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If you forgot your phone’s passcode, you’ll generally need to erase the device to use it again. Check for an eligible on-device reset first, then choose the official Apple, Google, or manufacturer route for your exact model. Erasing removes local data; restoring it depends on a backup. You may also need the Apple or Google account previously linked to the phone to activate it afterward.
Before you reset, check these three things
- Your exact phone and software version: Reset menus and button combinations vary by operating system and model. Follow the manufacturer’s current instructions rather than assuming a sequence from another phone applies.
- Your account credentials: Have the Apple Account, Google Account, or Samsung Account required for the route ready. A reset does not necessarily remove ownership or anti-theft checks.
- Your backup: If you have irreplaceable local data and do not know that a backup exists, stop before erasing. The official consumer recovery steps described by Apple, Google, and Samsung erase the phone; they do not offer a way to remove the lock while preserving inaccessible, unbacked-up data.
Which reset route should you use?
| Phone or route | When it may work | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible iPhone, reset from lock screen | iOS 15.2 or later, Find My was enabled, the phone has a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and you know the Apple Account password | Erase the iPhone from its locked screen, then set it up and restore from an available backup. Apple’s labels differ by iOS version. |
| Android remote erase with Find Hub | The phone has power and internet, is signed in to a Google Account, Find Hub is on, and the device is visible on Google Play | Erase it remotely, then set a new screen lock. A Google Account backup may be restorable if you know the PIN or pattern that was active when the backup was made. |
| Manufacturer’s button-based reset | The phone supports recovery-menu reset and you can follow the instructions for its exact model | Use the maker’s device-specific button procedure. Some models require a computer connection to reach recovery; a reset erases local data. |
If none of these routes is available, use the maker’s support or account-recovery process. Do not treat third-party passcode or Factory Reset Protection bypass claims as an established way to preserve data or prove ownership.
Reset an iPhone from the lock screen
Apple’s on-device process is available on eligible iPhones running iOS 15.2 or later. It requires Find My to have been enabled before lockout, an active cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and the password for the Apple Account associated with the phone. The process erases the device and its settings.
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- On iOS 15.2 or iOS 16, Apple describes an Erase [Device] option instead. Follow the prompts shown on the phone.
- Enter the requested Apple Account password to proceed with erasure.
- After the iPhone restarts, set it up and restore from an available backup, if you have one.
If the lock-screen option does not appear or the requirements are not met, Apple directs users to reset the iPhone with a computer. On iOS 16 or earlier, if the iPhone uses an eSIM, Apple advises contacting the carrier about obtaining a QR code before proceeding.
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Erase an Android phone
Google’s guidance is direct: “If you can’t unlock your phone, you’ll need to erase it.” The two main options are remote erasure through Find Hub, if the phone meets the requirements, or a manufacturer-specific reset using the power and volume buttons. Google’s “Forgot pattern” account-reset instructions apply only to Android 4.4 or lower.
Use Find Hub to erase remotely
Remote erase is available only when the phone has power and internet access, is signed in to a Google Account, has Find Hub turned on, and is visible on Google Play. If any requirement is missing, the remote option may not work. Follow Google’s instructions for the device and account rather than relying on a generic button sequence.
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Use the phone’s recovery buttons
Button combinations vary by manufacturer and model. Look up the recovery instructions for the exact phone, then use its power and volume buttons as directed. Google notes that an available Google Account backup may be restored after erasure, but you may need the device PIN or pattern that was active when that backup was created.
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Samsung Galaxy: remote erase or recovery reset
Samsung documents two relevant routes for Galaxy phones. SmartThings Find can erase a phone remotely if it is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, signed in to a Samsung Account, and remote control and remote unlock were enabled beforehand. If those conditions are not met, Samsung documents a button-based factory reset for a locked phone. The button combination depends on the model, and the described recovery-menu procedure connects the phone to a computer by USB. Check the exact model’s current Samsung instructions; do not assume another Galaxy model uses the same sequence.
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A button reset may trigger Google Factory Reset Protection (FRP). Samsung says the phone may then require the Google Account previously used on it before you can access it. If you cannot recall the account credentials, Samsung directs users to Google account recovery or an authorized Samsung Service Centre with proof of purchase. If you have reset the Google password, Samsung says it may take 24 hours or longer to become active for the device.
What a reset erases—and what you can restore
Apple, Google, and Samsung describe their reset routes as erasing personal data, settings, or other phone content. A reset is therefore not a way to retrieve files stored only on a locked phone. You can restore content only if a usable backup exists and you can complete any account or device verification required during setup.
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- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Before starting, check whether you have a recent backup associated with the relevant Apple or Google Account. If the data matters and you cannot confirm a backup, pause instead of assuming a reset will recover it. Once the phone has been erased, set it up again, restore from an available backup, and create a new screen lock.
Why the phone may still ask for an account after erasure
Apple Activation Lock
Activation Lock can require the Apple Account and password used to set up the iPhone, or the device passcode. If the phone belongs to a school or business, contact its IT department or manager. Apple says that a person with proof-of-purchase documentation can start an Activation Lock support request.
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Google Factory Reset Protection
On a Samsung phone reset using buttons, FRP may require the Google Account that was previously associated with the device. If you know the account but forgot its password, use Google account recovery. A newly reset password may take 24 hours or longer to become active on the phone, according to Samsung.
When to contact the manufacturer
Contact Apple, Google, or the phone’s manufacturer if the official reset route is unavailable, you cannot complete account verification, or you need help identifying instructions for your model. For Activation Lock, Apple offers a support request for people with proof of purchase. For the documented Samsung locked-out scenario, Samsung points users who cannot recall their Google credentials to account recovery or an authorized service centre with proof of purchase. Support can help with account or ownership procedures, but do not assume it can recover local data erased by a reset.
Quick Recap
Official instructions
- Apple: If you forgot your iPhone passcode
- Google Android Help: Can’t unlock your Android device
- Samsung UK: How do I perform a factory reset on my mobile device?
- Apple: How to remove Activation Lock
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