You may have an old iPhone that you need to reset before selling, or you want to fix an iPhone error by resetting your device. However, the simple reset task can become a problem, if you don’t remember the Apple ID and password, which are necessary to erase or reset an iOS device.
So can you reset/erase iPhone without Apple ID and password?
The answer is ‘Yes’. This post shares different methods to reset or erase iPhone without Apple ID and password.
Let’s directly delve into the possible solutions to erase iPhone without Apple ID password.
Approach 1: Reset Apple ID and password to erase iPhone
You can simply reset your Apple ID and password, if you don’t remember it, by using ‘Forgot Apple ID or password’ option. Once you have a new Apple ID, unlock your account and erase iPhone via settings on your iOS device.
There are multiple ways to reset or change Apple ID and password. However, here we have shared the simplest method to reset forgotten Apple ID and password using the browser.
Look into the steps below to reset Apple ID and password:
- Open your browser. Go to Apple ID account pageand click on Sign in.
- Next, click Forgot Apple IDor password.
- Enter the information as asked and choose Continue.
- Next, select how you wish to reset your password. Either answer the security questions or get an email to reset your password. Next, follow the prompts to reset your password.
Once you have reset the new Apple ID and password, erase your iPhone through factory reset. Simply, navigate to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Enter the new Apple password and click Erase iPhone.
Approach 2: Use Recovery Mode to reset iPhone without Apple ID
Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode and then launch iTunes on your trusted computer to restore the iOS device that deletes your iPhone/ iPad data. Just as in factory reset, you can delete all your contacts, call logs, photos, videos, chats, FaceTime data, text messages, Calendar, and other data.
This method won’t require Apple ID and works even when ‘Find My iPhone’ feature is disabled. Make sure you have installed the latest iTunes version on the trusted computer.
Step-by-step: How to reset or erase iPhone without Apple ID using Recovery Mode:
Step 1: Unplug your iPhone from the computer if it’s connected and turn off your iPhone.
Step 2: Now reconnect your iPhone to the trusted PC/ Mac through Apple USB cable.
Step 3: Enter Recovery Mode on your iPhone /iPad. If you own iPhone 8 or later, press and release the ‘Volume Up’ button. Next, press and release the ‘Volume Down’ button, followed by pressing and holding the ‘Side’ button until the ‘Recovery Mode’ screen shows up on your iPhone.
Note: Since the steps to ‘Recovery Mode’ differ with iPhone/ iPad model, visit Apple Support to know how to enter ‘Recovery Mode’ on other iPhone variants.
Step 4: On computer, iTunes detects the Recovery Mode and pops up message to ‘Update’ or ‘Restore’ iPhone. Select the Restore button in iTunes.
Confirm the action when prompted. Wait for the restore process to finish. It may take a few minutes.
- Reset iPhone without Apple ID via Stellar Eraser for iPhone
Another simpler way to reset or erase iPhone without Apple ID is with the help of an iPhone eraser software. You can use tools like Stellar Eraser for iPhone that allow erasing iPhone data without Apple ID, if you don’t remember Apple ID and password. The iPhone eraser tool by Stellar permanently wipes off every bit of iPhone data, making it impossible for any recovery software to get back its data.
Step-by-step: How to Reset iPhone without Apple ID using the software:
Step 1: Download and run Stellar Eraser for iPhone from the official site on your trusted computer. Make sure you’re using the latest iTunes on your system. The software is available for both Windows and Mac.
Step 2: Connect your iPhone/ iPad to computer. The software is compatible with all the iOS devices, be it iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone X, iPhone 8, or others.
Step 3: Launch the software and select Erase Data option on the screen.
Step 4: The software displays your iPhone on screen. Click on it and confirm when asked if you want to erase all data.
Step 5: Click Erase to reset the iPhone.
The software sets your iOS device as new with its original settings. But, it permanently deletes all your personal photos, chats, videos, calls, messages, etc.
Bonus Tip: To reuse the iPhone whose Apple ID or password you have forgotten: If you don’t remember the Apple ID password, use the ‘Remove Apple ID’ feature in Stellar Eraser for iPhone. It deletes the configured Apple ID of the iPhone without password. Once the Apple ID is removed, you are free to create a new Apple account for the same iPhone. Meanwhile, you cannot access the data linked to the old Apple ID account. Hence, don’t forget to back up the existing data before removing the old Apple ID.
To Sum up
Although Apple ID and password are required to reset an iOS device, even when you have forgotten your Apple ID, it is possible to wipe off the iPhone or iPad data.
There are varied approaches you can take to erase iPhone without Apple ID.
One is to reset the Apple ID and password by using ‘Forgot Apple ID’ provided by Apple and then simply erase your device via ‘Settings’ on iPhone. You can also put your iPhone to Recovery Mode and reset iPhone using iTunes. Besides, you can erase iPhone with a software too. Tools such as Stellar Eraser for iPhone are quick, easy, and permanently erase iPhone data without Apple ID. There is no scope of iPhone data recovery, when you erase iPhone using a software. That is one of the reasons many prefer eraser software before selling or donating their old iPhone or iPad.