Locked iPhones Can Now Be Reset and Erased Without a PC

• The new iOS 15.2 now allows users to erase a locked iPhone, iPod, or iPad without a computer.
• People can use their Apple ID and password to erase and reset their device if they forgot their passcode.
• This update also includes a new App Privacy Report, the Apple Music Voice Plan, and the Communications Safety on iMessages feature.

Apple has finally rolled out the iOS 15.2 version for all users, who will now be able to erase locked iPhones, iPods, and iPads directly without connecting them to a computer. The company published a support document with steps describing how to reset your iOS 15.2 or iPadOS 15. or later devices while locked. However, an active internet connection is required to do this.

The 'Erase iPhone' option now appears in the lower-right corner of the screen when you enter your passcode incorrectly a few times. Tap it to enter your Apple ID and password. If they are correct, you'll be able to delete all your data and settings from the phone, reset it from a backup, and set a new passcode. Also, you can factory-reset an iPhone without a passcode.

Previously, if you forgot your Apple ID password, you had to connect your iPhone to a computer that allowed you to erase and then reset your device via the classic iTunes process.

As part of iOS 15.2, Apple released a new App Privacy Report, the Apple Music Voice Plan, and a Communications Safety on iMessages feature. With App Privacy Report, users can see how often apps have accessed their location, photos, camera, microphone, contacts, and network activity during the last seven days. With the Apple Music Voice Plan, users can access all songs, playlists, and stations in Apple Music. The Communications Safety on iMessages feature is meant to warn children who receive or send photos that contain nudity.