My sister has an iPhone that her roommate is using, but she no longer remembers the passcode and nobody can unlock it. I have a background in computer repair and digital forensics, but my usual tools were not useful. T-Mobile said a local shop could wipe the phone for $50. I'm curious whether they have specialized law-enforcement-grade equipment, whether this violates Apple's terms, and what process they might actually be using. The shop is not an Apple Store.
3 Answers
The owner can look up the correct recovery-mode procedure for that specific iPhone model and restore it using a computer. This will remove the passcode by erasing the phone, but it cannot bypass Apple’s ownership protections. Any photos or documents stored only on the device will be lost, while data already synced to iCloud may remain available once the correct account is recovered.
They probably aren’t using anything specialized. The usual process is to place the iPhone in recovery mode or DFU mode and restore it through Finder or iTunes. That erases the local data, but it does not remove Activation Lock. After the restore, the phone will still require the Apple Account credentials previously linked to it.
If the owner can show Apple valid proof of purchase, Apple Support may be able to help with Activation Lock after the phone has been erased. That still won’t recover the forgotten account password. Account recovery, another trusted device, or a previously configured recovery contact may be needed to regain access to the account and its iCloud data.
It’s also possible the shop is simply charging for a basic restore that the owner could perform at home. If they take the phone out of sight, there’s no indication they’re doing anything more advanced than starting a restore and waiting for it to finish.