What to do when your iphone is locked

Did your iPhone get locked and you do not remember the password? Here is what you need to do.

Table of Contents Show

How to put iPhone recovery mode on
How to check if an iPhone is unlocked using a SIM card
How to check if an iPhone is unlocked in Settings
Open Settings > General > About
Scroll down to find Network Provider Lock
Use an online IMEI checker
Further reading

Did your Apple iPhone get locked and cannot locate where you jotted down the password? Well, relax and don't panic. We have a solution for you. Passwords help to protect your smartphones, apps, data and much more from unwanted access. You have an option to set a password for almost all the iPhones, Android devices and apps you use. But keeping the same password for everything is not advisable and neither is it safe. But also, remembering all the passwords can be a challenge. Hence, there can be instances when you forget the password to unlock your iPhone. If you are an iPhone user and it shows an incorrect passcode then you can know that there are ways in which you can unlock your iPhone. Check it out here.

According to Apple's support page, if you can't remember your passcode, you need to use a computer to put your iPhone in recovery mode. However, it is important to note that this process deletes your data and settings, including your passcode, but it also gives you access to set up your iPhone again. After you erase your iPhone, you can restore your data and settings from backup. And if you did not take the backup earlier, you can set up your iPhone as a new device and then download any data that you have in iCloud. Here is how to get your iPhone into recovery mode so you can erase it and set it up again.

How to put iPhone recovery mode on

Step 1:

Make sure that you have a computer (Mac or PC): If you are using a PC, make sure that it has Windows 8 or later, and that iTunes is installed. You also need the cable that came with your iPhone, or another compatible cable, to connect your iPhone to the computer. If you do not have a computer and you cannot borrow one, you need to go to an Apple Retail Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider for help.

Step 2:

Turn off your iPhone: Unplug your iPhone from the computer if it is connected. Turn off your iPhone using the method for your iPhone model.

Step 3:

Put your iPhone in recovery mode: If you have an iPhone X or later, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus then use the Side button. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus use the Volume down button. iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPhone 6s and earlier use the Home button.

Step 4:

You need to Press and hold the correct button for your iPhone while immediately connecting your iPhone to the computer. Do not let go of the button and keep on holding it until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone, then let go. It can be noted here that if you see the passcode screen, you need to turn off your iPhone and start again.

Step 5:

Restore your iPhone: Locate your iPhone in the Finder or in iTunes on the computer that it is connected to. Choose Restore when you see the option to Restore or Update. Your computer downloads software for your iPhone and begins the restore process. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then turn off your iPhone and start again.

Step 6:

Wait for the process to finish. Disconnect your iPhone from the computer, then set up and now, you can use your iPhone again.

Foundry

Some iPhones are locked to single cellular networks, while others are unlocked, meaning you can use them with any SIM card and provider. It’s important to know which sort you’ve got, as it could mean the difference between an enjoyable or frustrating experience when you get a new (to you) iPhone or want to switch networks.

The iPhones you pay full price for (typically from the Apple Store) are unlocked by default. But an iPhone bought from a network, usually as part of a contract, will often be locked. If you are buying a refurbished iPhone it should be made clear whether an iPhone is locked or not, but this isn’t always the case if you use private sellers on eBay or Craigslist, so being able to check is a big help.

It’s not possible to tell just by looking at the iPhone whether it’s locked or unlocked: Apple does not allow other phone companies to brand iPhones. (You don’t get T:Mobile or Verizon branded iPhones, for example.) To confuse matters even further, some phones are locked when sold, but are unlocked at a later date when the owner finishes paying off the contract.

But don’t worry. It’s relatively easy to find out if your iPhone is locked or unlocked, and in this article we’re going to show you how.

How to check if an iPhone is unlocked using a SIM card

The quickest way to check if an iPhone is unlocked, is to simply try inserting SIMs from different networks. Obviously, you’ll probably only have your own one, but if a friend uses another network then ask them if you can borrow the SIM for a couple of minutes. Follow these steps to check that the iPhone is unlocked:

Power off the iPhone.
Use the SIM-card ejector tool (or a paper clip) to eject the SIM card from the iPhone.
Insert your new SIM card.
Press the Sleep/Wake button to wake up the iPhone.
If you see a message along the lines of, ‘The SIM card inserted in this iPhone does not appear to be supported. Only compatible SIM cards from a supported network provider may be used to activate iPhone. Please insert the SIM card that came with your iPhone or visit a supported network provider’s shop’, then the device is locked.

You can sometimes get a carrier to unlock an iPhone by calling them, or use a third-party unlocking service such as Doctor SIM. For more on that, see How to unlock an iPhone.

How to check if an iPhone is unlocked in Settings

Another easy way to check if an iPhone is locked or unlocked is to use the Settings app. Here’s how to access the feature.

Open Settings > General > About

Foundry

Since iOS 14, Apple has included a new section called Network Provider Lock which will instantly tell you the status of the device. To access it go to Settings > General > About.

Scroll down to find Network Provider Lock

Foundry

Scroll down to locate the Network Provider Lock section. If the iPhone is unlocked, it should say that there is No SIM restrictions. Should you see a different status, this means that the iPhone is locked.

It’s not such a quick solution – as it may take a while for the carrier to get back to you – but if you need to know for sure then it may be worth getting in touch with the network provider you’ve signed up to and seeing if they can help. Many carriers can check for you if you provide a handset’s IMEI.

Use an online IMEI checker

You know how to find your IMEI, right? Once you’ve got that code, you can go to one of the many IMEI-checking tools online and find out if the handset it’s assigned to is locked or unlocked. The problem is that most of these services ask for a payment (although generally just a nominal amount).

There are free services too: you could try IMEI24.com, which appears legit and has been recommended by others. We must stress, however, that we don’t know the company and cannot vouch for its services.