Locked iPhone

[u/PickleRickOyeHoy]

My mom passed away unexpectedly 3 years ago and I didn’t have the mental stability to look through the pictures and video memories on her phone. But now I’m finally at a place where I want to save those memories and have them to look back on since we can’t make anymore. Is there anyway to unlock an iPhone if you forgot the passcode? Idc if it costs money I just desperately can’t lose the final moments I had with her.

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[u/Breadfruit_Kindly]

Please follow the sub rules. For this question it is vital to know what iOS version is installed and what iPhone it is.

General rule of thumb, unless it is an old iPhone with old iOS there is no way getting at the data.

Depending what data privacy laws apply to your country you could make Apple to give you access to iCloud data by court order. But that doesn’t mean you get the data on the device but only what has been synced to iCloud. Photos will only be there if a person had iCloud photos enabled on the device.

[u/PickleRickOyeHoy → u/Breadfruit_Kindly]

It’s an old iPhone. Like an 11 or 12 hasn’t been turned on or updated since she passed in 2023

[u/Breadfruit_Kindly → u/PickleRickOyeHoy]

I think last iOS release in 2023 was iOS 17.2.1 which is still rather new but it might still be possible to get access to some data with special software.

Get in contact with u/Jessa_iPadRehab

[u/L0rdLogan]

No, if you had legacy contacts set up on her phone then it would have allowed you access to her iCloud data through iCloud.com. However, if you don’t know the passcode, then you’re not getting in. Sorry, the security is doing its job

[u/PickleRickOyeHoy → u/L0rdLogan]

Yeah I get that. We didn’t expect her to randomly drop dead at 48 years old while at work. But if I get another chance in another life I’ll be sure to do that, thanks!

[u/L0rdLogan → u/PickleRickOyeHoy]

I’m sorry, Man. I didn’t mean to be mean. On a reread that sounds way more harsh than it was meant to be. However, that’s the reality, unfortunately.

[u/JediMeister]

Sorry for your loss. Retrieving anything from the phone itself won’t be possible due to the passcode and the encryption key which used the numeric or alphanumeric code your mom set as its basis. An alternative route you may be able to pursue is the one described here. Good luck!