secure but easy to remember. Include capital letters, numbers, and symbols to make the password stronger.

Method 3 of 3: Restore your device

1. Warning - this will erase all data on your device!

2. Connect device to computer and open iTunes

3. If possible/wanted make a backup in iTunes. (This may not be passible because the device is locked. iCloud backup is also not possible)

4. Click on your device in iTunes.

5. Click Restore and follow on screen instructions.

Warnings

• Back up your iOS Device before restoring it! If not you will lose all the data on the iOS Device.