How to unlock your iPhone passcode without a computer (Tested solutions)

When I forgot my passcode and was locked out of my phone I had to find a way to bypass the iPhone lock screen without using a computer.

After a lot of trial and error and hours of research, I managed to reset the passcode and gain access to my device.

In this guide, I give in depth help on several ways I found to unlock my iPhone without a computer, including:

• Passcode reset using recovery mode to wipe the passcode and all the data
• Passcode change using iCloud to wipe the passcode and all the data
• Passcode update with Apple Supports help

It only takes a few minutes to read and includes step-by-step instructions developed and tested over many years that describe the entire passcode reset process.

Read on to find out how to unlock your iPhone PIN code without using a PC or Mac…

My computer-free iPhone PIN unlocking methods

Use your last passcode

With the introduction of iOS 17, Apple added a new feature known as Passcode Reset. If you ever forget your newly set passcode, this feature allows you to use your old passcode as a backup for up to 72 hours.

Using iOS 17 Passcode Reset:

1. Start from your device’s lock screen.
2. Attempt to enter your passcode incorrectly five times in a row.
3. Wait until you see the message “[Device] Unavailable” and a prompt asking you to try again later.
4. Once prompted, locate and tap on the “Forgot Passcode?” option, which will be found in the bottom corner of the screen.
5. Choose “Enter Previous Passcode.”
6. Key in your old passcode.
7. Follow the subsequent on-screen directions to establish a fresh passcode. Remember, with the iOS 17 and later updates, your old passcode can temporarily unlock your device.

Manually Expiring the Old Passcode Before 72 Hours:

1. Navigate to the “Settings” app on your device.
2. Choose “Face ID & Passcode.”
3. When prompted, enter your current passcode.
4. Locate and tap on “Expire Previous Passcode Now.”

By following these steps, you can ensure your old passcode becomes invalid before the default 72-hour timeframe.

Use the Find My tool to reset your locked device

The Find My App runs on an iPhone or iPad so you could download this tool on another device you own without the need for a computer.

Once downloaded you can remotely remove the passcode. However, you need to be careful because this process will also delete all of the device’s contents. You can recover the contents from your latest iCloud backup.

If you don’t have an iCloud backup you could try using 3rd party software tool to unlock your locked iPhone and recover the erased data without a restore. Unfortunately, you will need to use a computer to install and run these software tools.

For more details on an iPhone passcode bypass without restore, see iPhone passcode screen removal tools.

1. Download and install the Find My App on a secondary device you own such as an iPad.
   
2. Tap the Find My App icon to open it.
   
3. Sign in with your Apple ID and password when prompted.
4. Once logged in, you will see all your devices on a map.
   
5. Tap your iPhone to select it.
6. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or your cellular network.
7. Tap on the actions and choose Erase iPhone. This will reset the passcode and wipe all data from your locked device.
   
8. After your iPhone has been erased, you need to set up your iPhone.
9. During the setup process on your device tap “Restore from iCloud Backup” and enter your iCloud details to restore the latest backup to your device. To find out how, see, How to restore iPhone from a backup.
10. Once completed you will now have a restored device with a new passcode.

Reset PIN via your iCloud account

You can use another device such as an iPad or a friend’s smartphone to sign in to your iCloud account and erase the passcode from there. For more information, see How to sign in to iCloud.

Just make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi or your cellular network or it won’t work. This reset process will wipe your iPhone so make sure you have an iCloud backup before you begin.

If you don’t have an iCloud backup you could reset the passcode and recover the data using iOS data recovery tools. These tools need a computer.

1. On your borrowed device go to https://www.icloud.com/.
2. Sign in using your Apple ID password.
   
3. Click Find My iPhone (you may be asked to sign in again).
   
4. Click All Devices on the menu at the top of the screen in the middle.
5. Choose your iPhone from the drop-down list.
   
6. Click the Erase iPhone button to remove the passcode and all the device contents.
   
7. Once erased, you need to set up your iPhone again. During setup tap “Restore from iCloud Backup” to restore the latest backup to your device.
8. Once completed you will have a working iPhone with all your recovered data.

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Use Siri to hack the passcode

If your iPhone is using a version of iOS between 8.0 and 10.1, you can use a loopwhole in Siri to unlock your iPhone passcode without a computer.

To activate Siri, press and hold the home button or say “Hey Siri”.

1. Ask Siri “What time is it right now?”.
2. Siri will display a window with the specific time.
3. Tap on the world clock icon at the bottom left to select and add another clock.
4. Click on the Share and Messages buttons to try to send a new message.
5. You don’t need to write anything. Instead, add photos after creating a new contact. Adding photos to your iPhone will allow you to access, view, and select pictures in your device’s library.
6. After entering the library, press the Home button or Return button on the home screen.
7. Now, you’ll find your iPhone passcode has been unlocked without using a computer.

Passcode unlocking if you can access a computer

It is far easier to reset the passcode on your iPhone if you have access to a computer. If you don’t have access to a computer, here are some tips:

• Go to a local Apple Store. They will help you by giving you access to a Mac in Store you can use.
• If there isn’t a local Apple Store you can go to an Apple reseller instead. Resellers offer the same deal as the Apple Store and will allow you to use one of their Mac computers.
• Ask a friend or family member if you can use their computer to perform the iPhone passcode reset.

If you are able to get access to a computer then you have far more methods you can use to unlock your iPhone.

To find out more, see How to reset and restore your iPhone using a computer.

1. Connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable and open Finder or iTunes.
   
   
2. While your device is connected, force restart it and put it into recovery mode. To find out how, see How to put your iPhone into recovery mode.
3. When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Restore. iTunes will download software for your device. If it takes more than 15 minutes, your device will exit the recovery mode screen and you’ll need to repeat steps 2 and 3.
   
   
4. If you have a backup then chose to restore and select the latest backup.
   
5. Once the restore is completed you can set up your device as though it is new.

FAQ

Wrap up

Navigating a forgotten iPhone passcode can be challenging. This article provided insight into various methods for bypassing the lock screen without the use of a computer.

Key solutions include leveraging recovery mode, iCloud, or consulting Apple Support.

However, it’s pivotal to note that most of these methods will erase all data, highlighting the significance of an iCloud backup.

Some commonly suggested techniques, such as exploiting Siri or using certain software tools, are either outdated or necessitate a computer. For those with computer access, more options are available.

The piece also gave insights about the escalating lockout durations after consecutive incorrect passcode inputs.

It’s crucial always to remember or store passcodes securely to avoid such predicaments.