Buying phones secondhand is fraught with unpleasant consequences. This is especially true for iPhones. The fact is that they have a feature such as iCloud Activation Lock, which may not be disabled when the device is sold.
And unlocking iCloud is not an easy task. But I will still try to give in this article some tips to solve this problem.
How to unlock iPhone 4s if it is locked by icloud
First, let's look at the cases in which an iPhone can be locked using iCloud:
- The Apple ID password is too simple, so hackers can easily hack it and lock your phone.
- When you unofficially purchased a device, your previous Apple ID data was left behind.
- Perhaps you inadvertently bought an already locked iPhone.
- When I rebooted, the Apple ID number stopped working.
In the first case, you need to try to recover your email and Apple ID password. There is such an item as “Forgot your password?”, which will help you create a new code to log into your mail. And there we are already trying to change the iPhone ID.
But if hackers have already reached the Apple ID, then they usually send messages with an ultimatum: “You send me money, I will provide you with a new ID.” You can, of course, pay, but it’s not a fact that they will be true to their word. So it’s better not to follow their lead, but to immediately contact technical support, who will definitely help.
In the second and third cases, your iPhone can either be blocked at any time by the previous user, or you will again have to alarm Apple support if he has forgotten the ID.
The fourth case is very rare, but this has happened to someone. Here it is possible to recover your password via email. To do this, go to the address: iforgot.apple and indicate your email through which you logged into your Apple ID.
After that, click on the “Receive a message by e-mail” option, and you will receive instructions on how to reset your password to the specified mailbox.
But then the irreversible happened - the iPhone was blocked via iCloud. We have several options.
Solving the problem using the application
To get started, you can try the following. We go from some third-party device to the “Find iPhone” utility on the iCloud website. At the same time, in the “All devices” tab, the green circle next to your phone should glow.
This was the simplest method, but most often it cannot be used due to a lost Apple ID password.
Help from Apple Support
To remove the ID of the old iPhone owner and replace it with your own, you will have to contact Apple with a request to unlock it. You should also attach a photo of your device, the box with all the data and the purchase receipt to the letter (everything should fit in one photo).
The letter is sent to the following address: [email protected] . If we receive a response message that the iPhone is stolen, we send a letter here: [email protected] . We write the following as a topic: Case 12563785. Activation Lock. Purchase Validation .
To find out your case number, go to support.apple.com, fill out the request form, click “Click”, select your device and send a “Service and Troubleshooting Request” with a request to remove the block on the phone.
Then, having registered all your data and serial number from your iPhone, click on “Schedule a call”. After a short period of time, a response will come with the Case number.
In the letter itself, you must indicate your problem, that you purchased a phone, but cannot fully use it due to blocked iCloud. Don't forget to write the serial number and IMEI of your iPhone.
A response from Apple will arrive in approximately 7-10 days, informing you that your device has been removed from the unit. Now you can safely reactivate your iPhone.
As you can see, it is better to purchase an official product rather than face such problems later. I hope the article is about how to unlock iPhone 4s if it is locked by icloud, was useful for you.
Unlocking iPhone 4 becomes popular if the user has forgotten the four-digit password for his device. The most effective way to unlock it is to flash it when connected to a computer with the iTunes application pre-installed. At the moment, this is the only way to solve the problem, but be prepared for the fact that all data stored on the phone will be lost. If your iPhone is locked and you do not have credentials in your Apple ID, then the “Find My iPhone” function must be disabled to be able to reset it. The fact is that it is impossible to activate a smartphone starting from iOS 7 without entering this information.
Flashing to reset password
If your iPhone is locked, there is no other way to restore it. First you need to prepare to flash the phone firmware:
1. Install and enable iTunes, visit the Help menu and check for updates. To be able to work with your phone, you will need the latest version of the program;
2. Connect the iPhone using the original cable to the computer;
3. Click on the phone icon in the application, go to the iPhone menu. A menu will appear where you will work.
Even an inexperienced user can unlock 3gs on his own by pressing the “Restore” button. The application will download the latest firmware version from official sources and then install it on your device. Then, using the same application, you will be able to restore user data from previously saved backups.
