3 Ways to Erase Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max When It’s Locked Within Seconds

Over the last few years, Apple has made remarkable progress with its flagship iPhone series. There are plenty of ways for users to back up, erase, and restore their data. It doesn’t matter if you are moving from one device to another or would like to reset your phone. You should know how to erase iPhone when locked. Too many times, after getting locked out of their device, users find it hard to wipe locked iPhone. If you are also going through the same dilemma, then don’t worry. Read on and learn how to wipe a locked iPhone in this extensive guide.

Part 1: Erase locked iPhone with Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS)

One of the best ways to wipe locked iPhone is by using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS) tool. It is an extremely secure and reliable application. It is already compatible with every leading version of iOS and runs on almost all major iOS devices. Available for both Windows and Mac, the tool can be used to remove activation lock and Apple ID. The tool also provides an easy-to-use interface that can help you reset the activation lock on your device.

Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS)

Erase the data of an iPhone even if it is locked

• Erase iPhone data together with the lock screen.
• Remove the 4-digit/6-digit passcode, Touch ID, and Face ID , and activation lock.
• A few clicks and the iOS lock screen are gone.
• Fully compatible with all iDevice models and iOS versions.

4,395,216 people have downloaded it

To learn how to erase iPhone when locked, follow these steps:

Step 1. Download and install Dr.Fone.

Start by downloading Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS) from its official website. Install it on your Windows or Mac and connect your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max to the system whenever you wish to resolve an issue with it. After launching the application, click on the “Screen Unlock” option from the welcome screen.

Step 2. Click Start button.

Wait for a while as the application will automatically recognize your phone. Click on the “Start” button to commence the process.

Step 3. Put the phone into DFU mode.

Follow the on-screen instructions to put your phone into the DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. It can be done by pressing the Home and Power button simultaneously for 10 seconds. Afterward, it would help if you released the Power button while pressing the Home button for another 5 seconds.

Step 4. Download firmware package.

After putting your device into the DFU mode, the application will automatically move to the next window. Here, you would be required to provide essential information related to your phone like device model, firmware update, and more. After filling in the correct information, click on the “Download” button.

Sit back and relax as the application will download the essential firmware update for your phone.

Step 5. Start to unlock.

Once it is done, the application will automatically start resolving the issue on your phone. Make sure that you don’t disconnect your phone while Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS) will resolve the issue on your device.

Step 7. Unlock completed.

After completing the operation successfully, the interface will provide the following message.

You can check if you can unlock your phone or not. If you still have an issue, then click on the “Try Again” button. Else, you can safely remove your phone and use it without any constraint. By following this method, you would learn how to wipe a locked iPhone with Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS).

One of the best things about this technique is that you would wipe locked iPhone without causing any damage. Since it is a secure and reliable method with a high success rate, it is sure to provide a hassle-free experience.

Part 2: Erase locked iPhone by restoring it with iTunes

If you are looking for an alternative way to learn how to erase iPhone when locked, you can also take the assistance of iTunes. It provides a free and simple method to restore your device. Since it would wipe your data, you might end up losing your essential files in the process. We recommend following this technique only when you have taken a backup of your data via iTunes beforehand. To learn how to wipe a locked iPhone with iTunes, follow these steps:

1. Firstly, put your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max into recovery mode. To do this, launch an updated version of iTunes on your system and connect it to a lightning cable. Now, long-press the Home button on your device and connect it to the other end of the lightning cable. Release the Home button once the iTunes logo would appear.

2. As soon as your phone would be connected, iTunes will recognize an issue with it. From here, you can choose to restore it.

3. If you don’t get the above pop-up on your screen, launch iTunes and visit its “Summary” section. From here, choose “Restore backup” under the Backup section.

4. agree to the pop-up message by clicking on the “Restore” button.

Part 3: Erase locked iPhone by Find My iPhone

If you haven’t already taken a backup of your phone, then you might find it hard to recover it with iTunes. Another popular way to wipe locked iPhone is by using the Find My iPhone tool. This is mostly implemented in case of a stolen or lost device. One of the best features of Find My iPhone is that it can be used to reset your device remotely. With this, you can protect your personal data without much trouble. Implement these steps to learn how to erase iPhone when locked using Find My iPhone.

