Can You Unlock an iPhone with Another iPhone? YES

Clare Phang
Last updated: Sep 24, 2024

You may be wondering whether you can unlock your iPhone with another iPhone when you forget your iPhone passcode. The quick answer is yes. Read on for detailed steps.

As you might know, when your iPhone says iPhone Unavailable or iPhone Disabled due to multiple wrong passcode attempts, you need to connect your device to a Mac or PC to get it out of disabled mode. What if you don't have a computer but another iPhone with you?

That's why you are querying "Can I unlock an iPhone with another iPhone?". No more queries. This guide answers your questions and shows you the detailed steps to unlock your iPhone. Let's get started.

Can You Unlock an iPhone with Another iPhone? YES

Can You Unlock Your iPhone with Another iPhone?

The answer is absolutely YES. Since iOS 18, Apple has made it easier to unlock your iPhone with another iPhone.

How to Unlock Your iPhone with Another iPhone - 2 Ways

This section will provide two methods to unlock your iPhone with another iPhone. Choose according to your iPhone models.

Unlock iPhone (16 Lineup) with Another iPhone - via RecoveryOS

If your iPhone is an iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, or iPhone 16 Pro Max, it includes the RecoveryOS which lets you wirelessly restore your iPhone firmware from another iPhone. Once your iPhone is restored, the passcode on it is also removed.

  1. Make sure your iPhone is in recovery mode.
  2. Put it next to another iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.
  3. On the other device, you will see a message like "Restore Nearby iPhone".
    Unlock iPhone 16 with Nearby iPhone
  4. Tap Continue and follow the onscreen instructions to download a new iOS firmware and transfer it to your locked iPhone.
Tip
This method works if your iPhone enters recovery mode for some reason. To put your iPhone into recovery mode, you need to connect your device to a computer first.

Unlock iPhone (All Models) with Another iPhone - via iCloud/Find My App

In most cases, the easiest way to unlock your disabled iPhone is by using iCloud or the Find My app on another iPhone.

It's worth noting that your locked iPhone should have the Find My iPhone feature enabled.

Here's how to unlock your iPhone using iCloud:

  1. Visit https://www.icloud.com/find on your other iPhone.
  2. Sign in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on your locked iPhone.
  3. Tap "All Devices", then select your iPhone.
  4. Tap "Erase This Device" and follow the onscreen instructions.
    Unlock iPhone with iCloud
  5. When your iPhone restarts, it can be set up as new.

Here's how to unlock your iPhone using the Find My app:

  1. On your other iPhone, open the Find My app.
  2. Switch to "Devices" and tap on your locked iPhone.
  3. Scroll down to locate Erase This Device.
  4. Tap "Erase This Device" > "Continue" and follow the onscreen guides.
    Unlock iPhone with Find My App
  5. Wait for the restoration process to complete.
Tip
If you want to remove the associated iPhone from your Apple ID, tap "Remove This Device" on your other iPhone when the restoration process is finished.

Alternative Ways to Unlock Disabled iPhone

When you forget the passcode on your iPhone, there are many ways to unlock it, including using the iPhone itself, Finder, iTunes, iCloud, the Find My app, or the professional iOS unlock tool BuhoUnlocker. Different methods work best in different situations. For iPhone newbies, BuhoUnlocker is the most recommended. All you need to do is download and install it, then follow the guide within to unlock your device. No iOS skills are required.

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Unlock iPhone with BuhoUnlocker

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The Bottom Line

In the above content, we have mentioned two methods to unlock your iPhone from another iPhone. They work with different iPhone models. Just choose the one that suits you best.

One thing worth noting is that all these methods will erase your iPhone. If you don't have an iPhone backup, think twice before restoring your iPhone. See how to back up your iPhone to a Mac.

Clare Phang has been captivated by the world of Apple products since the launch of the iconic iPhone in 2007. With a wealth of experience, Clare is your go-to source for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and all things Apple.