Having your iPhone locked due to too many failed passcode attempts can be very frustrating. Thankfully, there are a few different methods you can try to get your iPhone out of a security lockout without having to erase all of your data.
Wait for the Automatic Lockout Period to Expire
The easiest solution is to simply wait out the lockout period. When you enter the wrong passcode too many times, your iPhone will become locked for an increasing amount of time before you can try again. Here’s a breakdown of the lockout times:
| Failed Attempts | Lockout Time |
|---|---|
| 5 | 1 minute |
| 6 | 5 minutes |
| 7 | 15 minutes |
| 8 | 1 hour |
| 9 | 4 hours |
| 10 | 24 hours |
So if you accidentally triggered one of the shorter lockouts, go make a cup of coffee or take a walk and then come back and try again with the correct passcode. The iPhone will accept it once the lockout period has passed.
Force Restart Your iPhone
If the lockout period is going to be longer than you’re willing to wait, you can attempt to force restart your iPhone. Here is how to force restart each iPhone model:
iPhone 8 or earlier:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone X, XS, XR, 11:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 12 mini, 12, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 13 mini, 13, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max:
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button until you see the slider.
- Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
- Wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
Force restarting your iPhone essentially resets it and may allow you to enter the correct passcode again. If you know your passcode, force restarting is the simplest way to exit the security lockout.
Erase Your iPhone
If force restarting your iPhone didn’t work, the nuclear option is to erase your iPhone and remove the passcode lockout. This will erase all of the data on your iPhone and revert it back to factory settings. To erase your iPhone:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer.
- Open iTunes or Finder (depending on your computer).
- While your iPhone is connected, force restart it.
- When it powers back on, you’ll be prompted to restore or update. Choose Restore.
- Your iPhone will be wiped and restored to factory settings, removing the passcode lock.
Once your iPhone has been erased, you can set it up again or restore a backup to get your apps and data back on there. Obviously this isn’t an ideal solution since you have to start over from scratch, but it will successfully get your iPhone out of the security lockout. So only use this method as a last resort if nothing else works.
Unlock Your iPhone with Recovery Mode
Similar to force restarting, you can also force your iPhone into recovery mode to exit the security lockout:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer via USB.
- Open iTunes or Finder on the computer.
- While connected, force restart your iPhone.
- As soon as you see the Apple logo, quickly press and hold the Volume Down button until you see the Recovery mode screen.
- In iTunes or Finder you’ll be prompted to Restore or Update your iPhone. Choose Restore.
- Your iPhone will be wiped and restored, removing the passcode lock.
This method acts as kind of a force reset for your iPhone and will allow you to bypass the security lockout. As with the full erase method, you’ll have to set up your iPhone again afterwards, so only use recovery mode if you’ve exhausted your other options.
Unlock with Find My iPhone
If you have Find My iPhone enabled on your Apple ID, you can use it to remotely erase your locked iPhone and remove the passcode:
- On a computer, tablet, or another iPhone, visit iCloud.com and log in to your Apple ID.
- Click Find My iPhone.
- Select your locked iPhone from the list of devices.
- Click Erase iPhone at the bottom of the screen.
- Enter your Apple ID password to confirm the erase request.
After remotely wiping your iPhone, the passcode will be disabled so you can set it up again or restore from a backup. This bypasses the security lockout without having physical access to your iPhone.
Use Screen Time Passcode Bypass
If you have Screen Time enabled on your iPhone and you set up an account passcode, you may be able to use it to bypass the security lockout:
- On the Enter Passcode screen, tap Emergency Call.
- Dial any phone number (like your own number).
- Tap Cancel without actually making the call.
- Enter your Screen Time passcode.
This will bypass the security lockout and allow you to enter your regular iPhone passcode again. It only works if you previously set up a separate Screen Time passcode though.
Ask Siri to Make a Call
In some cases, you may be able to ask Siri to make a phone call without unlocking your iPhone. Try saying “Hey Siri, call mom” or “Hey Siri, call home.” Siri will then ask you to confirm the number. Say yes and it will make the call through speakerphone, allowing you to talk without having to unlock the phone.
Once you end the call, you should be back at the Enter Passcode screen where you can type in the correct passcode to regain access. This Siri method doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot.
Get Your Passcode Reset at an Apple Store
As a last resort, you can take your iPhone to an Apple Store and have them reset your passcode. You’ll need to confirm you are the owner by providing a proof of purchase and a valid government ID. Apple can then verify the iPhone belongs to you and disable the passcode so you can access it again.
Keep in mind this option will likely result in losing all data on your iPhone. Make sure you’ve exhausted all other options before resorting to an Apple Store passcode reset.
Avoid Future Lockouts
Once you regain access to your iPhone, you can take steps to avoid repeat lockouts going forward:
- Turn off “Erase Data” after 10 failed attempts in your Passcode settings.
- Create an easy to remember numeric passcode.
- Write down your passcode somewhere safe in case you forget it.
- Make sure Find My iPhone is enabled in case you need to remotely erase your device.
- Set up Screen Time and create an account passcode you can use to bypass the main passcode.
Putting preventative measures in place will help ensure you don’t experience an annoying security lockout again in the future.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of your iPhone due to too many failed passcode attempts can be stressful. Thankfully, in most cases you can regain access without having to completely erase your device. Simply wait out the lockout period, force restart your iPhone, or put it in recovery mode and you should be able to get back in. Just be patient, avoid panicking, and use the proper procedures outlined here to get your iPhone back up and running.