Unlock iPod Screen Lock If You Forget The 4 Digit Combination
I’ve have several a lot of people post questions on other posts here at MDV asking how to unlock the iPod Screen Lock function if you forget the 4 digit combination/pass code, so I figured I would write up a short tutorial here to direct people to.
There are basically three ways to unlock the Screen Lock on your iPod:
- The most obvious and will not work for most people (or else you wouldn’t be visiting this web site). Simply enter the 4 digit combination/pass code at Extras > Screen Lock.
- Connect your iPod to the first computer it was synced with or the computer set as the primary one in iTunes. Open the iTunes application, then disconnect your iPod from the computer, and it should no longer be locked.
- Use this final way only if the first two options do not work for you because it is a destructive process.
Everything on your iPod will be erased.
This should not be a problem if you have all of your songs, videos, and other media stored in iTunes and you can synchronize once again after getting the iPod unlocked. Besides, if you don’t unlock your iPod it’s useless right? Learn how to Restore your iPod using the instructions from Apple’s site.
If your iPod is simply frozen, follow my instructions for an iPod Lockup Reset.
7/11/2007 at 12:54am
how can i find out my screen lock code i forgot it
7/11/2007 at 8:15am
You can’t! Read the instructions posted…you will need to reset your iPod.
7/11/2007 at 10:24am
ughm i have an ipod video and when i put it into itunes and take it out it dosent work i dont get it
7/11/2007 at 10:29am
Read #3 and follow the link as a last resort if option 1 or 2 do not work.
7/11/2007 at 10:33am
:S :S:S are u sure thts the only resolution….because i use my ipod on my fathers computer and my mothers i dotn know how i will be able to get back all my song….oh and when u sync u go to to file and sync”Alicia” right?
7/11/2007 at 10:56am
im just gonna write a bunch of pissibilities it might be and try them all..i guess
7/13/2007 at 7:18pm
Try this little application out, no restore of iPod required.
http://www.hiddenvision.co.uk/ipod
7/14/2007 at 6:44am
uh… its the way i felt the last time i thought i’ll restore my podi… about my code recovery i just found out that the podi itself stores the code deep inside its memory. its hidden so ii select to view the hidden files and folders on the control panel. there i cheked the files and foud the codes.. i just throw it to my bin… and i became normal again…
7/14/2007 at 4:54pm
i hav a ipod nano an im away frm home 4 ages an at my house is wer i 1st gt my ipod synced so wat can i do wil im away is der any other way?…….
plus i havnt my wire fingy wif ma……
so wat can i do???
naomi..x
7/14/2007 at 4:57pm
plus alicia is gay lol!!!
lul jk jk !!!
lol
naomi..x
ps. steve sounds fit!!!
lol
tk bk!!
naomi..x
7/14/2007 at 11:07pm
http://www.hiddenvision.co.uk/ipod/ COuldnt get anything to work, used this website all problems solved, took me less than one minute after using program off website, amazing. http://www.hiddenvision.co.uk/ipod/
7/16/2007 at 10:00pm
Here’s my solution, which will allow you to unlock your screen and put in a new code without restoring your iPod.
1.Connect iPod to computer and enable disk use.
2. Show hidden files and folders by going to my computer then to tools>folder options, click the view tab and under hidden files and folders click show hidden files and folders.
3. under my computer click your ipod drive, then click i folder that says iPod_Control, then a folder called device.
4. here there will be a folder either called _locked(if your iPod is currently locked or_unlocked (if your iPod is currently unlocked), open this folder with notepad or something equivalent to it.
5. here you will see a bunch of gibberish, this is an encrypted version of your pass code delete this and save the file, disconnect your iPod, reset it by pressing menu and select at the same time and holding it for 6 seconds, then reconnect your ipod and let it sync.
6. if you no longer want disk use then disable that, if you keep it in disk mode then remember you need to eject it manually.
Congratulations, you can change your pass code with out the old one and you don’t need to restore your iPod.
7/23/2007 at 7:24am
John is correct just delete or cut that file name _locked its a hidden file. Thats what i did to my sisters ipod video no need for restore. its very easy
7/24/2007 at 1:30am
hiyeah baby you got what i mean mr john!
8/20/2007 at 9:37pm
hi john! been trying to follow your instruction to unlock the screen lock from of my ipod. but its not working.
pls help me. thanks.
8/30/2007 at 4:02pm
As per John, I went into iPod_Control\Device folder and identified ‘_unlocked’ file. I opened it in notepad. It didn’t show me any gibberish characters rather it showed me the actual old 4 digit lock code. I don’t know why the code was not in ecrypted form. In iPod’s screenlock change menu, I supplied this old code and changed the screenlock code to new one. Again I opened the file and verified the lock code, now its in encrypted form. I think it was my good luck!!!
9/2/2007 at 1:52pm
THANKYOU!!!
i ha been trying forever to unlock this.
