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Teajaykay
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

iPhone 12 mini cannot update iOS to reset forgotten passcode due to insufficient storage

My daughter upgraded her phone earlier this year. Her older phone (Apple iPhone 12 mini) I want to let my younger daughter have, but child 1 has forgotten her passcode. I've followed the steps to reset it via computer, but it says in order to do so it needs an iOs update. I click 'update' and it tells me there isn't enough free storage. Going around in circles. Any idea how I can solve this please?

Posted on Oct 28, 2026 3:02 AM

4 replies

WheelieNick
User level: Level 9 (74,110 points)

Oct 28, 2026 4:30 AM in response to Teajaykay

To fix this, you need to choose "Restore" instead of "Update" while your iPhone is in Recovery Mode.

Because the phone is locked and full, it cannot handle an over-the-air or standard computer update. A Restore will completely wipe the phone and reset it to factory settings, which completely bypasses the storage issue and removes the forgotten passcode. Since the phone is going to your younger daughter anyway, erasing it is exactly what you want to do.

LD150
User level: Level 10 (107,674 points)

Oct 28, 2026 4:03 PM in response to Teajaykay

How to Enter DFU Mode (iPhone 8 and Newer) according to Google AI

  1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac (running macOS Catalina or later) or a PC (with iTunes or the Apple Devices app) using a USB cable. [1, 2, 3]
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. [1]
  3. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button. [1]
  4. Press and hold the Side button until the screen turns completely black (about 10 seconds). [1, 2]
  5. While still holding the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button for about 5 seconds. [1, 2]
  6. Release the Side button, but keep holding down the Volume Down button for another 5 seconds. [1, 2]
  7. If the screen stays completely black, your iPhone has successfully entered DFU mode, and your computer will display an alert saying it detected a device in recovery mode. (If an Apple logo or a "Connect to computer" screen appears, you held the buttons too long and need to start over). [1]


LD150
User level: Level 10 (107,674 points)

Oct 28, 2026 4:01 PM in response to Teajaykay

Teajaykay wrote:
I tried that. I click on Restore and nothing happens...

Keep trying. Recovery process can be glitchy, and it is the exception that proves the rule about doing the same thing several times and expecting a different result is NOT insanity.


A proper "DFU" should ignore any deficiencies as it wipes the whole phone first.

Teajaykay Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 28, 2026 11:30 AM in response to WheelieNick

I tried that. I click on Restore and nothing happens...

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256384118