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How to Erase & Reset an iPhone Without an Apple ID Password

Last updated June 16, 2021
Written by:
Novak Bozovic
Novak Bozovic
Tech & VPN Content Specialist

Your Apple ID is perhaps the most critical piece of data across Apple-made devices. Without it, you can't access some of the core services, such as purchasing apps, syncing data across devices, resetting your device, and plenty more. Well, we're about to help you solve many of those problems – by teaching you how to erase and reset an iPhone without an Apple ID password. 

Keep in mind that different methods exist, helping you reset your iPhone and start from scratch. However, they all lead to the same thing – deleting your device's contents. That's why you might want to save any important data you have before proceeding (as resetting your iPhone means losing all that data, after all). 

2 Methods to Safely Erase an iPhone Without an Apple ID Password

At the moment, there are two ways to erase and reset an iPhone – if you can’t remember your Apple ID password. We’ll teach you how to use iTunes for this purpose, and we’ll also recommend a third-party app as a backup solution. So, let’s jump right in. 

Method #1: Use Recovery Mode + iTunes to Erase an iPhone Without an Apple ID Password

By forcing your iPhone to enter 'Recovery Mode,' you will be prompted to use iTunes to restore it. During this entire procedure, you won't be asked about your Apple ID password, and you'll end up with a freshly reset iPhone – ready to be set up from scratch. 

With that said, you first need to put your iPhone into 'Recovery Mode,' as explained just below. Make sure to enter this procedure with your phone turned off. 

Right now, you should see an illustration on your iPhone’s screen, asking you to connect it to your computer. So, prepare a cable to connect your iPhone and your computer, and do the following. 

Checking macOS Software Update via System Preferences
Restoring iPhone via iTunes on Mac

Method #2: Use a Third-Party App to Erase an iPhone Without an Apple ID Password

If the previous method sounds complicated, you also have another option. We'll recommend using a third-party app to completely erase your iPhone's content, returning it to factory settings. Then, you'll get to set up your iPhone as brand-new, using a new Apple ID. Here's what you need to do. 

Wondershare Dr Fone With Data Eraser Selected
Picking Erase Level of iPhone via Wondershare Dr Fone
Confirmation to Erase All iPhone Data Wondershare Dr Fone
Data Erase on iPhone in Progress

That would be all on how to erase an iPhone without an Apple ID password. If you have any questions for us, don’t forget to post your comment below. And lastly, thanks for reading! 



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