1. To start with, log in to your iCloud account and visit the “Find My iPhone” section.

2. Under the “All Devices” section, you can choose the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max you wish to reset.

3. After selecting your device, you will be presented with various options. Select the “Erase iPhone” feature to reset your device.

Confirm your choice and wipe locked iPhone remotely using the Find My iPhone feature on iCloud.

After following this informative guide, you would learn how to wipe a locked iPhone without any trouble. Go ahead and pick your preferred option to wipe locked iPhone. We recommend using Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS) to resolve this issue securely. Though, if you wish to do it remotely, then you can also give Find My iPhone a try as well. If you are familiar with any other reliable method, please let us know how to erase iPhone when locked in the comments below.

How to Remove and Reset Face ID on Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

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Did you go wrong when you set the Face ID the first time? Or are you tired to put off the mask to use Face ID to unlock your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max? And now, you want to disable the Face ID. Whatever your reasons are, read this article to learn how to remove Face ID on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max X, iPhone XS, iPhone XR or iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, anmd iPhone 15.

Part I: What is Face ID?

If the new Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max is your first-ever iPhone, or if you have neither upgraded your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 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 Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 14, and now the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 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.

Part II: What Can You Do with Face ID?

Most of us know that we can unlock iPhone with our face via Face ID instead of a thumbprint or passcode. But actually, Face ID does more than just that. Let us learn more cool things you can do with Face ID, which helps you to make a decision if you still want to disable it. Here‘s what you can do on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11 with Face ID:

II.I Unlock Your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

As an authentication mechanism, Face ID enables you to unlock your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13 /iPhone 12/iPhone 11 with a look. How to do that? Here are the steps:

Step 1: Pick your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max up in your hands or tap the screen to wake it up.

Step 2: Look at the iPhone.

When the lock symbol changes to the unlocked position, you can swipe up to unlock your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max using Face ID and get to the Home Screen.

Note that Face ID will not work in landscape mode on an iPhone.

II.II Making Purchases Using Face ID on Your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Face ID allows you to authenticate yourself to make purchases in the App Store, Book Store, and iTunes Store and use Apple Pay wherever supported.

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

Step 1: Check if Face ID is enabled for purchases in these stores by going to Settings > Face ID and Passcode and ensuring that iTunes and App Store are toggled On.

Step 2: 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.

How to use Face ID on Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max to pay with Apple Pay

Step 1: If Apple Pay is supported by banking institutions in your country, you can set it up by adding a supported bank‘s credit card, debit card, or prepaid card to the Wallet app on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11.

Step 2: When a card is added and ready to use, check that Apple Pay is enabled under Settings > Face ID and Passcode.

Step 3: For App Store/ Book Store/ iTunes Store purchases, it works as always, you double-press the Side Button to authenticate and use your default card.

Step 4: Look at your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max to authenticate yourself using your Face ID and make the purchase.

Step 5: When paying at retail outlets, hold your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (top being close to the reader) and wait for the checkmark and Done message.

Step 6: To pay using Apple Pay on websites, choose Apple Pay as the payment method, double press the Side Button, look at your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, and wait for the Done message and checkmark to finish the process.

II.III Lowering Ringer and Alarm Volume Automatically

Face ID also enables what Apple calls Attention Aware features that are conveniences afforded to users who have a Face ID enabled iPhone.

Setting up and using Attention Aware features is easy:

Step 1: Go to Settings > Face ID and passcode.

Step 2: Toggle Require Attention For Face ID On.

Step 3: Toggle Attention Aware Features On.

That‘s it. Now, when you get a call and your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13 is ringing loud, looking at your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11 will cause it to lower the volume. When an alarm goes off, you can lower the volume by simply looking at your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max. Additionally, your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max screen will not dim or switch off for the duration you are looking at it. This means you can now read those books on Kindle without constantly tapping the screen for it to stay awake.

II.IV Filling Passwords in Safari Automatically Using Face ID

Face ID also allows users to fill passwords in Safari automatically for a faster and more convenient login experience on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with Face ID.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode and toggle Password Autofill On.

Step 2: Now, when you use Safari to open a website that requires a login, tapping the username field or password field will bring up the keyboard, and on top of that keyboard there will be your credentials for the website if you have saved them in iCloud Passwords. Tap the credentials.

