Affiliate Disclosure
If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Read our ethics policy.

Watch: How to gain access to a locked iOS device

Last updated

Locked out of your iPhone or iPad? AppleInsider shows you how to regain access by restoring or resetting your device using a few easy methods in this video.

For more reviews, news, tips, features and more, subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube.



7 Comments

stevenoz 16 Years · 317 comments

I found it a bit confusing in the video about choosing between "Restore Backup" and "Restore iPad/iPhone." The video warns against choosing the wrong one. What is the difference?

Mike Wuerthele 8 Years · 6906 comments

stevenoz said:
I found it a bit confusing in the video about choosing between "Restore Backup" and "Restore iPad/iPhone." The video warns against choosing the wrong one. What is the difference?

Restore Backup won't wipe out the password. Restore iPad or iPhone as appropriate reinstalls the OS.

letteb 7 Years · 1 comment

What keeps someone from stealing my device, and then "restoring" it to THEIR iTunes account?

Mike Wuerthele 8 Years · 6906 comments

letteb said:
What keeps someone from stealing my device, and then "restoring" it to THEIR iTunes account?

This won't do anything to an iCloud lock. If the device is locked through "Find my iPhone" then there is nothing a user, legit or not, can do without that password to unlock it.

charlituna 16 Years · 7217 comments

stevenoz said:
I found it a bit confusing in the video about choosing between "Restore Backup" and "Restore iPad/iPhone." The video warns against choosing the wrong one. What is the difference?

restore iPad is to restore the OS which is what you need to do in 'recovery' mode to remove a passcode via iTunes. restore backup is just erasing existing user data and replacing it with the data in the backup. but you can't do that on a locked device.