But this method is not without its drawbacks:
1. The latest version of the operating system takes up a lot of free space (1.5 GB), which is why the process takes quite a long time;
2. If, when trying to unlock 3gs, the Internet connection is lost or Apple servers become unavailable, you will have to do everything all over again.
Installing your own firmware
More advanced users can download the appropriate firmware version and use it during installation. To unlock 3gs using this method you will need to perform similar steps:
1. Download the latest firmware for your phone model;
2. In the open iTunes window, click “Restore”, while holding down the ShIft key on the keyboard if you have Windows OS on your computer or ALT if you are working under Mac OS;
3. Next, unlocking 3gs will not be difficult. An explorer window will appear where you need to find the downloaded firmware file and open it. In the future, the procedure will proceed automatically. You can unlock 3gs after it enters Recovery Mode. Then it will flash and reboot. All you have to do is specify the interface language, region, connect to iTunes and select the “Like New” iPhone setting.
Next, you will be asked to set a password, but this is not necessary so as not to forget it again. When you start, you will see that in front of you is a “clean” iPhone a1387 with factory settings. 
Resetting your password in DFU mode
The described method does not always allow you to avoid errors when resetting your password. Unlocking will be most reliable if you force the phone into DFU mode, which is significantly different from Recovery. The latter rather returns the system to factory settings, erasing user data, while DFU is a bootloader mode in which the device’s memory is erased, and then the system is reinstalled.
The unlocking can be done independently, but if you forgot to backup the data first, it will be irretrievably lost.
The sequence of actions will be as follows:
1. Disconnect your phone, and then use the original cable to connect it to a computer with iTunes installed on it. We transfer it to DFU mode. This is done as follows:
○ Press and hold the power button for 3 seconds;
○ Hold the Home key for 10 seconds without releasing the Power button;
○ Release the Power button and continue to hold the Home button until the device enters DFU mode.
Unlocking begins with selecting the phone in iTunes, and then pressing the “Restore” key while holding down the Shift button. Next, unlocking the phone occurs in the same way as we have already described above. All subsequent actions take place automatically. You may not be able to switch to DFU mode the first time, especially if this is your first experience. If the device goes into Recovery mode, the corresponding image of the media player icon will be displayed on the display. When entering DFU, the screen will be black or white and will not respond to key presses. But iTunes will be able to see the locked device, and it will be indicated that it is in Recovery mode. Ignore it for now, follow the above template.
Apple ID data recovery
Unlocking your iPhone 4 yourself is not that difficult if you remember your Apple ID password. But if the data is forgotten and you have no way to remember it, then even after flashing it using DFU mode, you will not be able to unlock the phone without logging into your profile. In this case, the procedure becomes much more complicated. In addition, when the “Find My Phone” option is activated, it is automatically linked to your Apple ID account, and therefore flashing the firmware will not solve the problem.
Unlocking should be done strictly using official methods, especially since at the moment there are no truly effective hacking methods.
There are few official methods, but they are legal and work:
1. Go to the page https://iforgot.apple.com, where you need to enter the mailbox attached during registration, which serves as an identifier in your Apple ID. Next, press the continue key;
2. When choosing a confirmation method via E-mail linked to your account, you will receive an SMS notification containing a link. By clicking on it you can change your password;
3. If you have lost access to your linked email, then try to correctly answer the security questions that you specified during the registration procedure.
If none of the methods helped solve the problem, you will have to contact technical support, where they will help you restore access to your personal profile.
Happens to everyone. I came up with and set a password on my iPhone, and then forgot it. Or you haven’t used your smartphone for a long time. Be that as it may, it is better to know what to do and how to unlock your iPhone if you forgot the password.
In this guide, I will describe three ways to reset your iPhone password. These methods will not help if, only contacting Apple support will help.
If the password is entered incorrectly 6 times, the iPhone will be blocked for one minute; if you enter the wrong password again, the iPhone will be blocked for 2 minutes, then 3, and so on. In general, it’s not realistic to guess the password; life won’t last long.
If you have the “Erase data” function activated, then guessing the password is dangerous. This function will erase all information from the iPhone if you enter the password incorrectly 10 times. To disable it you need to: go to settings – password – opposite the “erase data” field, switch the toggle switch to disabled mode.
Below are three ways to reset a forgotten password on iPhone, here they are...
