How to Reset Vision Pro After Password Lockout

From what I have found this morning across forums and discussions, it would appear that you are correct in that much like the Apple Watch and Apple TV, there isn’t a way for the end user to restore themselves. I only found recovery mode and had incorrectly assumed that, like when a new iPhone is released, a software compatibility update would be pushed out for macOS and we would be able to restore as needed. One would think “It’s $3500. Surely Apple made a way for the user to restore”, but no. The battery cable is apparently only for power and not data.

You must schedule a retail appointment or contact AppleCare and mail it in to be reset.

it blows my mind that this is the case, but as for now, and who knows, maybe indefinitely, it is what it is.

jayKlo wrote:

I setup my Vision Pro this morning and created a password during the setup process. This afternoon I disconnected the battery cable and after re-connecting I was prompted for my password/pin. I have tried to enter the password that I thought I had set this morning multiple times but at this point I am now locked out for an hour. I have scoured the support articles and have found no mention of a method for resetting the device under these circumstances.

Is there a method to reset the Vision Pro when the login password is forgotten?

If you updated your Apple Vision Pro to visionOS 1.0.3 before you forgot your passcode, you can erase it by selecting Forgot Passcode? and follow the steps to sign into your Apple ID and remove Activation Lock, then erase your Vision Pro. See here: If you forgot your Apple Vision Pro passcode

If you don't see the Forgot Passcode? option, you will need to go to an Apple Store or (if you are an Apple Developer Program member) use a Developer Strap, if you have one, as it's only available to ADP members, and it is $299.

Same. The eye ID setup failed is it had me create a PIN. I used the same as on my phone. I was careful. I entered it twice using eye tracking and pinch method. Then after 10 mins of use or so I got prompted for the PIN. It didn’t take my PIN. This has to be a bug. I didn’t forget my PIN. I didn’t fail to enter it correctly, but now I’m locked out.

So I got to the Apple Store when they opened today, and the Genius Bar folks have never had to work on a Vision Pro but they are using a tool called the Developer Strap to reset it. There’s a secret lighting connector under the right strap where this thing plugs in. They don’t sell these to the public. They are reading repeat instructions from an iPad and doing a series of powering on and off via removing the cable.

Power off the Vision Pro (disconnect the battery or press and hold the left button and crown until you see the option to “slide to power off”).

Power it back on by pressing the left button and continue to do so until you see the “connect to a computer” icon.

Plug the USB-C charge cable into a computer with the latest version of iTunes (Windows), or Apple Configurator 2/ Finder on macOS. The other end plugs into the battery.

choose to restore the Vision Pro.

Quick update on this. I called Apple Support again on the slim chance they've found a solution to this problem. The agent told me that they've gotten a bunch of calls today about this passcode bug and he's had to deal with a lot of angry customers after telling them their only recourse is to return to the store. He said Apple Support was really caught off guard by this and apologized for not being better prepared.

I picked up my Vision Pro this morning and the same issue happened to me about 15 minutes into using it. I set the same passcode that I set on all my devices and it will not recognize my passcode. I called Apple Support and they told me I need to drive back down to the Apple Store to have the passcode reset. I’m so annoyed.

Same. The eye ID setup failed is it had me create a PIN. I used the same as on my phone. I was careful. I entered it twice using eye tracking and pinch method. Then after 10 mins of use or so I got prompted for the PIN. It didn’t take my PIN. This has to be a bug. I didn’t forget my PIN. I didn’t fail to enter it correctly, but now I’m locked out.

So I got to the Apple Store when they opened today, and the Genius Bar folks have never had to work on a Vision Pro but they are using a tool called the Developer Strap to reset it. There’s a secret lighting connector under the right strap where this thing plugs in. They don’t sell these to the public but they do sell them to developers for $300. They are reading work instructions from an iPad and doing a series of powering on and off via removing the cable.

so far the service update utility software is failing to reset the Vision Pro. 3 geniuses have tried two laptops and two iPads labeled “vision pro diagnostics” to try to factory reset this thing but it always fails part way through.

I’m way more than 2 hours at the bar.

ultimately they couldn’t reset it and ended up replacing it. However Goldman Sachs was having “systemic issues” and despite having enough room on my card for 2 Vision Pros, would not approve the transaction. Spent an hour in the phone with them from the Genius Bar. Got it escalated twice and ultimately they told me to try again tomorrow.

it feels like the current people in charge of retail are dishonoring the company that Jobs and Ive built

Yes. I had a similar problem, where my passcode was not recognized. Polite Applecare rep told me I needed to go to apple store.

All of the "Geniuses" were excited to see me, as I was the first customer to come to this location with a Vision Pro problem. I was the most popular person in the store (unfortunately). Apple actually released a published "solution" to my problem 9 minutes before I walked into the store according to my genius.

After a bout an hour, the problem was solved (a complete factory reset). Solution was:

1. Apply developer strap.
2. Put Vision Pro into connection mode by holding down top button on startup.
3. Connect to special iPad.
4. Use the most recent update of the diagnatic tool (this was initially omitted and caused a delay)

So, there is hope........

At this time Apple has not released the compatibility update for the Vision Pro for macOS or Windows. You’ll want to be on the latest version of macOS/Windows in general, but otherwise you’ll need to keep checking by occasionally plugging the Vision Pro into your computer until you’re prompted to install the compatibility update, then you can follow the steps to put it into recovery mode and restore. Until then, retail may be able to restore it for you.

Everybody here needs to contact Apple Support. This is definitely a software bug. When you contact them, tell them the issue.

I carefully entered my passcode and when I turned the vision pro back on it would not accept my passcode. Extremely frustrating to hear that the only way to fix this is “return to the store”. After paying $4000 for this device this seems like a major flaw in failure analysis by the development crew.

Update: I went to the store and after multiple store associates got involved to restore (basically doing a full reinstall, and they clearly had not been well trained in this and it took multiple hours) I went home with a working Vision Pro.

Then the same problem happened a day later and I just decided to return my Vision Pro.

It would appear that at this time Apple has not released the compatibility update for the Vision Pro. Obviously you’ll want to be on the latest version of macOS/Windows, but otherwise occasionally plug in the Vision Pro until you get the prompt to install the compatibility update, then you can follow the above steps to restore. Otherwise, retail may be able to restore until then.

Not sure what happened. I could enter with the passcode I had setup for a while and then when I wanted to run the software update it did not take my password. I’ve kept trying and now locked out. Do I need to reinstall? Is this a bug?