Attempting to use unverified software tools to extract passwords carries massive risks:

The memory card reset nukes the code. Always keep the original TIA Portal project file (which contains the unencrypted code) on an external drive in a different building. If you have the backup, clearing the PLC is just a minor inconvenience rather than a catastrophe.

The "Reset to Factory Settings" function in TIA Portal will fail because the CPU will not allow the deletion of the internal load memory without the password.

: Insert a standard Siemens Memory Card into your PC.

Always keep one "Dev" version of the project without passwords stored on a secure, offline server.

Bypassing protection on a machine may violate intellectual property laws, void manufacturer warranties, or breach service contracts. How to Unlock Know-How Protected Blocks

Do not lock the entire CPU. Create a small "Gateway" FC that handles a hardware handshake (e.g., via an input or a date check) to activate the main program. If you lock the CPU completely and lose the key, you are done. If you use a gateway block, you can still go online to the CPU (read-only) and possibly disable the lock if the code has a bypass.

The PLC only communicates with authorized Human-Machine Interfaces and SCADA systems. Program code cannot be read or written.

Instead of assigning a global master password to the CPU, use User Management & Access Control in newer TIA Portal versions. This links access rights to specific engineering user accounts.

If you do not care about the existing code and just want to reuse the CPU, this is the "S7-1200 password unlock" method for scrap/reuse.

For high-security V4+ CPUs where software tools fail, hardware fault injection (glitching) is the last resort. This is the realm of hardware security researchers and expensive labs.

The S7-1200 is a workhorse, not a vault. While its passwords are annoying, they are rarely unbreakable. By understanding the architecture and respecting the safety implications, you can regain control of your industrial automation assets without destroying your machine or your budget.

Ensure every machine has complete electrical schematics and sequential function charts (SFCs). If a PLC ever needs to be wiped, clear documentation makes rewriting the program drastically faster.

Choose whether to retain or delete the IP address, then click .

If you have the source project file but specific code blocks are locked with "Know-How Protection," the reset method above will not help.

A: Officially, no. The methods described above are for resetting the CPU, which erases the program along with the password. As of now, there is no official, user-friendly way to recover a lost password without losing the program data.