How To Reset Your iPhone Password After Forgetting It in 2025

How to Reset Your iPhone Password When You Forget It

Ugh, this one’s a classic. You set a passcode on your iPhone, and then, surprise—completely blanked on what it is. Happens to the best of us, especially when trying to juggle multiple passwords or just forget tech stuff after a while. Here’s what I finally figured out after messing around at 2 a.m.—there are a couple of ways to get back in without losing all your data, but they come with some caveats.

The Easiest Method: Using the “Forgot Password” Option

So, if your iPhone is sitting on the lock screen and you’re trying every combo you can think of, keep an eye out for that “Forgot Password?” link after multiple wrong attempts. When you see it, tapping it will start the reset process. Honestly, on some devices, I noticed it takes a few mistakes before that button shows up—sometimes, the whole thing feels a tad sluggish if you keep failing repeatedly.

This method usually prompts you to enter your Apple ID credentials—so make sure you remember your Apple ID email and password before you start. Once you select “Reset,” your device will wipe everything and be restored to factory settings. Basically, you’re starting fresh and can set a new passcode afterward.

Heads up though: this entire process is dependent on your device having internet access—either Wi-Fi or cellular—since it needs to connect with Apple servers to verify your account. It’s straightforward, but sometimes it’s not obvious at first. I had to tap that “Forgot Password?” button a couple of times before it appeared, especially after multiple wrong passcode attempts.

Resetting Your iPhone via iCloud (No Device Needed)

This one was a bit tricky—if you no longer have the device because maybe you lost it or it’s broken, iCloud can do the job. The catch is, “Find My” needs to be enabled before it got locked. That’s usually a setting under Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone. If it’s not turned on, this method probably won’t work.

Once you confirm it’s enabled, find another device—be it a computer or tablet—and go to iCloud.com. Log in using the same Apple ID linked to your locked iPhone. Then click on “Find iPhone,” which is actually kind of misleading—it’s the dashboard for all your Apple devices. Choose “All Devices” at the top, then pick your iPhone. You’ll see options like “Play Sound,” “Lost Mode,” and “Erase iPhone.” Click on Erase iPhone. This will wipe everything, kind of like starting over.

Beware: the device needs to be connected to the internet for this to work. Otherwise, it will just wait until it’s online again. After that, you can set it up from scratch or restore from a backup, if you have one. Just remember, if you enabled two-factor authentication, you might need to verify via your trusted device or phone number during this process.

What Happens After Reset

Once the reset goes through, your iPhone restarts and prompts you with the setup screen, just like a new device. You’ll have to go through all the usual steps—lang, Wi-Fi, Apple ID login, Face ID or Touch ID, et cetera. If you’ve backed up on iCloud or iTunes, restoring that backup can save a lot of time, but if not, hey, you’re starting with a wiped device.

This whole process can feel a little nerve-racking, especially the first time. I’ve had nights where I kept retrying, trying to remember passwords or figure out which option worked best. Sometimes, it’s trial-and-error, and sometimes, you need to double-check if your device is connected to the internet properly.

Why Use iCloud to Reset?

Sometimes, you’re just not near your phone, or it’s bricked, and that’s where iCloud helps. Remember, this only works if “Find My iPhone” was enabled before. Otherwise, you’re stuck if activation lock is active—meaning you’ll need that Apple ID and password to complete setup after the reset. Also, do note that resetting without knowing the Apple ID credentials can prevent you from unlocking the device later, even after a reset.

Extra Tips & Gotchas

Always have your Apple ID and password ready. It’s essential for both the “Forgot Password” and iCloud erase methods.
Check that Find My iPhone is enabled on your device before you get locked out; otherwise, you might hit a wall with activation lock.
If you’re comfortable with macOS or have a Mac, recovery options exist via macOS Recovery with tools like Disk Utility or Finder, but that’s probably overkill unless you’re troubleshooting more than just a password issue.
Remember, after you reset, restoring from backup is only possible if you set one up beforehand. Otherwise, it’s a clean slate.

Wrapping Up

Honestly, these reset methods are pretty reliable once you understand the caveats. Yes, it’s frustrating—trust me, I’ve been there, trying to remember which passcode I used after that long day. But once you get the hang of it, it’s often faster than trying to crack or guess forever.

If you’re stuck, your best bets are the “Forgot Password” link—if it shows up—and iCloud remote erase. Just be prepared with your Apple ID details and a stable internet connection. And remember, if Activation Lock is on, you’ll need the original credentials. Otherwise, it’s just a paperweight.

Hope this helped — it took me way too long to figure it all out. Anyway, hope this saves someone else a weekend.