Step 3: Look at your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max to authenticate yourself with Face ID and Safari will autofill the credentials for you.

II.V Animojis and Memojis

Up until now, we saw how Face ID enables productivity features and how convenient it is to use it. Now, we come to the fun part - Animojis. Apple launched Face ID in 2017 on the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max X with much fanfare and a huge part of that fanfare was Animojis. Over time, Apple brought new capabilities to the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max and added Memojis alongside Animojis.

Animojis are animated emojis. These are made possible with advanced algorithms enabled by the TrueDepth camera in Face ID. Animated emojis or Animojis can mimic your facial expressions and you can use them in your message conversations in apps.

Here‘s how to send Animojis in conversations on your new iPhone 13/12/11:

Step 1: Open a message conversation in the Messages app.

Step 2: Tap the Memoji button (a character in a yellow frame) and swipe to select the desired Animoji/ Memoji you want to send.

Step 3: Tap the Record button and you now have 30 seconds to do what you want with your face and the character will reproduce it on screen for you.

Step 4: When done, the Record button changes to Send:

Tap Send to send your first Memoji/ Animoji.

Part III: How to Remove Face ID on Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

For all the hardware and software that make for a great experience for nearly all users around the world, Face ID can have its fair share of issues. Sometimes, your face might not get recognized, sometimes it might not work altogether.

Lately, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how Face ID struggles to work for us, and why? Because it cannot scan our faces with masks! So, it makes sense to remove Face ID from our iPhones and rely solely on passcodes. Alternatively, you want to reset your Face ID on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11 and set it again if you have put on some ‘COVID weight’ owing to working from home.

Most of the time, the best and the simplest thing you can do to resolve your hardware and software issues is to restart the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max device in question. To restart your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11, long-press the Side Button until the power slider appears and drag it to shut the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max device off. Then, use the Side Button to start the phone again.

Sometimes, the issues have a way of persisting, and a restart does not resolve them. the TrueDepth system might have developed a fault and Face ID might stop working. Or you got the dreaded “problem detected with TrueDepth camera” message on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11. In that case, you would like to know how to reset and remove Face ID on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13 to see if that helps, before you are required to go to an Apple Store for service.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode.

Step 2: Scroll and tap the option “Reset Face ID” to remove Face ID on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11.

Part IV: How to Set Up Face ID on Your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Sometimes, you may just want to disable Face ID temporarily or the issue gets solved, and want to activate Face ID again. Setting up a Face ID on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13 is easy. To set up Face ID, sit in a comfortable spot with adequate lighting and follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode and enter your passcode. If you have not set up a passcode yet, you will necessarily have to create one now before proceeding forward.

Step 2: Tap Set Up Face ID to start the process.

Step 3: Hold your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max in the portrait orientation at about an arm‘s length away from your face and then tap Get Started.

Step 4: Adjust to have your face inside the shown circle and then slowly rotate your head in a smooth motion to complete the circle. This step will be done one more time.

Step 5: When done, tap Done.

In case you are getting the following error:

There are a few things you can try to resolve this, you can try to update your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 13/12/11 to the latest iOS. At this point, you may even try running a beta version to see if that helps. If you are running a beta version, you may downgrade back to the release version to see if that resolves the error. Betas can both make and break things.

If this does not resolve it, you need to take the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max device to the nearest service center. The TrueDepth camera system has components that might have been damaged or might not be working properly, for whatever reason, and the service personnel is equipped to resolve this issue for you at the earliest.

Part V: The Bottom Line

Face ID is more than a nifty authentication system in iPhones (and iPads) and brings some unique features that are not found in previous Touch ID enabled devices and enable the users to interact with people (Animojis and Memojis) and with the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (user authentication via facial metrics, Attention Aware features) in new ways. There are times when this does not work as expected, and you can reset and remove Face ID if you feel this is not your cup of tea. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max can be used solely with passcodes if you want. If you find that your screen is locked and you can‘t unlock it, you can always find help in tools such as Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS). So go ahead, use the new Face ID on your Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max with confidence, and enjoy a more secure experience on your new iPhone than ever before.

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