Did you forget your iPhone password? If so, you must be looking for ways to get back access to your iPhone.
There are a few ways you can do so, but the key is to do it right and in a way that you don’t lose your data. Now that you’re here, we have you covered.
In this guide, you’ll learn;
- Steps you can take to get past the lock screen if you’ve forgotten your iPhone passcode
- Difference between Restrictions and Screen Time passcode
- How to recover your Screen Time passcode.
Let’s get started.
I forgot my iPhone passcode, what could possibly go wrong?
I forgot my iPhone passcode.
What could happen now?
The first thing to do is try to recall the most obvious passcode you could set up, so you don’t burn out the available tries.
When you enter the incorrect passcode too many times, your iPhone is disabled for a certain period. If you still can’t remember the passcode after another try, it’s time to put your iPhone in recovery mode.
Remember that you’ll get rid of your data and settings with this method. This is why it’s recommended to create a backup of your data from time to time.
You can restore your data if you’ve created a backup. In case you didn’t create a backup, you can download any data you’ve in iCloud after you get access to your iPhone.
How to recover your iPhone after you forgot its passcode?
Follow the below steps.
Use a computer
You need a PC or Mac for this process. If you have a PC, install iTunes on your device. For Mac users, Finder should be installed on their devices. You also need a cable to connect your iPhone to the computer. If you don’t have a compatible cable, use Syncwire Lightning cable for high-end compatibility and speed.
Turn off your iPhone
Make sure your iPhone isn’t connected to the computer as of now.
You should turn off your iPhone.
- For the latest iPhone-iPhone 8 series. Press and hold both the Side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears.
- For iPhone 7 series. Press and hold the Side button until the power off slider appears.
- For iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPhone 6s and earlier. Press and hold the Side (or Top) button until the power off slider appears – drag the slider.
Put your iPhone in recovery mode
Depending on your iPhone model, find out which button to use to put your phone in recovery mode:
- Use the Side button if you have an iPhone X or later or iPhone 8 series.
- Use the Volume down button if your iPhone model is 7 or 7 Plus.
- Use the Home button if you have an iPhone SE (1st generation) or iPhone 6s and earlier.
Now follow these steps:
- Keep the button Press & hold while immediately connecting your iPhone to the computer.
- Keep holding the button until you see the recovery-mode screen. Now, release the button.
If you’re at the lock screen, repeat the above steps.
Restore your iPhone
Follow these steps:
- iTunes or Finder will launch on the device with the following message.
- Now select Restore iPhone in the iPhone Recovery Mode section. This shall begin the software download and restore process for your device.
Once the software download and installation are complete, your device will restart, and you can access your iPhone.
What is a Restrictions passcode? What is a Screen Time passcode?
Let’s familiarize you with both features and the difference between them. You need to understand the difference between Restrictions and Screen Time to understand
- Screen Time
With the release of iOS 12, a new feature, Screen Time, was added to the iPhones. Think of Screen Time as a tool to limit your iPhone use and to know how you spend your time on your iPhone. This feature provides you with information on how you are using your time on your iOS devices. You get weekly and daily screen time reports.
You can set time limits for all kinds of apps using Screen Time. It works like Parental Control for parents with kids. They can set up various parental controls (like limiting screen times, apps, restricting content, etc.)
Access to “Screen Time settings” can be restricted by setting up “Screen Time Passcode”.
- Restrictions has been updated to Screen Time from iOS 12
Earlier versions of iOS had a similar feature, Restrictions. However, it was replaced by Screen Time in iOS 12. If you have Restrictions enabled on your iOS 11, upgrading to iOS 12 enables the Screen Time by default.
Your Screen Time password is your previous Restrictions password. To put it differently, If there was a Restrictions passcode set up on iOS 11, once you upgrade to the iOS 12 version, iOS transfers the code to Screen Time in iOS 12.
How to recover your Screen Time passcode
Did you forget your Screen Time passcode? If so, you can use the following ways to recover your passcode.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Screen Time.
- Choose Change Screen Time Passcode.
- In the pop-up menu, tap Change Screen Time Passcode.
- Now, tap Forgot Passcode?
- You need to enter your Apple ID credentials to set up a new passcode.
- Choose a new Screen Time passcode
- Re-enter the new Screen Time passcode to verify it.
This method works for iOS 13.4 or later only. So make sure your iOS is upgraded.
How to Turn Off Restrictions on iPhone or iPad
Most people want to restrict their iPhone or iPad access, especially if they’re giving it to a child or stranger. But there might come a time when you want to turn off restrictions, like if you’re handing over your device to a tech-savvy friend.
Toggling restrictions off and on is easy. Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Then tap Restrictions. If this is the first time you’ve used restrictions on an iOS device, tap Enable Restrictions.
- You’ll be asked to create a four-digit passcode. Then re-enter it to confirm.
Once you’ve enabled restrictions, you can disable them by following these steps:
- Tap Disable Restrictions at the top of the screen.
- Enter the passcode again when prompted to disable it.
This unlocks all settings options for the iPhone or iPad locked out by restrictions, such as content in apps and access to certain functions like Apple Pay and Siri.
Don’t forget your iPhone passcode!
You only need to go through the recovery mode once to get back access to your iPhone. After that, you should set up a passcode that’s easy for you to remember, while difficult for others to guess.
Make sure to create regular backups of your iPhone – so in case you find yourself saying I forgot my iPhone passcode, again – you won’t have to worry about losing your data. So back up your iPhone now!
