Will Apple remove a passcode, unlock my iPhone?

[Bawstun]

So on 7/2 I was robbed in a park here in San Diego and my entire pack was taken from me, my phone included in the items that were inside. I realize it’s been over a month and a half now, but I was walking through the park and just came across this:

https://i.postimg.cc/SQLLgSry/9-ECB42-C6-D436-4-ADD-95-A1-2-B300-FCBB29-C.jpg

It Sunday, so they’re closed and I can’t call to verify if it’s mine but it was my rose gold iPhone SE. My problem is that I didn’t ever use Touch ID because I prefer a passcode, and I’m *not sure* if I will remember it. I think it’s the same as the one I’m using now, but without the phone in my hands to test it I am unsure.

My question is *if* it is my phone and *if* I can’t remember the passcode, would Apple verify that it was tied to my App Store account or info in some way and let me into it? I’m sure there must be some technical way that they can see my Apple ID was once used on the device and the only Apple ID ever tied to the device? Would they be able to bypass it for me?

I never made a back up on the phone and I lost several hundred good photos that I could really use with getting back, downloaded music too. If they can’t...then the visitor center might as well keep it to be honest.

 

[theapplehead]

So on 7/2 I was robbed in a park here in San Diego and my entire pack was taken from me, my phone included in the items that were inside. I realize it’s been over a month and a half now, but I was walking through the park and just came across this:

https://i.postimg.cc/SQLLgSry/9-ECB42-C6-D436-4-ADD-95-A1-2-B300-FCBB29-C.jpg

It Sunday, so they’re closed and I can’t call to verify if it’s mine but it was my rose gold iPhone SE. My problem is that I didn’t ever use Touch ID because I prefer a passcode, and I’m *not sure* if I will remember it. I think it’s the same as the one I’m using now, but without the phone in my hands to test it I am unsure.

My question is *if* it is my phone and *if* I can’t remember the passcode, would Apple verify that it was tied to my App Store account or info in some way and let me into it? I’m sure there must be some technical way that they can see my Apple ID was once used on the device and the only Apple ID ever tied to the device? Would they be able to bypass it for me?

I never made a back up on the phone and I lost several hundred good photos that I could really use with getting back, downloaded music too. If they can’t...then the visitor center might as well keep it to be honest.

I hate to be the one to tell you this, but if you don’t know your passcode, then essentially, you’re screwed.

I had a similar issue with my iPhone recently. I forgot the passcode for it, but I had every form of proof of ownership you could imagine. Regardless, they told me it was impossible. Apple has absolutely no way to bypass the passcode on an iPhone. This is primarily due to security reason so a user can be confident that no one but themselves will ever have access to their iPhone.

I ended up having to erase my iPhone and start over from a three month old backup. It sucked, but it definitely could’ve been worse.

My advice to you is to keep trying to remember your passcode. If you can’t, don’t sweat it. Look at it this way, you’ll still have a phone you can resell or use brand new.

 

[jonblatho]

My question is *if* it is my phone and *if* I can’t remember the passcode, would Apple verify that it was tied to my App Store account or info in some way and let me into it? I’m sure there must be some technical way that they can see my Apple ID was once used on the device and the only Apple ID ever tied to the device? Would they be able to bypass it for me?

Apple can’t “bypass” your passcode, period. I’d still get the phone if it’s yours and if they’ll let you — there’s a chance they may ask you to enter your passcode or say what the wallpaper is or whatever to prove it’s your phone. As the iPhone SE has the IMEI printed on the back, you may be able to get some form of hard proof from your carrier that it’s yours.

If nothing else, an important lesson if it doesn’t work out: Make backups and choose a passcode that is simple enough to be memorable to you but complex enough that it's memorable to only you. While it’s unfortunate, the data loss aspect of this was frankly entirely preventable.