9/3/2007 at 9:07am
John is awsome, that’s alot
9/13/2007 at 4:57pm
plzzzzzzzzzzz i want the code of my ipod i forget it !!!plz send it o my e mail plzzzz i getting crazyyyyyyyyyyy:@:@:@:@
9/23/2007 at 7:33pm
i forget my code.
9/23/2007 at 7:34pm
w
9/26/2007 at 4:22pm
um.
i reset my ipod.
and it still wont come off lock
10/6/2007 at 1:34am
okay i entered a code to lock my ipod and when i went to unlock it i entered the code… and needles to say it didnt work for some reason. did i do something wrong? and i noticed the little ticks, was i suppose to remember those too? please help email me at motoxrider9@hotmail.com
10/19/2007 at 11:37am
plz tell me how can i unlock my ipod screen lock? i forgot the 4 digit code?????plzzzzz help meeeeeee
10/28/2007 at 10:25am
THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH OH MY GOSH!!!!!!! you are a god.
10/28/2007 at 10:26am
I NEVER wouldve gotten my pod unlocked without you. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10/28/2007 at 10:27am
hey Cindy, when you just reset it doesnt affect settings. thats why it wont unlock.
10/31/2007 at 11:41pm
I can’t get this to work. I found a file that says iPod. But when I click on it, inside is a folder called bin, nothing saying “Control or device”.
What’s wrong. Can anyone help me?
11/1/2007 at 12:41pm
I need to unlock my iPod(its new with one of those metal backs) and the code I thought I set doesn’t work. I’m using a Mac OS 10.4 I think. Instrucions for dummies would be helpful. Thanks
11/10/2007 at 4:19pm
As per previous insctructions, I simply navigated to the iPod_Control\Device\ folder, then deleted the “_locked” file. Hold Menu + Select to reset and Ipod!
11/10/2007 at 11:20pm
heyy guys alrite this thing really does work….do the ipodcontrol/device/locked_ thing…
but to actually make it work…delete the gibberish…save it
and actually delete the file from the folder…
as in pressing the red x button at the top and sending it to the recycling bin…and then u can just eject ur ipod from itunes…
and itll go rite to ur main menu
thank god for this dude josh though
11/25/2007 at 2:09am
THanx John
all i did was lock my ipop plug it into my computer
open the _locked file in notepad then backspaced the jibberish that was there it said something like “ZÑäbjåÖ\féÚPbÃÞT~ñÂHzõÆLvùÊ@rýÎD”
then saved (Ctrl + s) then renamed the file to _unlocked then deleted the file
when i diconnected my ipod it was at the main menu so just to sure i soft restarted my ipod (MENU + middle button) and the 4 digit pin was gone now i can set a new one
lol to think it was that easy cause i was gonna pay a friend of mine to hack it and unlock it 4 me
12/4/2007 at 7:42pm
how do you open the locked file in notepad??
12/4/2007 at 7:51pm
okay i have an iMac and my ipod is locked and i forgot the code…. i dont have any of my songs on this mac and i dont have accesss to my library is there anyway someone can help me
12/9/2007 at 9:38pm
hey i have a MAC OS 10.4 n i can’t figure out how to get to any of the things i need to, to reset my lock screen can someone give me step by step directions
12/10/2007 at 2:20pm
The first computer I synced it too the harddrive crashed and now I have a new computer.What should I do?
12/27/2007 at 12:00pm
i have the one with the metal backs will it still work
12/27/2007 at 5:14pm
hi,
i locked my ipod and i forgot the screan lock.what do i do??
HELP
1/4/2008 at 12:30pm
I locked my ipod what do i do???…….
1/7/2008 at 5:31pm
Thank you so much!
Someone else locked my ipod and they did not know what code they set.
Without this i dont know what i would have done.
Thank goodness you knew what to do.
All i had to do was open itunes when my ipod was connected to my computer.
Wow! I feel stupid now!
1/15/2008 at 5:31pm
hi
can you help. i need help unlocking my ipod
HELP
1/15/2008 at 5:35pm
hi
i need help
1/15/2008 at 5:36pm
hi
i need help unlocking my ipod
HELP
1/15/2008 at 5:37pm
hi
help
1/19/2008 at 7:03am
i acidently locked my brothers ipod the ipod was givin to him for free from his friend who passed away and we dont know code and we are going away over seas tomorro and he needs it for the plane trip how do i unlock it??? HELP!!!!
1/19/2008 at 9:14am
help me i got this ipod with almost 2000 songs on it for my birthday i love every song on it and my asshole of a friend locked my screen and aperently the i pod was stolen i didnt know until i asked the guy who sold it to me so i dont know the code or what the primary computer was? what do i do?
