iPhones are notoriously difficult to break into. If you have a unique passcode set up, it's almost impossible for someone to get in without your permission.

But this also works the other way around. If you need to open an iPhone but don't have the password, or it's disabled, your only option to unlock it is to do a factory reset.

Luckily, there are two ways to reset an iPhone without the password so you can access it.

How to reset an iPhone using Finder or iTunes

You can use a computer to access recovery mode and reset your iPhone to get in without the password. If you have a Mac you'll be using Finder, and if it's a PC you'll be using iTunes — which you need to download first.

Note: You'll be able to restore your data if you've backed up your iPhone.

1. Turn the iPhone off. The exact way to do this will depend on what kind of iPhone you have:

2. Once your iPhone is off, plug it into your computer and put it into recovery mode. To do this, you'll need to press a certain combination of buttons:

3. Keep holding the button and connect the phone to your laptop. Keep holding the button until the recovery mode screen appears. It'll have a picture of a laptop with a charging cable.

4. Once ready, open Finder or iTunes and open the iPhone menu. If you're using Finder, click your iPhone's name in the left sidebar. In iTunes, click the iPhone icon in the upper-left corner.

5. You'll be shown a message saying that the iPhone has a "problem" and needs to be updated or restored. Select Restore.

Restore the iPhone, don't update it. William Antonelli/Insider

6. Keep your iPhone connected to the computer as it resets and restores the iPhone. Time can vary, so be patient.

Once the process finishes, turn your iPhone on and set it up like a new device. When you're asked if you'd like to restore data from a backup, feel free to sign into iCloud and do so.

How to reset an iPhone using Find My

If you have an Apple ID account, your iPhone is probably connected to Find My, Apple's global device tracking network. This service also lets you reset and erase your iPhone without having the password for it.

1. On a computer, go to iCloud's website and log into your account.

Quick tip: If you can't log into iCloud because you don't have a trusted device or working phone anymore, you'll need to contact Apple for help recovering your account.

2. In the main menu, click Find iPhone.

Open the Find My menu. Apple; William Antonelli/Insider

3. You'll be given a map of all your devices. Click All Devices at the top and then select your iPhone.

4. In the pop-up menu that appears, click Erase iPhone.

Select your iPhone, then erase it from the menu. Apple; William Antonelli/Insider

5. Enter your Apple ID password to erase your iPhone. You may be prompted to answer a security question if you aren't using a trusted browser.

As long as your iPhone is on and connected to the internet, it'll be reset immediately.

Quick tip: If your iPhone is lost, you should indicate that during the erasure process and give an alternative method of contact.

Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews

William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at .

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