How to Unlock Old Notes on iPhone When You Forgot the Password

Have you been locked out of your old notes because you forgot your password on your iPhone? Notes allow you to lock files so that you can keep certain things private, but they also take passwords very seriously. If you're wondering, 'How to unlock old notes on iPhone if I forgot the password?' then you've come to the right place.

Can You Unlock Old iPhone Notes When You Forgot the Password?

Sadly, no, you cannot. If you had set a unique password for your notes, there's no way to access those locked notes if you forgot the password.

To open a locked note, you need to use the password assigned to it. If you forget the password, Apple can't help you regain access to your locked notes.

To prevent being locked out of the new notes you create in future, it's better to reset the password for your notes immediately. 

Once you do that, you can use the new password for your new notes. Unfortunately, the old locked ones will remain inaccessible.

How to Deal With the 'Forgot Notes Password' Issue on iPhone

Reset the Notes Password

In this case, you have two options: create a new password for your notes or use your device's passcode. But keep in mind, this won't unlock your old notes—only the new ones you create.

Things can get confusing if you have multiple password passwords for your notes. If you try to open a note with an old password but accidentally use your current one, you'll see a message saying it's the wrong password, along with a hint for the old one.

If you remember and enter the correct old password, you can update that note's password to your current one.

Here's how to reset the password:

1. Open the Settings app on your device and go to "Notes."
2. Tap on "Password."
3. Choose the Notes account you want to change and then tap "Reset Password."
4. Enter your Apple ID password and tap "OK."
5. Tap "Reset Password" again.
6. Now, use your device passcode or create a new password with a hint.
7. Tap "Done.

Switch the Notes Password to iPhone Passcode

Another option that you have is to switch from your Notes password to your iPhone passcode if it's easier to remember and recover your locked notes.

Here's how you can do it:

1. You must ensure that you have the iCloud Keychain turned on for the device that your locked notes are on.
2. Go to the Settings app and click on Notes.
3. Click on 'Password.'
4. Choose 'Use Device Passcode.'
5. Tap Continue to proceed.
6. Click on 'OK'.

Now all of your locked notes that were locked by the most recent Notes password can easily be unlocked with your Face ID or Touch ID iPhone passcode. It's a quick and easy fix to help you with access when you forget one of your passwords.

Remove the Notes Lock

If you don't want to get locked out of your notes anymore, consider removing the notes lock. Here's what to do next:

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Check if there's a lock icon next to your note.
3. If it is locked, click on your note to open it.
4. Enter your password, Face ID, or Touch ID.
5. Now click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner.
6. Click the 'remove' option with the lock on it.

One thing to note is that this method can't help you if your notes are already locked, and you've misplaced the password. It's a lost cause in that case.

FAQs

How Do I Change the Notes Password if I Forgot It?

If you have forgotten your current notes password, there's no way to change it. If you happen to recall your old Notes password, you can change it easily. Just go to Settings, then tap on Notes, followed by Password. Choose "Change Password" and fill in the details in the prompt that comes up. That's it! Your Notes password will be updated.

How to Get Into My Locked Notes on my iPhone?

The options to get into your locked notes are very limited. You can get in through these ways:

1. The first way is to use the password you added during setup or when you locked the note. Without access to this password, you won't be able to reset it or view the note.
2. Try logging in using either Face ID or Touch ID, depending on what your phone has to offer. This will only work if you had previously enabled iCloud Keychain when making the notes.

To Conclude

Now that you know how to unlock old notes on the iPhone you forgot your password for. You can't access your old memories and may lose things dear to you unfortunately. Just make sure to have a biometric substitute for your password available in case you forget it in the future. Trust us, it saves you a great deal of trouble!