1/21/2008 at 12:13am
All you have to do is connect your Ipod, download itunes, dump your music, restore and re install everything
1/26/2008 at 6:35pm
i set my ipod on lock screan and didnt know what that did now it will be locked help me i got the new nano
1/27/2008 at 11:49am
That sucks, I got a new harddrive and all of my other songs are on my old one, so I’m only going to have like 44 songs on it unyil i gradually get more. if the restore process doesn’t work then i am going to be so mad.
2/3/2008 at 4:31am
how do i unlocked my ipod
2/8/2008 at 12:26am
i need help
2/9/2008 at 6:34pm
I would just to like to say thankyou to the genius who wrote this forum!! By ipod is now working fine!! A warning to others, do not try and set your combination unless you are in a safe place where your arm is guranteed not to be nudged!!
THANKYOU, finally I can go back to being unsociable…
2/11/2008 at 8:53pm
My friend locked my ipod nano in acciedent!And I don’t remember my password!
2/13/2008 at 12:41am
Thanks man that really helped me alot my neice was messin with it and put the lock on and i was freakin out my ipods like my life
2/15/2008 at 5:07am
Much Thanks - my IPOD froze up and I was looking at a 17 hour plane flt back to the states from the Middle East with no tunes - your instructions got it working again!
2/20/2008 at 11:49pm
i put my i-pod nano on lock and i didnt put a combination and now i cant unlock it. pleaseeee help me!!!
2/26/2008 at 10:18pm
how do i unlock my code i for got the code help
2/27/2008 at 7:01pm
hey i need help unlockin my ipod
3/1/2008 at 11:09am
This is a modification to John’s post on this subject. It is a little easier and works great!
Here’s my solution, which will allow you to unlock your screen and put in a new code without restoring your iPod.
1.Connect iPod to computer and enable disk use.
2. Show hidden files and folders by going to my computer then to tools>folder options, click the view tab and under hidden files and folders click show hidden files and folders.
3. Under my computer click your iPod drive, then click the folder that says iPod_Control, then click the folder called device.
4. Here there will be a file either called _locked (if your iPod is currently locked or _unlocked (if your iPod is currently unlocked).
5. If your iPod is locked, rename the file from _locked TO _unlocked.
6. Disconnect your iPod, reset it by pressing menu, the iPod will be unlocked.
Congratulations, you can change your pass code with out the old one and you don’t need to restore your iPod.
3/3/2008 at 8:25pm
im on my way OVERSEAS, my nephew messing w ipod and locked it up, primary sync computer is a friend of mine in another state…….aaallhhhhhh. what else can i do besides these 3 ways. ive got like 1500 songs!
3/4/2008 at 1:55am
I don’t got a computer I bought my ipod on the pawn shop and its locked how can I unlock it
3/5/2008 at 1:37pm
HELP ME SEND ME AN EMAIL ON HOW TO FIX IT its Mohamed_156@msn.com
3/5/2008 at 4:50pm
k i have a brother who locked my ipod and i unlocked it on da computer then he locked it again but i forgot how to unlock i!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wat should i do
3/8/2008 at 5:12pm
my ipod is loked 2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tried 2 disconect it lik this 1 website said 2 do @ it said i needed a password and username and i didnt have 1 !I got this 4 christmas of 2006 and ive ben trying 2 fix it since then and if i dont fix it my dad is going 2 b extra pissed ! he already is regreting buying it 4 me ! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
3/8/2008 at 5:14pm
it was a lik 400 dollar ipod !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
3/13/2008 at 9:21pm
I Went to the lock key and i forget my password and i can’t get out
3/15/2008 at 9:47am
i need help i locked my ipod by accident n i forgot my combination
i also got a new computer so i cant go to any hidden files on my new itunes can some one help me
3/15/2008 at 4:13pm
i really need help my ipod is locked and i dont know how to get it off. Its been locked for 2 weeks and my mom is startin to get a lil pissed HELP!!!!!!!!!
3/16/2008 at 10:28am
sir need help i locked my ipod by accident n i forgot my combination
plz help me
3/19/2008 at 8:43am
Hello!
I think this try.
3/23/2008 at 9:13am
hey im twelve i found my ipod after school did not sync mine with a computer was synced with the owners how do i fix my ipod
3/24/2008 at 2:24am
How can I unlock my iPod, iPod nano, or iPod touch if I forgot the “Screen Lock” code?
I am using “window XP” with itune installed.
My system is NOT The original primary PC.
[I've tried the below method, and my music is still intact]
Step:
1. Plug in ipod.
2. Open “My Computer”
3. Look for the removable device (which is your ipod).
4. Open the folder, search for this hidden file : _locked.
rename or remove(delete) this file.
5. Eject your ipod.
Done.
3/27/2008 at 2:42pm
thanx that really
did HELP
3/28/2008 at 9:15pm
hello i forgot the code on my ipod touch can you please help
me fix it… this is the first time it has EVER happend