How to Unlock iPhone If Screen Is Broken [2026 Guide]

Accidentally damaging your iPhone display can instantly cut you off from your most important digital files, messages, and contacts. When the touch sensor is compromised, typing in your standard passcode using your fingers often becomes impossible. Fortunately, you can still access your device even if the screen is entirely unresponsive. In this post, we sort out 7 effective ways to help you bypass a cracked or broken display without entering a passcode.

Video Guide: How to Unlock iPhone with Broken Screen

First of all, let's watch a short video here. You'll learn how to unlock iPhone if screen is broken or cracked. If you're still unclear about it, you can keep reading and find more ways to get it resolved.

Top 7 Ways to Unlock an iPhone with a Broken Screen

There are 7 ways to unlock an iPhone with a damaged screen, though each comes with its own set of challenges. The following are the detailed instructions for them.

Method	Data Retention	Difficulty	Required Tools
1️⃣ USB Keyboard	Keeps Data	Easy	Lightning/USB-C adapter, keyboard
2️⃣ Siri VoiceOver	Keeps Data	Moderate	Siri enabled, Home/Side button
3️⃣ iTunes (Trusted)	Keeps Data (via backup)	Moderate	Trusted PC/Mac, USB cable, Find My disabled
4️⃣ Recovery Mode	Erases Data	Moderate	PC/Mac, USB cable, Find My disabled
5️⃣ iCloud.com	Erases Data	Easy	Web browser, Apple ID, Find My enabled
6️⃣ Find My App	Erases Data	Easy	Another Apple device, Apple ID, Find My enabled
7️⃣ iOS Unlocker HOT	Erases Data	Very Easy	PC/Mac, TunesKit iPhone Unlocker

Method 1. Unlock Using a Physical USB Keyboard

If your screen is completely shattered but the device still powers on, a wired keyboard is the safest way to bypass the touch interface. This affordable hardware trick allows you to physically type your passcode without relying on the damaged digitizer. You will need a standard USB keyboard and an adapter that fits your specific iPhone's charging port.

• Step 1. Connect the external USB keyboard to your broken iPhone via an original lightning cable.
• Step 2. Simply press the space bar twice to activate your lock screen.
• Step 3. Now enter your screen passcode on USB keyboard to unlock your iPhone.

Method 2. Bypass the Lock Screen via Siri VoiceOver

Siri, a voice controller that allows users to access most features on iPhone, can be a powerful tool for users with broken screens. By activating VoiceOver, you change how the device interprets touch inputs, allowing you to carefully select items without needing precise taps. It's not 100% success, but still worth trying as it won't cause any data loss.

You must already have Siri enabled for this process to work properly.

• Step 1. Hold down the physical Side or Home button and clearly say, "Hey Siri, turn on VoiceOver."
• Step 2. Swipe up from the bottom edge or press the Home button to trigger the passcode entry screen.
• Step 3. Tap a number to highlight it, wait for Siri to read it aloud, and double-tap anywhere on the screen to confirm the input.

Method 3. Access via a Previously Trusted iTunes Connection

If you regularly sync your device to a specific computer, you might be able to bypass the lock screen entirely. By connecting the broken device to a "trusted" machine, iTunes or Finder can communicate with the phone without requiring a passcode prompt on the damaged display.

You must have established this trusted connection before the screen broke.

• Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your trusted Mac or Windows PC using a reliable cable.
• Step 2. Launch iTunes or Finder on your computer. When iTunes detects your iPhone, you should click Trust on your broken iPhone. Since your device has ever synced with the computer, you can skip this step.
• Step 3. Then, hit on the small device icon.
• Step 4. Navigate to the Summary tab and select Back Up Now to save your data.
• Step 5. When the backup is finished, go back to Summary > Restore iPhone. Proceed to restore the device.

Method 4. Restore Broken iPhone in Recovery Mode

When your display is completely black and you have never trusted a computer before, forcing a system restore is your next viable option. Recovery Mode allows iTunes or Finder to detect a major system issue and provides administrative access to wipe the device clean.

