How to Access your iPhone without knowing the password

How to Access your iPhone without knowing the password

So you found or bought a used iPhone and discovered that the phone has a password on it. Oh no! You do not know the password! So after trying a few guesses the iPhone locks up and directs you to iTunes which again prompts you to enter the password you do not know! So what do you do now?

The easiest way to fix this problem is to reset the iPhone to its default settings. This will erase all data on the phone and function like you just purchased the phone from the store. I will show you how to do this in the following article.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• iPhone
• iPhone Adapter
• Computer w/access to internet and iTunes

1. 
    
   iPhone off Button

   The first step to reset the iPhone to its default setting is to turn off the iPhone. You turn off the iPhone by holding down the button on top right of the iPhone. Make sure it is completely off!

2. 
    
   iTunes Screen

   The next step is to turn you computer on. Make sure that you have already downloaded iTunes and it is accessible.

3. Connect the iTunes USB adapter to the computer. Not to the Iphone, yet!

4. 
    
   iPhone Home Button

   Hold down the home button on your Iphone located on the bottom center of your phone. While still holding the home button of your Iphone, connect the USB adapter to the phone. Wait for the phone to turn on and for the Apple symbol to show up on the iPhone screen. Still remain holding the home button until you see a prompt on your computer screen via iTunes with this message: " iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes." Click the Ok button on the prompt.
   
   You then may release the home button.
   
   * If the phone does not automatically turn on when you connect the USB adapter, the process did not work. Simply disconnect the adapter and try the process again. It sometimes might take an extra try or two to work*

5. 
    
   What the iPhone looks like while restoring

   On the iTunes screen, you will then see a button that says "Restore". Click it.
   
   You will then get another prompt that delivers a message basically saying if you are sure you want to restore the iPhone to its factory settings. Of course we do! Click the Restore and Update button.
   
   You will then get another prompt that states information about the iPhone software - click next.
   
   Then lastly, you will get a prompt that state information about the iPhone license agreement - click I agree.
   
   You will then see on the left side of the iTunes screen that the iPhone's software is downloading.

6. 
    
   Reset success!

   After download is complete, the software will be transferred to your iPhone and will reboot a couple of times.
   
   After transfer is complete, you will again see a prompt from iTunes that tell you that the iPhone has been restored to factory settings and that the iPhone will reboot one more time.
   
   After the iPhone is done rebooting, iTunes will recognize the phone and precede to give directions on how to sign up with AT&T.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not wish to use AT&T as your service provider, you will need to unlock or jailbreak your iPhone. Please see another article regarding unlocking your iPhone.

[breyannejay]

on 10/14/2009 i tried doing this and it did work but now it is asking me for a AT&T sim card and i dont have it ..i called at&t and they said i have to sign up for it?! because i couldnt use a prepaid simcard from at&t