 

[eyoungren]

So on 7/2 I was robbed in a park here in San Diego and my entire pack was taken from me, my phone included in the items that were inside. I realize it’s been over a month and a half now, but I was walking through the park and just came across this:

https://i.postimg.cc/SQLLgSry/9-ECB42-C6-D436-4-ADD-95-A1-2-B300-FCBB29-C.jpg

It Sunday, so they’re closed and I can’t call to verify if it’s mine but it was my rose gold iPhone SE. My problem is that I didn’t ever use Touch ID because I prefer a passcode, and I’m *not sure* if I will remember it. I think it’s the same as the one I’m using now, but without the phone in my hands to test it I am unsure.

My question is *if* it is my phone and *if* I can’t remember the passcode, would Apple verify that it was tied to my App Store account or info in some way and let me into it? I’m sure there must be some technical way that they can see my Apple ID was once used on the device and the only Apple ID ever tied to the device? Would they be able to bypass it for me?

I never made a back up on the phone and I lost several hundred good photos that I could really use with getting back, downloaded music too. If they can’t...then the visitor center might as well keep it to be honest.

Restore the device, you'll get around the passcode.

Oh, but you want to recover photos…unless you can't…because you didn't have a backup…which then means the visitor center can just keep the device.

Which tells me the photos weren't all that important to you to begin with.

So. Just restore. Unless you're okay with walking away from the device. Then just don't worry about it.

PS. In the future, it might be a wise idea to create passcodes with numbers that are important to you only and that you can therefore remember. I have a certain series of numbers I learned as a teenager. They mean something important to me. I won't forget them. It's easier than trying to remember some random passcode you thought up out of thin air.

 

[Bawstun]

The photos are important to me, creating a backup is not an option as I don’t have a computer to sync to and I don’t feel comfortable storing to iCloud. All I asked was if Apple could help me if I’m unable to access the device...not opinions on how I should have created backups. I’m already aware of the risks I had taken, thanks?

 

[laptech]

The photos are important to me, creating a backup is not an option as I don’t have a computer to sync to and I don’t feel comfortable storing to iCloud. All I asked was if Apple could help me if I’m unable to access the device...not opinions on how I should have created backups. I’m already aware of the risks I had taken, thanks?

Apple will not help you bypass your passcode regardless of how many proof of id and sales receipts you show them. This is why they persistently say it is the users responsibility to do regular backups of their data.

if you went to an apple store, all they will do is restore it back to factory default.

 

[AZhappyjack]

The photos are important to me, creating a backup is not an option as I don’t have a computer to sync to and I don’t feel comfortable storing to iCloud. All I asked was if Apple could help me if I’m unable to access the device...not opinions on how I should have created backups. I’m already aware of the risks I had taken, thanks?

You say the photos are important to you... and there are only two ways to backup... one way can't be done (no computer) and you reject the other (iCloud)... so you are stuck where you are - no photos... I guess my question is how hard is it to remember a 4 or 6 digit PIN...

 

[Bawstun]

You say the photos are important to you... and there are only two ways to backup... one way can't be done (no computer) and you reject the other (iCloud)... so you are stuck where you are - no photos... I guess my question is how hard is it to remember a 4 or 6 digit PIN...

Pretty difficult when I make them based off of how easy the numbers are to reach and hit with one hand while I’m holding the device. I change passcode frequently and don’t use number of significance. I’d say there’s a 50% chance it’s the same as the one I set on my replacement device that I purchased when that one was stolen, but maybe not. I guess I’ll find out today when they open and if it’s even my phone to begin with. Hard to imagine it won’t be though, can’t see the odds of someone “losing” their phone in a park.

 

[Azathoth123]

There’s a third party service that claim hey can recover the pictures from water-damaged phones that Apple won’t touch (can’t blame them, hey’re not set up for it). I can’t remember their name, but they’re a legit service in New England I think, that should be enough for a Google search to find them , there was a mainstream news article not long ago. I’d be prepared for the phone to be destroyed, and I’m sure it will not be unlocked. I’m guessing that they’re connecting something directly to the storage media.