Before it wipes anything, it will lock you out for one minute after the fifth failed attempt. While 10 tries may sound like a few seconds of work, it's a little more involved than that. That way, you can wipe and restore your iPhone from anywhere, then set a new passcode.

It's not very convenient, but it's a good option if you back up to iCloud. You can use this method to either start fresh or restore your iPhone with a backup. When it auto-wipes the data, it does not remove the association with your Apple ID, so only you can restore the device and not any thieves. However, consecutive attempts of the same incorrect passcode will not count. With the switch turned on, iOS will erase the device automatically after the 10th failed passcode attempt. While disabled by default, if you go to 'Face ID & Passcode' or 'Touch ID & Passcode' in your iPhone's Settings app, there's an option to 'Erase Data' after 10 failed passcode attempts.

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And if that doesn't work, you can still easily wipe your iPhone using pretty much any other device. There's a built-in iOS feature that lets you erase your iPhone and create a new passcode no matter where you are - without any computers. But what if you don't have a computer? Or don't have easy access to one when you need to get back into your iPhone? What if you don't live near an Apple Store? When you can't remember or don't know the passcode to your iPhone, Apple recommends you use recovery mode on a computer to restore the device. Whatever the reason, there's an easy way to get back access to your iPhone the next time it happens. Your iPhone's display could have even been damaged and unresponsive. Or perhaps someone with access changed the passcode as a prank. Have you ever been locked out of your iPhone? Maybe you forgot your passcode.

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