How to Unlock locked iPhone 12 mini by restoring it to factory settings

Unlock iPhone 12 mini without Passcode or Face ID

A problem commonly faced by all iPhone users is that they forget the password, and then they are stuck because they cannot use their phone anymore. This might seem impossible because iPhone users cannot use the phone without a passcode, but let us show you a magical application that makes this impossible.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock, the well-known application among most iPhone users, can resolve the problem quickly. This is a very secure platform for iPhone users because it promises to safeguard user’s personal information. The application is easy to use, that even a new person can use it without facing any trouble. Let us highlight its features.

It runs on all major iOS versions.
It can unlock the phone. It doesn’t matter if it’s second-hand or if you forgot the password.
Easy to handle and use, no technical skills are required.
It can even unlock a disabled phone without using its passcode.

This might be possible that not all iPhone users know about Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock, so, for such users, let us take you through the steps that are required to unlock iPhone 12 mini using Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock without a passcode.

Step 1: Download and Install the Application

First of all, the user is supposed to download Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock from its official website and install it on your Windows or Mac system. Once it is installed, the application is all set and ready to use; launch it in the time of need and unlock your iPhone 12 mini without a passcode.

After the application is launched, the Welcome Screen will appear with different options. The user is requested to select the option of ‘Screen Unlock.’

Step 2: Connect Phone with System

In the second step, the user should connect their phone to the system and let Dr.Fone ‘s application automatically detect it. Whenever you are ready to initiate the process, click on the button ‘Unlock iOS Screen.’

Step 3: DFU Mode Activation

Once the application has detected your iPhone 12 mini, you now need to activate the DFU mode. Step by step illustration on how to activate DFU mode is shared on-screen.

Step 4: Download Firmware Update

A new window will appear now on which the application will ask for some information regarding your iOS device. Provide the application with asked information and click on the ‘Download’ button to get the firmware update for your iPhone 12 mini.

The user is requested to wait for some time, as the firmware update is being downloaded for your phone. Once that is done, now click on the ‘Unlock Now’ button to complete the process.

Step 5: Confirmation Code

The application will now ask for the confirmation code. Just provide the on-screen confirmation code and let the process complete itself. As soon as that is done, the application will notify you through the interface. The process can also be repeated by clicking on the ‘Try Again’ button.

Unlock Locked iPhone 12 mini by Restoring it to Default Settings – iTunes

iPhone users make sure that they connect and sync their devices with iTunes because their data is safe. iPhone users live without the fear of losing their data because it is backed up. Taking more advantage of this, iPhone users can restore their phone to default settings and can even unlock their iPhone without using a passcode.

Let us show you how to unlock iPhone 12 mini without using a passcode;

Start the process by turning off your iPhone 12 mini.
After that, plug in your phone to the computer and open iTunes.
Once the phone is connected with iTunes, click on ‘Summary’ that will appear on the screen’s left side.
After the summary screen is opened, you will see the option of ‘Restore iPhone’; click on that option.
This option will bring you to a new window that will be asking for your confirmation on the decision to restore your device.
As soon as that is done and iTunes has finished the process, your iPhone 12 mini will be restored to default settings.

Is It Possible to Unlock iPhone 12 mini without a Passcode?

Unlocking an iPhone 12 mini without a passcode is possible, but it’s not as simple as entering a code. Besides, there are different methods that you can follow to unlock your iPhone 12 mini

And we are going to teach all those methods with some simple steps. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.

Use Find My iPhone

Once you have activated the Find My iPhone function, then you can try it to unlock your iPhone 12 mini without a passcode. This is an easy and effective method to complete this task. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Go to icloud.com from any web browser on your computer or another iOS device.
Step 2: Enter your Apple ID and password to log into your iCloud account.
Step 3: Click on the ‘Find My iPhone’ option.
Step 4: Select the ‘All Devices’ option at the top of the screen and select your iPhone 12 mini from the list of devices.
Step 5: Click the ‘Erase’ option to confirm your action.
Step 6: Once your device has been erased, you can set it up again and use it without a passcode.