This method will erase all personal data, so it should only be used if you have a previous backup or if you prioritize regaining access over saving files.

Step 1: Shut down your broken iPhone and then place it into recovery mode (if you think it's complicated, you can use TunesKit iOS System Recovery to automatically enter recovery mode for free):

• iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation): Simply press and quickly release the Volume Up button, and then Volume Down button. Next, press and hold the Side button until you can see the recovery mode screen.
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold Volume Down button and Side (or Top) button simultaneously until the recovery mode screen appear on device.
• iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation): Press and hold both Home and Side (or Top) buttons until the recovery mode screen displays in your sight.

Step 2: Connect your broken iPhone to the computer and launch iTunes or Finder.

Step 3: A window will pop up, indicating there is a problem with iPhone. You can now click Restore button to factory reset iPhone with broken screen and remove screen lock.

Method 5. Erase the Device Remotely Using iCloud

A severely damaged iPhone might fail to register a wired connection to a computer altogether. In these extreme cases, you can use Apple's Find My network to send a wireless self-destruct signal to the phone. The device must be powered on and connected to cellular data or Wi-Fi for this command to process.

• Step 1. Open a web browser on any accessible computer and log into iCloud website.
• Step 2. Click the Find My icon and select your broken iPhone from the device list.
• Step 3. Select the Erase This Device option to securely wipe the passcode and all internal storage.

Method 6. Wipe the Phone Using the Find My App

If you do not have access to a computer browser, you can achieve the exact same remote wipe using another Apple device. Whether it is an iPad you own or a friend's iPhone, the native Find My application can send the necessary erase command.

• Step 1. Open the Find My app on a secondary Apple device.
• Step 2. Tap the Devices tab at the bottom of the interface to view all hardware linked to your Apple ID.
• Step 3. Select the broken iPhone, swipe up to view the full menu, and tap Erase This Device.
• Step 4. Tap Continue to confirm your operation and then tap Erase to begin erasing device and removing iPhone lock from the broken screen.

Method 7. Unlock iPhone with Broken Screen via TunesKit [100% Working]

If official Apple methods prove too complex or timing the Recovery Mode button presses is frustrating, we highly recommend trying TunesKit iPhone Unlocker. This powerful tool is specifically designed to help users unlock their iPhones effortlessly, even in cases where the screen is broken or unresponsive.

Besides, TunesKit offers additional features, removing an Apple ID without the password, and bypassing MDM locks or Screen Time passcodes without losing data. With its intuitive interface and user-friendly design, anyone can use it—no technical expertise required.

Now, let's see how to unlock iPhone with broken screen by using TunesKit iPhone Unlocker.

• Step 1. Connect your broken iPhone to a computer via a lightning cable. Launch TunesKit and it will detect your device automatically. Then choose Unlock iOS Screen feature and click Start button.
• Step 2. Follow the guide to put your iPhone into DFU mode or Recovery mode. Then, click Next button.
• Step 3. Next, click Download button and TunesKit will download the firmware package. Before that, check if the device information is corresponding to your device. If not, please correct it manually.
• Step 4. As soon as the firmware package is downloaded successfully, now click Unlock button and it will start to unlock iPhone broken screen immediately. To avoid any data loss, please backup your iPhone before unlocking it.

FAQs About Unlocking iPhone with Broken Screen

In this part, we list out some frequently asked questions from our customers that are related to how to unlock an iPhone with a broken or cracked iPhone. Also, we give short answers to them.

Conclusion

Here are the top 7 methods to unlock an iPhone with a broken screen. If you want to save your content and data, you can try to use the Keyboard method, Siri feature or repair the iPhone screen.

If you just need to remove the screen lock on your iPhone, I think TunesKit iPhone Unlocker would be the best choice. It allows you to unlock your iPhone effortlessly and effectively.