[Easy Steps] How to Unlock a Found iPhone or Lost iPhone

Read this article to learn how to unlock a found iPhone with simple steps, including using iTunes, Find My app. Now unlock a lost iPhone with ease.

Clara by Clara Updated January 16, 2025
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I found an iPhone pro max on the ground (no one on the street), it is turned off and has no SIM card, and there is a penalty for entering the wrong password. If I unlock the phone, can I find information about the lost owner? And how to unlock a found iPhone?

- Question from Reddit

I found an iPhone, how do I unlock it? For some reason, you may want to know how to unlock it. After unlocking the phone, you can find information about the phone's owner so that you can contact the owner and return the iPhone. Or maybe you found your long-lost iPhone, but you forgot the passcode. At this point, you need to unlock your iPhone without a passcode.

Easy Steps] How to Unlock a Found iPhone or Lost iPhone

Next, this guide details three simple and effective methods to help you unlock any iPhone you find. These comprehensive steps allow you to easily unlock your iPhone without a passcode, even if you are not tech-savvy.

I Found an iPhone & How Do I Unlock It

Unlocking a locked iPhone seems challenging, but not impossible. By unlocking it, you can find more useful information to find the owner of the iPhone. Here we list effective ways to help you learn how to unlock lost iPhone.

Way 1. How to Unlock a Found iPhone with iTunes

Apple supports users to reset a found iPhone using iTunes. This process will delete the settings and information on the iPhone, including the screen lock. This method is particularly useful if you are trying to unlock your device.

Here are the steps to take to unlock a found iPhone with iTunes.

Step 1. Connect the iPhone to your computer using the USB cable > Launch iTunes.

Step 2. When you see the iPhone appears in the iTunes on PC > Select the device icon > Tap Summary.

Step 3. Then choose the Restore iPhone option from the window > Click Restore.

restore iphone with itunes on pc

If you encounter difficulties when using iTunes to unlock, such as iPhone icon doesn’t show up in iTunes, you can resort to recovery mode to unlock it. After you connected your iPhone to your computer, you can follow the below steps to put the iPhone into recovery mode.

>> For iPhone 8 or later : Press the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons at same time, then hold down the Side (or Top) buttonbriefly, release them until the recovery mode screen appears.

>> For iPhone 7 series: Simultaneously press and hold the Side (or Top) and Volume Down buttons, until you see the recovery screen.

>> For iPhone6, SE, and older: Hold down the Side (or Top) and Home buttons, when you see the recovery mode screen, release them.

enter iphone recovery mode

Then you can open iTunes > Tap the phone icon in the upper-left corner > When you see a prompt appears > Tap Restore. Then your iPhone will be a new one.

restore iphone in recovery mode

enlightened Tip: You may also want to know How to Recover Data from iPhone in Recovery Mode

Way 2. How to Unlock iPhone via Find My App

Another way to unlock a lost iPhone is to use the Find My app. This app can help you locate and track devices connected to your iCloud accounts. As long as the Find My feature is enabled on your device and you remember your Apple ID, you can remotely erase your device without a password.

mail Note:
This method provides a secure way to protect your data if your device is lost or stolen. And only works if you meet the requirements (Find My feature is enabled and you remember Apple ID), other people cannot use this method to remove the passcode.

If you meet the requirements, you can refer to the following steps to learn how to unlock lost iPhone. This operation will erase your original data.

Step 1. Prepare another iOS device, like iPhone or iPad > Connect an internet > Install Find My app.

lost iphone on find my

Step 2. Sign in to Find My app with your Apple ID and password.

Step 3. After that, you will find a map on the screen > Tap your lost iPhone's name > Choose the Erase iPhone button.

erase lost iphone

Step 4. Then all data stored on the iPhone will be erased completely.

Conclusion

Knowing how to unlock a found iPhone is essential if you want to access your device. Whether you want to unlock your own iPhone or a found iPhone, there are multiple ways to do it. This way allows you to easily unlock it without losing data. You can restore it completely using iTunes. You can also use the Find My app if the owner has locked the device remotely.

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