Unlock it with iTunes

Another way to unlock your iPhone 12 mini without a passcode is by using iTunes. For this method to work, you must have synced your device with iTunes at least once. If you haven’t done that, this method won’t work. Here’s how you can use iTunes to unlock your iPhone 12 mini:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone 12 mini to the computer you previously used to sync your device with iTunes.
Step 2: Open the iTunes application on your computer and wait for it to recognize your device.
Step 3: Once recognized, your iPhone 12 mini will appear in the iTunes window. Click on the ‘Summary’ option present in the left sidebar.
Step 4: Now, click on the ‘Restore iPhone’ button in the right sidebar.
Step 5: Confirm your action and wait for the process to be completed. Once done, you can set up your device as new and use it without a passcode.

Use Recovery Mode

If you have never tried to sync your device with iTunes or used the Find My iPhone feature, you can use recovery mode to unlock your device. This more complex method will erase all the data on your device. So, ensure that you have backed up your data before proceeding with this method. Here’s how you can use recovery mode to unlock your iPhone 12 mini:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone 12 mini to the computer and launch the iTunes application.
Step 2: Press and hold down the ‘Volume’ and ‘Power’ buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
Step 3: As soon as you see the Connect to iTunes screen, release the buttons.
Step 4: On your computer, you will now see a message that iTunes detected an iPhone in recovery mode. Click on the ‘OK’ button.
Step 5: Now, click on the ‘Restore iPhone’ button in the Summary tab.
Step 6: Confirm your action and wait for the process to be completed. Once done, you can set up your device as new and use it without a passcode.

Use a Third-Party Tool

If you are unable to unlock your iPhone 12 mini using the above methods, you can use a third-party tool like Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock . This tool is designed to help you unlock your iPhone 12 mini without a passcode. Here’s how you can use Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock to unlock your iPhone 12 mini:

Step 1: Start Dr.Fone on your computer. Then, launch the program and select Screen Unlock.

Step 2: Create the connection from your iPhone 12 mini to the computer with a lightning cable.

Step 3: Follow the image on the screen to make your device enter in DFU mode or Recovery mode.
Step 4: Once your device gets into DFU mode or Recovery mode, Dr.Fone will ask you to choose the right firmware for your iPhone 12 mini.

Step 5: Upon selecting the right firmware, Dr.Fone will start downloading the firmware for your device. Once it’s finished, click “Unlock Now” to remove the Passcode.

You only need to wait for some time as the process may take several minutes. So be patient and don’t interrupt the process; otherwise, it may permanently damage your iPhone 12 mini.

Once the process is completed, your iPhone 12 mini will be unlocked, and you can choose a new passcode.

This is the easiest and most effective way to reset your iPhone 12 mini passcode. So, if you’re looking for a hassle-free solution, this is the one you should choose.

Prevent iPhone From Getting Disabled Again

After all this to get access back, you might think let’s go passcode-less and prevent the hassle. Don’t do that - that’s worse and unsafe. Instead, here are tips you can use to make sure you don’t accidentally disable your iPhone 12 mini again.

Tip 1: About Passcodes

1.1 Set a passcode that is easier to remember for you but difficult to think of for thieves and others.
1.2 Never use birthdates, years, vehicle numbers or any such numbers that may be easily tried by others.
1.3 Never use repeating numbers.
1.4 Do not use your ATM PIN as your phone passcode either. Think of some digits or combination that makes sense to you and only you. And then use it.

Tip 2: Use Face ID

Along with Passcode comes the option of Face ID on your iPhone 12 mini, so use that. That will minimize instances for you to enter your passcode, and may make you forget it again, though. So, make sure that the passcode you set does make sense to you and you can remember it always without effort.