1. Reset your iPhone password by restoring it from a backup.
If you systematically sync your iPhone with iTunes, you should have and can restore one of the copies where the password is still set. This is the best way, all media files and information will remain on the iPhone.
2. Reset your password using Find My iPhone
If you have the Find My iPhone function activated, you can use iCloud to remove the lock password, however, all data will also be erased. This method works if you forgot your iPhone lock password, but remember your Apple iD password.
Now you can restore your iPhone from backup or set it up as new.
3. How to reset iPhone if you forgot your password
If you've never synced your iPhone with iTunes, don't have a backup, and don't have Find My iPhone enabled in iCloud, your only option for removing the passcode is the recovery mode method. I note that this method always works, but not only the password will be erased on the iPhone, but also all media files and information.
Step 1. To get started, you need to enter your iPhone into
To enter recovery mode: turn off the iPhone, now hold down the Home button and without releasing it, insert the USB cable, an iTunes icon with a cord should appear.
Step 2: If iTunes doesn't open automatically, open it. You should immediately be prompted to update or restore your iPhone.
Step 3. Select “Restore” and wait for the recovery to complete. At the end of the process, the iPhone will be “clean” as if it came from a store and without passwords. Use it!
Still have questions?
Do you still have questions about unlocking your phone if you forgot your iPhone password? Are you having trouble recovering a forgotten ID on your iPhone? Write in the comments and we will try to help you!
If none of the above methods helped you or you don’t remember your Apple ID! Read this manual
The longer and more complex the password, the more secure your iPhone is from unwanted access. But such protection can also work against you if you forget your password one day.
What to do if this happens? The main thing is not to panic: you can easily unlock your iPhone if you know how to do it.
Unlocking via iTunes
You can unlock an iPhone using iTunes either with or without saving data.
The first method is possible when iPhone normally loaded and connected to the service via a computer, and the second - if certain problems arise during loading.
For example, the device is frozen on the splash screen or only the cable is displayed on the screen iTunes.
Recovery with data preservation
To reset your password while preserving all other information, open the “Devices” section in iTunes and find your iPhone in the list.
The password will be reset, and all other information will remain in place.
Recovery without saving information
If the first method fails or the iPhone does not fully boot, personal data will have to be sacrificed - the device’s settings will be reset to the state they were after purchase.
- Download iTunes on your computer and update it to the latest version.
- Enter the iPhone into DFU mode: connect the device using a USB cable to the PC and turn it off by simultaneously pressing and holding the “Home” and “Power” buttons. After the screen turns off, release the "Power" button while continuing to hold "Home".
It may take a few seconds before a message appears in the iTunes window that the connected iPhone is in recovery mode. The smartphone screen will still remain turned off. - Click the "Restore" button in iTunes. The program will download the latest firmware and restore the iPhone. During the recovery process, a logo and a loading bar will be displayed on the device’s screen.
When the recovery is complete, the iPhone can be booted without a password.
If you previously saved a copy of your settings and personal data in iTunes, you will have the option to transfer them to your phone.
Using this method, you can unlock any version of iPhone - 4, 4s, 5 and others.
Unlock via iCloud
The next method also erases all user data from the smartphone. You can restore them only if you remember to first save a backup copy in iCould or iTunes.
To be able to unlock your iPhone via iCloud, you must first install the Find iPhone program on your device.
Directly to remove the lock, you will need access to the Internet - on the device itself (via a SIM card or Wi-Fi) or on the computer to which it is connected.
Procedure:
- Make sure the locked iPhone has Internet access.
- From any device connected to the network, go to the “Find iPhone” application on the iCloud website and make sure that the service “sees” your device and is in “online” status (there should be a green circle opposite the iPhone model in the “All devices” section).
- Click on the icon of the locked phone and select the “Erase iPhone” option in the menu that opens.
- In the confirmation window, click the “Erase” button again.
- In the next window, enter your Apple ID password and click “Done.”
After this, the process of erasing settings will begin. At this time, a loading bar and an apple will be displayed on the iPhone screen.
Important! When the erasure is complete, you can restore your personal information from the backup. The setup assistant will help you with this.
Find My iPhone will help you unlock both iPhone 6, and older models.
