How can I reset iPhone without passcode after locked out?

My cousin called in a panic last week — locked out of her iPhone, no passcode, and Find My iPhone had never been on, so the iCloud erase trick was off the table.

DFU mode is what finally worked.

It's a level below recovery mode:

* Quick press volume up

* Quick press volume down

* Hold the side button — keep holding about 5 seconds after the screen goes black, without the Apple logo

iTunes or Finder then detects the device and lets you restore.

She was nervous about the timing, but after two tries the screen stayed black, the computer recognized it, and the wipe went through. That's when I realized this is the real answer to reset iPhone without passcode or computer — the trick lives entirely in the button sequence, no iCloud or Find My required.

If you've wondered how to reset iPhone without passcode or computer doing the work remotely, DFU mode is the closest thing — everything happens through the cable and buttons.