[3 Ways] How to Erase iPhone Without Password/Apple ID

If you want to know how to erase iPhone without password, this guide elaborates on 3 methods in detail that you can factory reset iPhone without Apple ID password.

By @Demi Last Updated September 30, 2024
 

Need to factory reset and no passcode

I am trying to do a factory reset on my wife's iPhone 8 and we don't know the password. Is there a way to wipe everything and reset it to factory without any passcode or without using iTunes? Or does it need to be done at an Apple repair place?

- Question from MacRumors

iPhone password is set up to protect your privacy. Sometimes, you may have to erase iPhone without password for some personal reasons. You may have difficulty making it by visiting the Settings app on iPhone. How can you wipe an iPhone without passcode? Keep reading the guide, there are 3 ways to help you out. 

Why Do You Want to Erase iPhone Without Password?

Generally speaking, Apple allows you to factory reset your iPhone or erase all the databy going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to make it. When you want to go further, you will be asked to enter the passcode.

In some scenarios, you may need to erase your iPhone without entering the password. The following are some common cases which you may want to erase iPhone without password.

● iPhone is lost or stolen accidentally. It is unfortunate, but to protect your information from use by others, you have to wipe iPhone clean as soon as possible. ●To sell the used iPhone. It is wise to sell the used iPhone after you have bought the latest iPhone. And for the sake of your privacy and the safety of your data, it’s necessary for you to deeply reset iPhone to factory. ●iPhone is not working well. It will be troublesome if your iPhone doesn’t perform as well as it should, and factory resetting is the last hope for you to make iPhone operate well again. ●Forget the password. This is also a common reason, you may forget the passcode of your iPhone that you haven't used for a long time, and if you want to replace the device or give it away, you need to find a way to reset iPhone without Apple ID/password.

Note: To avoid any data loss when resetting your iPhone to factory settings, you may need to click here to backup all your iPhone data and erase iPhone without effort.

Method 1. Erase iPhone Without Password via iCloud remotely

It’s a good way to reset iPhone without password via iCloud when your iPhone is lost by accident. The Find My function in iCloud provides you with a way to wipe iPhone remotely. Follow the steps to learn how to reset your iPhone when you forget your password.

Step 1. Go to www.icloud.com/find > Log in your iCloud ID > Click Find My iPhone.

Step 2. Click on the option All Devices > Find the locked iPhone > Click it on.

Step 3. Click on Erase iPhone. Then your iPhone will be completely wiped.

Tip: Factory reset iPhone with iCloud can only be available when you have previously enabled Find My iPhone. If not, try other ways below.

Method 2. Erase iPhone Without Password by iTunes

Apple also offers iTunes to wipe iPhone completely, which can be a decent choice if you forget the password of your iPhone. So, how can you erase iPhone without Apple ID? Depending on whether you have synced iPhone to iTunes, the operation can be slightly different. 

Situation 1. If you have synced iPhone to iTunes Step 1. Update the latest version of iTunes on a computer and open it > Plug iPhone into the computer.

Step 2. Click the Device tab > Click Summary > Click Restore iPhone...option. All data on your iPhone will be erased. The latest version of iOS will be downloaded on your iPhone as well.

Note: To restore iTunes backup, connect your iPhone, and go to iTunes > Select your iPhone > Restore Backup > Choose a backup version and click Restore. iTunes may encounter problems, you can try to fix it or turn to another way to backup and restore your iPhone.

Situation 2. If you never sync iPhone to iTunes Step 1. Put iPhone into recovery mode.

The methods differ from the models of iPhone. Connect your iPhone to a computer, and follow the specific steps to put your iPhone into recovery mode.

>> For iPhone X or later, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus: Press and hold the Side button and one of the volume buttons until the power off slider appears > Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone > Then connect your iPhone to computer while holding the Side button > Keep holding the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

>> For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Side button until the power off slider appears > Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone > Then connect your iPhone to your computer while holding the Volume Down button > Keep holding the Volume Down button until you see the recovery mode screen.

>> 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 to turn off your iPhone > Then connect your iPhone to your computer while holding the Home button > Keep holding the Home button until you see the recovery mode screen.

Step 2. A pop-up box will open, click Restore to factory reset your iPhone.

Method 3. Reset iPhone Without Password via FoneTool (Unrecoverable)

No matter whether you want to sell the old iPhone or make it work well again after erasing, you can utilize the powerful iOS management tool - FoneTool, which enables you to backup, transfer, and erase data on your iOS devices.

You can make use of the Full Backup function to create a full iPhone backup in advance to avoid any data loss. Then, you can wipe your iPhone deeply and completely by utilizing its data erase function.

FoneTool enables you to erase all data from your iPhone with one click, even if you can't start the device or forget the passcode, and the data cannot be recovered any longer. Click the icon below to download FoneTool to your computer, and follow the steps to reset iPhone without backup using FoneTool.

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Preparation: Full Backup iPhone Step 1. Run FoneTool > Connect iPhone to computer with a stable USB cable.

Step 2. Click Phone Backup > Mouse over to Full Backup, and click Get Started.

Step 3. Enable Backup encryption > Click Start Backup to begin the full backup task.

How to Erase iPhone Without Password via FoneTool Step 1. Click Toolbox from the left pane > Choose Data Eraser > Choose Erase all data, and click Get Started.

Step 2. Click the options as per your need. Finally, click Erase Data, and wait for the erase process to complete.

Conclusion

Hope you can erase iPhone without password after reading this guide. If you are concerned about your data safety, it is suggested that FoneTool is your best choice. For more information, you can contact us or give your comment on this page. We will reply to you as soon as possible.