Unlocking iPhone after jailbreak
Both of the methods described above will most likely not suit owners of jailbroken smartphones, since they involve installing official firmware.
And this leads to the inability to connect the device to your cellular operator and the loss of other advantages of jailbreak.
Fortunately, it is possible to unlock an iPhone running iOS 5 or higher without updating the firmware using the free SemiRestore app.
The OpenSSH component must be installed on the iPhone, which can be downloaded from the Cydia store.
The SemiRestore utility is installed on a computer (the manufacturer claims support for Linux, OS X and Windows XP(SP3)-8.1 operating systems).
During the reset process, it deletes all personal data of the iPhone owner without losing the jailbreak.
Unlock procedure:
- Download SemiRestore from the official website and install on your PC.
- Using a USB cable, connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Launch SemiRestore and wait for it to recognize your smartphone.
- If recognition was correct, click the “SemiRestore” button in the main utility window - this will start the process of clearing data on the iPhone.
During recovery, the iPhone screen may turn on and off several times - this is normal.
After a few minutes, when the smartphone boots up completely, you will see a clean desktop and initial settings.
However, the Cydia application will not disappear anywhere - by its presence, and also by the ability to use it, you will be convinced that the jailbreak is preserved.
After this, you can set a new password and transfer settings and data from the iTunes backup to your iPhone.
Now you know how to unlock your iPhone if you forgot your password using three free tools.
The instructions turned out to be concise, but in reality, resetting and restoring all settings can take quite some time.
Therefore, when setting long and complex passwords on devices, you should not rely on memory - it is better to write them down somewhere and store these records in a safe place.
How to Unlock iPhone without Password
Equipped with a fingerprint scanner and can be unlocked using a fingerprint, many owners of Apple gadgets continue to use a digital password and often forget it. The number of password guessing attempts is limited to ten - if all of them are unsuccessful, the user will see a frightening message on the screen with the following content: “ iPhone is locked, connect to iTunes" There is no need to panic: unlocking the gadget is very simple, however, the price of forgetfulness may be personal data.
How to unlock iPhone via iTunes while saving information?
Step 1. Open iTunes and connect the locked gadget to the PC with a USB cable. Automatic synchronization will begin, after which iTunes will create a backup copy of all data. An important point: if after connecting the gadget to the PC iTunes requires you to enter a password, which means that synchronization has not been carried out before and you don’t have to read these instructions further - in this case it is not applicable.
Step 2. Click on the device button in the top panel of the program iTunes, and you will find yourself in the “ Review»:
Step 3. Click the button Restore iPhone..." and in the window that appears, select “ Create a backup»:
Step 4. As the recovery progresses, a screen for settings will appear on the gadget - you need to select the item “ Recover from iTunes copy».
Unlocking iPhone via iTunes with data loss
If synchronization is via iTunes has not been carried out before, then personal data will have to be sacrificed. Proceed like this:
Step 1. Enter iPhone into DFU mode: simultaneously press “ Home" And " Power" and hold this combination for 10 seconds. A “bitten apple” will appear on the gadget’s screen, indicating that the operation was successful.
Step 2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and launch iTunes. If this program is not available, it is recommended to download and install iTunes latest version.
Step 3. In the list of devices, select your gadget and in the " Review» click « Restore iPhone..."(similar to the previous instructions).
A loading bar will appear - when it reaches the end, this will mean that the latest version of iOS is installed on the iPhone. Personal data is not saved after such unlocking– the user receives an “empty” iPhone.
How to unlock iPhone via iCloud?
There is another way to reset your password - through the service iCloud- however, for this it is necessary that the “ Find iPhone", which allows you to remotely delete all data from the gadget and detect it in case of loss. You can enable this function like this: on your smartphone, follow the path “ Settings» « iCloud" and switch the toggle switch opposite the item " Find iPhone"(located at the very bottom).
If you have forgotten your iPhone password and the data stored on it is not particularly important to you, follow these instructions:
Step 2. Enter the password and a map will appear in front of you, on which you can see where the device is located.
Step 3. Select your gadget from the menu " All devices».
Step 4. The phone control menu will appear on the right - select " Erase iPhone».
