If you have entered the wrong passcode too many times on your iPhone, it will go into lockout mode. This is an security feature to prevent unauthorized access. Don’t worry – there are a few different ways to get your iPhone out of lockout.
Quick Answer
The quickest way to get your iPhone out of lockout is to connect it to iTunes and restore it. This will erase all data on your iPhone, but will remove the passcode and return it to factory settings.
Wait for Auto Unlock
If you don’t need immediate access to your iPhone, you can simply wait for the auto unlock timer to expire. This timer increases with each failed attempt:
- 5 failed attempts – 1 minute lockout
- 6-10 failed attempts – 5 minutes lockout
- 11-15 failed attempts – 15 minutes lockout
- 16 or more – 1 hour lockout
So for example, if you’re currently locked out for 1 hour, you can simply wait it out and your iPhone will unlock itself after that time. Just be patient and avoid trying any passcodes during that period.
Enter Passcode at Lock Screen
If your iPhone is only locked out temporarily for 1-15 minutes, you can tap the “Unlock” button on the lock screen when the timer ends. This will bring you back to the passcode entry screen. Carefully type in your correct passcode here and your iPhone will unlock.
However, if you’re still locked out for a longer period like 1 hour, this won’t work until the auto unlock timer expires.
Hard Reset
Performing a hard reset will force your iPhone to restart, which also resets the lockout counter. Here’s how to hard reset based on your iPhone model:
iPhone 8 or Earlier
- Press and hold both the Home and Power buttons together until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
- When the reset is complete, enter your passcode at the lock screen.
iPhone X or Later
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
- Enter your passcode when the reset finishes.
This should reset the lockout counter and allow you to enter your passcode again. Just be sure to enter it correctly this time!
Restore Using iTunes
Connecting your iPhone to a computer and restoring it using iTunes is the fastest way to reset a lockout. This will wipe your device completely, but will also guarantee to remove any lockouts or passcodes.
To restore using iTunes:
- Connect your locked out iPhone to a computer using a USB cable.
- Open iTunes on the computer if it doesn’t launch automatically.
- Select your iPhone from the list of connected devices.
- Click Restore in iTunes to wipe and restore your iPhone to factory settings.
- Follow the setup process until you reach the Home screen, now passcode free!
Restoring erases all contents and settings from your iPhone, basically resetting it like new. You’ll have to restoring any data backups after the restore process completes.
Remove Passcode Using Find My iPhone
If your iPhone is locked out but you still have access to another trusted device logged into your iCloud account, you can use Find My iPhone to remotely erase your locked device. This forces a factory reset to remove any passcodes.
To erase using Find My iPhone:
- On another device, open Find My iPhone and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Select your locked out iPhone from the list of devices.
- Tap “Erase iPhone” and confirm when prompted.
- Once erased, your iPhone will return to the Hello screen and can be set up again passcode free.
Like restoring through iTunes, erasing through Find My iPhone will delete all contents and settings. So you’ll need to restore a backup afterwards to get your data back.
Use Screen Time Passcode Bypass
If you have Screen Time enabled on your iPhone with parental controls, you can use the Screen Time passcode to bypass the main device passcode and reset it. Here’s how:
- At the lock screen, tap Forgot Passcode?
- Enter your Screen Time passcode when prompted.
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (Touch ID & Passcode on older models).
- Enter your Screen Time passcode again if asked.
- Select Change Passcode and enter a new device passcode.
- Enter the new passcode again when prompted.
Your iPhone device passcode is now changed, bypassing the previous locked out code. This Screen Time bypass only works if you already had parental controls enabled.
Unlock with iTunes Password
If you made iTunes and App Store purchases on your locked iPhone using the same Apple ID, you may be able to bypass the lock screen by entering your iTunes account password. Here’s how:
- At the lock screen, tap Forgot Passcode?
- Enter your iTunes password when prompted.
- Your iPhone will now unlock and allow you to reset your passcode.
This iTunes unlock method will only work if Find My iPhone was turned off on your device. Otherwise, it will ask you to enter the trusted device’s unlock code first before using your iTunes password.
Unlock with Apple Support
As a last resort, you can contact Apple Support to have them remotely unlock your iPhone if you’re the verified owner. Be prepared to answer security questions to confirm your identity.
Apple can unlock devices locked by the following:
- Disabled iPhone after entering wrong passcode too many times
- Lost or forgotten iPhone passcode
- Error stating “iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes”
In some cases they may be able to provide the original device passcode used. Other times they will need to erase and restore the iPhone to reset the passcode. This will result in data loss unless you have a backup.
Contact Apple Support by phone, chat, or scheduling an in-store Genius Bar appointment for help unlocking your disabled iPhone.
Avoid Lockouts
To avoid getting locked out in the future, here are some tips:
- Don’t guess passcodes – this triggers lockouts.
- Write down or save complicated passcodes in a password manager.
- Set up a fingerprint or face ID as an alternative unlock method.
- Enable Find My iPhone to remotely erase or unlock your device.
- Create an Apple ID recovery key in case you forget your Apple ID password.
Enabling automatic iCloud backups is also recommended, so you can easily restore data if forced to erase your iPhone to remove a lockout.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of your iPhone can be frustrating, but is usually fixable. Allowing time for auto unlock, doing a reset, restoring in iTunes, or contacting Apple Support are the best ways to regain access. Enable Find My iPhone and iCloud backups so erasing your device is not devastating if required. Avoiding too many wrong passcode attempts is key to prevent lockouts in the first place.
With the right troubleshooting steps or assistance from Apple, you should be able to get back into your disabled iPhone quickly. Just be sure to take preventative measures going forward to avoid getting locked out again down the road.
Here are some key points to remember:
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Wait for Auto Unlock | – No data loss | – Slow, only works for short lockouts |
| Hard Reset | – Quick, no data loss | – Only works for short lockouts |
| Restore in iTunes | – Quickest method | – Erases all data |
| Erase with Find My | – Remote, quick | – Erases all data |
| Screen Time Passcode | – Maintains data | – Only works with existing Screen Time passcode |
| iTunes Password | – Maintains data | – Find My iPhone must be off |
| Apple Support | – Expert help | – Time consuming |
With multiple options available, you should be able to get back into your iPhone and disable any lockout in a relatively quick and painless manner. Just stay calm, review the solutions, and take the appropriate steps based on your specific situation.
Being locked out is inconvenient, but nearly always temporary with the right fix. Don’t panic, and you’ll have your iPhone back up and running like normal in no time.