Apple Users Can Now Reset, Erase Locked Devices Without Connecting to a PC or Mac
Apple has introduced Security Lockout mode, which allows users to reset and erase data from their locked iPhone or iPad without the need to connect it to a PC or Mac.
The feature is included in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2, both of which were released earlier this week.
It also activates only after several attempts to enter the correct passcode on your iPhone or iPad. To enable the resetting process, your device must also be connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
Until now, users could only reset their locked iPhones and iPads and erase data by connecting them to a PC or Mac. Apple has made this requirement easier to meet by allowing users to erase and reset their locked devices natively.
The new feature, first noticed by 9to5Mac, is intended to help users easily reset the iPhone and iPad if they forget their passcode, as detailed by Apple in a support page. It does not, however, allow strangers to reset a locked iPhone or iPad because users must enter their Apple ID credentials to complete the resetting process.
When you repeatedly enter incorrect passcodes on your device, the Security Lockout mode appears on the lock screen. It will include an Erase iPhone or Erase iPad button to permanently erase your data and reset the device, depending on which device you have. To sign out of your Apple ID on the device, you will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password.
It is important to note that when you use the Security Lockout mode, your data will be completely erased from your iPhone or iPad. Before proceeding, you should ensure that you have recently backed up your data and settings.
The feature is also restricted to iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 users. On previous versions, you will continue to see the disabled message, which contains only a shortcut to your emergency contact.
App Privacy Report and support for Apple Music Voice Plan are also included in the iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 updates. Apple also released watchOS 8.3, tvOS 15.2, and macOS Monterey 12.1, in addition to the two new software versions. HomePod owners also received HomePod Software Version 15.2 with Apple Music Voice Plan support and Siri’s voice recognition support for up to six users in a home in French (Canada, France), Spanish (Mexico, Spain, and the United States), and German (Austria, Germany).
