How to unlock iPhone 4s

If a user has forgotten the four-digit password on an iPhone 4S or 5S, it can only be unlocked by flashing it by connecting it to a computer with the iTunes application installed. This is the only way out, in which, in addition, all personal files on the phone are lost. And if there are no credentials in the Apple ID, then for a successful reset the “Find iPhone” option must be disabled, since it will be impossible to activate a phone with iOS 7 without entering this information.

Reflash iPhone to reset password

Let us note once again that flashing the firmware is the only way to reset an iPhone 5S if its owner has forgotten the password. We will describe how to reset the lock screen code using flashing.

Preparatory stage:

1. Launch iTunes on your computer and check the help menu for updates for your media player. To work, you will need the latest version of the application.
2. Connect your device to your computer using an original Apple USB cable.
3. Click on the phone icon in the application to go to the iPhone menu. A window will open with which you have to work directly.

If an inexperienced user has forgotten the password, then the easiest option for him to unlock the phone is to click on the “Recover” button. The program will independently download the latest firmware for your gadget from Apple servers and reinstall iOS on the device. Then, using the same application on your computer, you can restore personal data from previously saved backup copies.

However, this simple method has a number of disadvantages:

• the latest version of iOS is about 1.5 GB in size, which makes the download and reinstallation process quite lengthy;
• if there is any failure in your home Internet or a short-term lack of access to the Apple server, the process will have to start again;
• recovery when using a computer running Windows OS is usually accompanied by errors that make it impossible to reinstall iOS in normal mode.

With Mac OS the situation is somewhat different - problems when choosing this option to unlock the password, if they arise, are extremely rare. Therefore, the above method is more suitable for owners of Apple computers.

However, it should also be taken into account that iTunes automatically downloads the latest firmware version, which may differ from yours. This may be an important argument for owners of the so-called. "unlocked" devices that can only work with one firmware version.

Installing our own firmware

There is a way to significantly reduce the likelihood of failures during operation. To do this, you just need to download the appropriate firmware for your phone in advance and then use it during the reinstallation. Your actions will change slightly:

From now on, everything will happen automatically. The device can be unlocked when it goes into Recovery Mode, flashes itself and reboots. All you have to do is select your language, region, connect to iTunes and select the “Like New” phone setting.

Resetting the password in DFU mode

The described method does not always make it possible to avoid device errors by resetting the password. The most reliable option to unlock iOS is achieved by forcing the device into DFU mode, which is significantly different from the previously used Recovery.

The latter acts, simply put, like “rolling back” the existing system to its original state, restoring factory settings and parameters. DFU, on the other hand, is a bootloader mode that formats the device's memory, reinstalls system components, and completely reinstalls iOS.

Resetting the password by flashing it in DFU mode

If the user forgot to backup personal data, they will be lost, since in order to unlock the device in DFU mode, iOS must be completely reinstalled. The sequence is as follows:

1. Turn off your iPhone, connect it with a proprietary Apple USB cable to a PC with fresh iTunes installed and enter the device into DFU mode. This is done like this:

○ press and hold the gadget power key for 3 seconds;

○ press and hold the Home button for 10 seconds without releasing the power key;

○ release the latter after this period of time, and hold “Home” until the gadget enters DFU mode.

1. In iTunes, select your device and click “Restore” while holding Shift (for Windows PC).

You may not be able to activate DFU mode the first time, especially if you have not had such experience before. There is nothing terrible about this, you just need to understand how to recognize that the device is in DFU and not in Recovery Mode.

The latter is very easy to distinguish when a characteristic image of a media player icon and a USB cable appears on the device screen. When you enter the device into DFU mode, on the contrary, the display will be completely black (or in some cases white) and will not respond to single button presses. However, iTunes will be able to detect it, and in the corresponding window it will be written that the device is in Recovery mode. Don’t pay attention to this - follow the template already described.

How to recover Apple ID account data

Unlocking a phone is not so difficult if the user has not forgotten the Apple ID password. However, if this data is also forgotten, restoring the device may not be an easy task.

Moreover, if the Find My Phone function is enabled on an iPhone 5S with iOS 7, the device is automatically linked to your Apple ID account, so even after flashing using DFU, you will not be able to unlock the gadget without logging into your account.

Successful methods for hacking the firmware are not yet known, so to restore your account you will have to use only official methods. There are not many of them:

1. Go to the page https://iforgot.apple.com and enter the mailbox specified during registration, which is an identifier in your Apple ID, click on the continue button.
2. When you select confirmation via E-mail, a message will be sent to the mailbox associated with your Apple ID containing a link that allows you to change your password.
3. If you do not have access to your email account, try answering the security questions specified during registration.

If none of the methods work, you will have to contact support and resolve the issue with access to your account personally.

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