Step 5. Enter your AppleID password again. After this, the process of deleting settings and data starts - an “apple apple” and a loading bar will be displayed on the screen. IN iCloud A message will appear with the following content: “ The erasing procedure has started».
After unlocking and initially setting up the gadget, you can try to restore personal data from a backup using “ Setup Assistant“However, there are no guarantees that this attempt will be crowned with success. Reset your password via iCloud possible both with iPhone 6 and with less modern models.
How to unlock an iPhone if you forgot your password: install new firmware
Restoring an iPhone via iTunes is not suitable for everyone: during the procedure, firmware will be downloaded, the weight of which reaches almost one and a half gigabytes. When using a slow Internet (for example, when connecting via a modem), the unlocking procedure will take hours. For the unfortunate owners of such a leisurely connection, another method is recommended:
Step 1. Download the firmware for iPhone in .IPSW format on any high-speed connection (for example, use the services of an Internet cafe).
Step 2. Copy the firmware to the PC memory in a folder located in the directory C:Documents and Settings username Application Data Apple Computer iTunes iPhone Software Updates.
Step 3. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable and launch iTunes. Go to the devices section.
Step 4. Hold down CTRL and at the same time press the " Restore iPhone..."
A window will appear where you can select the firmware to restore manually. After selecting the appropriate .IPSW file, click " Open».
How to unlock iPhone after jailbreak?
Obviously, none of the listed methods are suitable for owners of jailbroken iPhones, because they all involve downloading official Apple firmware, which means they entail a loss of the benefits that jailbreak provides.
Owners of hacked gadgets are advised to contact the program SemiRestore. You can download it on the official website https://semi-restore.com by selecting the section corresponding to the PC operating system:
Please note: SemiRestore only works on 64-bit operating systems.
There is one more condition: a component called OpenSSH, which can be found in Cydia - Without it, you will not be able to reset the settings.
You need to unlock a jailbroken smartphone using the following algorithm:
Step 1. Install and run SemiRestore.
Step 2. Connect the iPhone to the computer with a cable and wait until SemiRestore recognizes it .
Step 3. After recognition, in the main program window, click the " SemiRestore". It is impossible to make a mistake here: the utility is so simple that there is only one button.
The “cleaning” process is reflected by the loading bar.
During the recovery process, the gadget may turn on and off several times - this is normal and not a sign of a breakdown. When the loading bar “crawls” to the end, you will receive a gadget with initial settings and built-in applications. However, the store Cydia will not disappear - by this sign you can judge that the jailbreak has been preserved.
How to unlock an account on iPhone?
In addition to the security password, the owner of an iPhone must always keep in mind the password for AppleID, which is always more difficult to remember. The user is forced to enter the security password every time he unlocks it, so over time, the hands themselves “remember” it. Password from AppleID only required when downloading applications from AppStore: It’s easy to forget him. In this case, the gadget will accompany any attempt to download the application with an unfriendly message:
Recover password from AppleID you can go to the official website appleid.apple.com - do this:
Step 1. On the site AppleID click the button Forgot your AppleID or password?
You will see a window where you will need to enter AppleID.
After entering the ID, click " Continue».
Step 2. In the next step, select " I want to reset my password" and press " again Continue».
Step 3. Choose a reset method: via an email from the email (specified during registration) or through security questions. The first method is usually preferable, because if the user has forgotten the password for AppleID, then the answers to the security questions most likely flew out of his head even earlier.
The second method is suitable if the user has lost access to the specified email, however, we will take the first path. Click " Continue" and we see the final message.
Step 4. Go to your email and look for a letter with the following content:
Step 5. Create and set a new password in a special form:
Password requirements are more than standard: the presence of uppercase, lowercase letters and numbers, length of at least 8 characters. Important: the service will not accept the password that has already been used previously.
Once you manage to come up with a password that meets all Apple requirements, you will see a message like this:
From now on you can start downloading applications from AppStore, but the password is AppleID Still, it’s better to record it in a notepad or in an application “ Notes».
Conclusion
Usage iTunes is the easiest and most convenient way to reset your iPhone security password. Moreover, only this method allows you to count on the fact that personal data will be saved in the device’s memory. The rest of the described options are needed only in specific situations, for example, when the user is deprived of access to high-speed Internet or if the iPhone is jailbroken.
