Can you unlock a disabled iPhone with a computer?

Answered by Randy McIntyre

It is possible to unlock a disabled iPhone using a computer. One method is to reset the device using iTunes. This method works if your iPhone is trusted and has previously been synced with your PC or Mac.

To begin, you will need a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. If a passcode is required to unlock your iPhone, you will need to enter it on the device to establish a trusted connection between the iPhone and the computer.

Once your iPhone is connected to the computer, open iTunes. If prompted for a passcode on your iPhone, enter it to continue. If you have forgotten the passcode or your iPhone is disabled, you will need to use Recovery Mode instead (which I will explain later).

Assuming your iPhone is trusted and connected to iTunes, you should see a small iPhone icon in the upper left corner of the iTunes window. Click on the iPhone icon to access the device’s summary page.

On the summary page, you will find an option to restore your iPhone. This will erase all data and settings on your iPhone, but it will also remove the passcode and unlock the device. Before proceeding, make sure you have a recent backup of your iPhone’s data, as restoring it will result in data loss.

Click on the “Restore iPhone” button and follow the on-screen instructions to initiate the restore process. iTunes will download the necessary software and restore your iPhone to its factory settings. Once the restore is complete, you will be able to set up your iPhone as a new device or restore it from a backup.

If you are unable to use the iTunes method due to a lack of trust between your iPhone and the computer, you can use Recovery Mode to unlock your iPhone. This method involves putting your iPhone into a special mode and restoring it using iTunes.

To use Recovery Mode, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Disconnect your iPhone from the computer and turn it off completely.
2. Press and hold the Home button (for iPhone 6s and earlier) or the Volume Down button (for iPhone 7 and newer) while connecting it to the computer using a USB cable.
3. Keep holding the button until you see the iTunes logo and a cable on the iPhone’s screen, indicating that it is in Recovery Mode.
4. On your computer, iTunes should recognize that the iPhone is in Recovery Mode and prompt you with an option to Restore or Update the device.
5. Click on the “Restore” option to begin the restore process. This will erase all data and settings on your iPhone, but it will also remove the passcode and unlock the device.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process. Once done, you can set up your iPhone as a new device or restore it from a backup.

It is worth noting that using Recovery Mode will also erase all data and settings on your iPhone, so it is important to have a recent backup before proceeding.

If your iPhone is trusted and synced with a computer, you can unlock it by resetting the device using iTunes. If the trust relationship is broken or you have forgotten the passcode, you can use Recovery Mode to restore the iPhone and remove the passcode.