Reset iphone 5 without a power button

[Syringer]

So my Galaxy S3 stopped working and a friend let me borrow his Iphone 5.

I thought I could just switch the sim cards but they're both different sizes, so I'm guessing I have to go to the AT&T store to change them over.

In the mean time I want to reset the phone to factory settings, however I have two issues--I don't have his itunes password and he's out of the country for the week.

Also I can't reset the phone into restore mode because the power button on the phone doesn't work (why he got rid of it in the first place).

Do I have any other options in the mean time?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I think you can wipe it by plugging it into your computer with iTunes. You can also just cut the sim card yourself so it will fit.

 

[Raduque]

If you cut it yourself, use an actual sim cutting tool. That way, if you switch back to a phone that uses a Micro SIM without needing a new SIM - you just put the Nanosim back into the "shell" piece you cut off with the tool.

 

[bearxor]

I think you can wipe it by plugging it into your computer with iTunes. You can also just cut the sim card yourself so it will fit.

You have to put it in to recovery mode to wipe it. That typically requires the power button.

So, OP, a few things for you.

Try this utility. I've used it to put phones in to and out of recovery mode before:
http://www.cydiawater.com/download-recboot-to-kick-an-iphone-into-recovery-mode/

Now, if it's running iOS 7, you may not be able to get it back up and running without his Apple ID password. Depends on if Find my iPhone is on. But at least that can get you reloaded.

Finally, the power button on the iPhone 5 is a known issue with certain batches. One Apple is aware of and are fixing up to two years from the purchase date of the phone. So you should be covered. Put the serial number in to this page and find out:
https://ssl.apple.com/support/iphone5-sleepwakebutton/

 

[Spineshank]

You dont need iTunes to wipe it. Just go into the phone settings and do a factory restore.

Now if by iTunes password, you mean the pin on his phone. Well then thats a different story.

 

[bearxor]

I'm presuming he means that there is a PIN on the phone that he can't get it unlocked. Wiping the device in recovery mode would clear that. But it won't clear Activation Lock.