How to reset iPhone passcode without losing data?

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Level 1

4 points

How to reset iPhone passcode without losing data?

Hi,

During time of stress or doing 20 tasks at the time, it has happened that out the blue, I forget my passcode, today it happened, I do remember the 6 digits, but don't recall the order, I did few attempts and guess what, none of them work. However the iphone make wait 15 minutes, then 1 hour, then 3 hours which is frustrating. The second option the Apple offers is to "erase", "delete", all my data, this means pictures, documents, text messages, etc, how convenient this can be for a customer. Now, I do pay for iCloud and supposed to be back up, but glitches happen and technology no always is 100% accurate. Apple should have another way to reset passcode, in order an user can access to their device without compromising their information, at the end of day, you pay $1000 for a cellphone and it seems that this process is a bit to obsolete.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 12

Posted on May 28, 2025 12:28 PM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

235,649 points

May 28, 2025 03:56 PM in response to Temuka90

There really isn't another way for Apple to reset the passcode. The passcode is encrypted and only resides on your device. Apple has no access to the password, so they cannot recover it, or change it. That is what you get with the amount of security that Apple puts into the device to protect your content. That is why you have to maintain regular backups of your content. If you are doing regular iCloud backups, the most you could lose is 24 hours of data content.

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Answer 2

May 28, 2025 12:36 PM in response to Temuka90

If you do know the correct code, you wait the time out exactly and then enter the correct code. If you don't know the correct code, you MUST erase the phone using a computer. Assuming you have been routinely backing up your iPhone, you will be able to restore it from backup after you get back in. If you haven't backed up, you will lose your data. I understand you don't think this is how it should work, but it is how it works.

See the following two links:

If you see a iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support

If you forgot your iPhone passcode or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

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How to reset iPhone passcode without losing data?

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