How To Reset Locked Iphone Without Itunes

Either through fat fingers, an errant Bluetooth keyboard, Oregon a complete brain fart, sometimes we not just get the passcode to our device wrong, but we get whole locked out. Apple gives us 6 tries before you baffle a time-supported cooling sour period, only eventually if you keep trying (and unsatisfactory) your gimmick is hors de combat. What and so? Well, the solutions are easy, but the nigh evidential thing is planning ahead to lessen the bother. Because all the solutions have a certain degree of "ouch" factor to them.

Apple has a support clause on this very topic: iOS: Device disabled after entering wrong passcode. Which if you read the scenarios, well, you might be cursing a lot more. However, after I tell you how to return to a usable device, I'll tell you how to lessen the pain that the solution causes.

What Apple says to do

Let's go through what Apple suggests you do (and the ramifications) first:

If you give synced the device with iTunes…

Connect with iTunes (and you'll credibly get an error)
Right-click on the device name (in iTunes 11 you'll privation to show the sidebar for this from the Prospect computer menu) and pick out Gage Up
When the back up is done, Restore

Here's the affair that bugs me almost this (and all the solutions) information technology's this stoc: "You may be competent to reset the passcode by restoring the device." (stress mine). May? Yikes.

Apple besides says that if when you connect your device to iTunes and you're prompted for the passcode…endeavour another electronic computer you synced with (which is strange, because you ass solitary sync with matchless machine), otherwise you'll throw to try the "Never synced with iTunes" choice (below).

Notes on this resolution: If your backup wasn't encrypted, then you'll wealthy person to re-enrol your passwords for accounts on your device. Happening the plus side, the passcode lock will be disconnected. Also, I think you might be able to skip step to stand-in your device if you have a recent backup already. These notes assume (safely) that you might non take in synced your device for a bit and maybe have things you don't deficiency to lose.

If you have ne'er synced with iTunes…

I'll tell you right straight off this is a rather nuclear selection. It involves putting the gimmick into Recovery Mode and wiping it forbidden. Yep, you'll be starting over. Yes, you can still download every your apps and music, but you'll have to do it manually.

Fine the KB article shows that when you connect your device you'll see this screen:

(Yikes!)

What you do to cast your device into Recovery Mode is this.

Unplug the sync cable from your device
Change state off your device (hold the great power button toss off, slide to might off)
Press and delay the Home button and plug in the sync cable
Don't relinquish of the Home button until you see "Connect to iTunes". When you see it, rent out go.
Then iTunes will Restore the gimmick (to factory). Which agency you'll have roughly work to do to get things noncurrent.

Notes along this solution: Yeah this is harsh. Don't worry about your purchases. Apple knows what you've bought and you'll be able to get your apps and music. If you use iTunes Equalize it bequeath be pretty easy, simply Apple also has a this digest article on how to download your past purchases.

No computer visible. Now what?

Fine-tune below you'll notice I also pointed out the WiFi sync option. If this is aroused then your gimmick will synchronize (and backup) to iTunes when:

iTunes is gushing on your emcee car
The gimmick is plugged in and charged/charging
It is connected to Wireless fidelity on the unvarying network as the host reckoner

Important notes near this that I've found done using it (and wherefore I typically keep it off):

If you forget to leave iTunes open, then it doesn't sync or backup
IT commode be really, really delayed
With the funky WiFi issues with iOS 6 (like devices non staying connected when locked), you might observe you haven't been syncing (or backing risen) well-nigh as often arsenic you thought.

If you don't feature a computer you keister regularly backup to, then iCloud is your only choic. It's also a "put over and forget" option because iCloud backups are purported to be automatically unravel while your device is charging.

iCloud backups

Malus pumila gives everyone with an iCloud (aka iTunes aka Apple ID) account 5 UK of storage for free. Now, this doesn't X too far, but it's enough for the essence stuff and a few extras. I birth iCloud backups turned on for my iPad (since I consider it more the like a work laptop computer than just a tablet), but since I haven't (yet) opted to pay off for more iCloud storage it's the only device that is backed up to iCloud. My other two devices are backed up locally.

You can turn along iCloud backups direct iTunes (see above) or through the iCloud section of settings.

Tap iCloud

then Storage & Backup

and turn iCloud backup on.

I'd water tap "Back Up Now" if I were you, to make sure you have a backup up and waiting, because iCloud backups only run when your iPad is:

plugged in
locked
connected to WiFi

Again, with the funky WiFi issues, IT isn't a distressing idea to check once and a while to make a point your gimmick really has been backing improving when you think information technology has.

The fob to getting the most out of your 5 free gigs of entrepot is to manage the warehousing intelligently. In that location are two parts to this.

What apps store to iCloud on their own
What data you backup

I try to follow what other apps are stashing in iCloud and make convinced that I clear out Keynote decks, Pages docs, and any other data that might constitute hogging quad. Connected the fill-in side, I know that the CORE gorge is regenerate (it must just be a bittie tiny file really), so I only back up irreplaceable things (Camera drum roll and iRig recordings).

Am I considering jump to 15 Britain of storage (adding 10 GB) for $20 a yr? Totally. That $20 would give me enough space to fill-in all my devices to iCloud.

I know iCloud backups start a bad belt sometimes for being slow, but I've found them to exist okay—if you Don River't keep gobs of data there. Complete the holidays I used information technology to launch my ma's new iPad 2 for her from her first generation iPad (had to sneak onto the iPad to make sure information technology backed up to iCloud so I could, simply that was easy) and the action took a lot less time than I feared (less than an 60 minutes, probably only if 30 minutes really). When I set leading my fourth generation iPad from the iCloud back heavenward of my third generation, over again, non unsound. Same goes for my wife migrating from her iPad 2 to my third coevals iPad. So, yeah, I use iCloud backups and I've used them successfully.

Ultimate thoughts

So like a sho you know that if you get really, truly bolted outer of your device (to the taper off of IT being disabled) that, yep, the solutions aren't pretty. The only thing you can Doctor of Osteopathy is plan in advance in case it does ever happen to you, and preparation ahead is the synoptic advice every bit always:

Plunk for up your devices, early and often