Not all of us have the memory of elephants. With Touch ID and Face ID on our iPhones minimizing the use of passcodes, we may forget them. Another factor in forgetting passcodes is being too smart for our own good and trying to set up such a secure passcode that even we are not able to remember it. If we enter incorrect passcode too many times, the iPhone disables itself and we need to restore it to factory settings to unlock it again. There are several ways to do that, depending on the time you are willing to spend on the job and your proficiency level, along with the resources that you have with you right now. For example, if a method requires use of another iOS device and you do not have it, that method is not useful to you right now, pick another. Lastly, when the device is reset, instead of going passcode-less to make sure that you do not forget the passcode again, it is best to set up a passcode that you can somehow remember.

Activation Lock Primer

Apple products are costly, and they are prized. When a 5-year-old Android device might be left alone without anyone stealing it, you cannot risk that with an iPhone 6S, even today. Apple has built an Activation Lock in its devices to deter theft and so far, as we know, it has largely succeeded. If your iPhone 12 mini 13 gets stolen, no one else can use it with their Apple ID unless they key in the credentials it was using previously (your credentials) and, even then, Apple has bolstered iCloud Find My Activation Lock to be more restrictive. You may have to key in a lot of information ranging from your device password (if you are also using the same Apple ID on a Mac) to your iOS device passcode too, obviously, your Apple ID password. It is a system that works in favor of Apple users.

Yet, in some cases, users want to get around the Activation Lock for genuine reasons, say, when you buy a used Apple device from someone. They may have forgotten to remove that device from their Apple account and Activation Lock would not let you use it. Or, you are an IT administrator, and you manage devices given out to employees. Some employees did not remove their accounts from their devices, and now those iPhones are riddled with Activation Lock. You can remove it using this step-by-step guide.

What is Face ID?

Face ID is a facial recognition system designed and developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPad Pro. The system allows biometric authentication for unlocking a device, making payments, and accessing sensitive data, as well as providing detailed facial mapping for augmented reality applications.

If the new iPhone 15/14/13 is your first-ever iPhone, or if you have neither upgraded your iPhone from the 6/7/8 series nor have kept abreast with the happenings in the Apple world, you might wonder what this newfangled thing called Face ID is.

Face ID is an authentication system that came with iPhone X for the first time, and then the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14, and now the iPhone 15. Like Touch ID that uses your fingerprints, Face ID uses your face metrics to authenticate you for everything, the way Touch ID does.

Face ID is not a new and advanced version of Touch ID, but a completely different authentication system that utilizes a different component what Apple calls a TrueDepth camera to scan your face metrics. Face ID is not available on phones with Touch ID (iPhone SE 2022 today) and Touch ID is not available on iPhones that come with Face ID as their authentication mechanism.

Face ID is not just for unlocking your iPhone, but it is also used for authenticating you for Apple Pay, App Store purchases, and other third-party apps that support Face ID. It is also used for autofilling passwords and usernames in Safari and other apps.

How to use Face ID on iPhone 12 mini to make purchases in App Store, Book Store, and iTunes Store

Step1: Check if Face ID is enabled for purchases in these stores by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and ensuring that iTunes and App Store are toggled On.

Step2: On any of these stores, when you tap on the option to buy some content, a payment confirmation popup will be displayed along with instructions to authenticate yourself using Face ID.

The instructions are simple: press the side button twice to authenticate yourself using your Face ID and make the purchase.
When done, a satisfying ting and a checkmark will confirm the action.

Unlock Disabled iPhone 12 mini Using Find My iPhone App

There are times you have another iOS device in the family or just lying around, you can use that device to unlock your disabled iPhone 12 mini. This method is particularly useful if you’re traveling with family or alone, and only have family members with their own iOS devices or, say, your iPad with you. As always, note that all these methods will wipe your data from your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Find My app on your other iOS device or Mac.

Step 2: Select your disabled iPhone 12 mini from the devices from the left pane, click/ tap your disabled iPhone 12 mini and click/ tap Erase This Device

The disabled iPhone will be wiped and reset to factory settings. You can then set it up again.

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