The iPhone passcode lockout feature is an important security measure designed to protect the data and privacy of iPhone users. When someone repeatedly enters incorrect passcodes on an iPhone, the device will become disabled or “locked out” after a certain number of failed attempts. This prevents unauthorized access by making it extremely difficult for someone to simply guess or “brute force” the correct passcode.
Apple implemented this lockout system to safeguard sensitive information stored on iPhones, such as contacts, photos, emails, financial data, and more. By disabling the device after too many incorrect passcode entries, a potential attacker is unable to indefinitely guess passcodes until finding the right one. The lockout increases in duration after each failed attempt, up to the maximum limit. This system strikes a balance between security and usability, allowing the legitimate owner to still regain access while protecting against malicious unlocking.
Default Lockout Period
The default lockout time after entering an incorrect passcode on an iPhone is 1 minute. This means if you enter the wrong passcode once, your iPhone will be disabled for 1 minute before you can try entering the passcode again.
The lockout time increases progressively after each subsequent failed attempt. If you enter the wrong passcode a second time, the lockout period increases to 5 minutes. On the third failed attempt, the lockout increases to 15 minutes. On the fourth and fifth failed attempts, the lockout jumps to 30 minutes and 60 minutes (1 hour) respectively.
So in summary, the default lockout time starts at 1 minute and can increase up to 1 hour with repeated incorrect passcode entries, according to Apple’s support documentation.
Maximum Lockout Period
The maximum amount of time an iPhone can be locked out after failed passcode attempts is 1 hour. This occurs after 10 consecutive failed attempts to enter the correct passcode.
According to Apple’s support page, “If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, you’ll see a message that your iPhone is disabled. You’ll need to wait before you can try again. The length of time depends on how many failed attempts you’ve made.” [1]
Specifically, after 6 failed attempts, the iPhone will lock for 1 minute. After 7 attempts, it locks for 5 minutes. On the 8th failed attempt, it locks for 15 minutes. On the 9th failed attempt, it locks for 1 hour, which is the maximum lockout period. [2]
This 1 hour lockout period is designed as a security measure to prevent unauthorized access to the iPhone through brute force passcode guessing. While inconvenient if you forget your own passcode, it helps protect your data if your iPhone is lost or stolen.
Failed Attempt Increases
The lockout time increases exponentially with each failed passcode attempt on an iPhone. Specifically, the iPhone is designed to increase the disabled time after the 4th and 6th failed attempts (Apple Support).
The lockout time starts at 5 minutes after the 5th failed attempt. It then increases to 15 minutes after the 6th attempt, and 1 hour after the 7th attempt. After the 8th failed attempt, the iPhone disables for 8 hours. Finally, after 10 failed attempts, the iPhone disables for a full 24 hours before you can try to unlock it again (Tenorshare).
So in summary, the lockout time quickly scales up after just a few failed passcode attempts as a security measure. This encourages users to wait and carefully enter their passcode, while deterring brute force guessing attacks.
Lockout with Find My iPhone
If Find My iPhone is enabled on the device, the lockout period increases to 1 day after 10 failed passcode attempts. This is an anti-theft measure designed to prevent unauthorized access. With Find My iPhone on, a thief would only have 10 chances to guess the passcode before the iPhone locks down for 24 hours.
According to Apple Support, “From your device’s Lock Screen, try to enter your passcode until the “[Device] Unavailable” screen appears and your device asks you to try again later. When this happens, your device is disabled for 1 day before you can try again.” (Source)
Enabling Find My iPhone allows you to remotely lock, track, and erase a lost or stolen device. So if someone finds or steals your iPhone, they won’t be able to access it without your Apple ID and password. The 1 day lockout gives you time to mark it as lost and protect your data.
Lockout on Older iOS Versions
The lockout time is different on older iOS versions prior to iOS 15. On iOS 14 and earlier, the lockout time is longer:
- After 5 failed attempts, the iPhone is disabled for 1 minute
- After 6-8 failed attempts, the iPhone is disabled for 5 minutes
- After 9 failed attempts, the iPhone is disabled for 15 minutes
- After 10 failed attempts, the iPhone is disabled for 1 hour
The increasing lockout time is designed to deter brute force attacks to guess the passcode. After 10 failed attempts, users have to wait a full hour before trying again. The maximum lockout on iOS 14 and earlier remains 1 hour.
On iOS 15 and later, the lockout periods are shorter, starting with only 1 minute after 5 failed attempts, then 5 minutes after 8 failed attempts. The maximum lockout is also reduced from 1 hour to 15 minutes (source).
So in summary, older iOS versions have longer lockout times, with 1 hour maximum on iOS 14 and earlier compared to 15 minutes maximum since iOS 15.
Ways to Unlock
There are a couple ways to unlock an iPhone after too many failed passcode attempts:
The simplest method is to just wait for the lockout period to end. After the designated lockout time passes, whether it’s 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, or longer, the iPhone will allow passcode entry attempts again. At that point, you can enter the correct passcode to regain access.
According to Apple Support, “If you can’t recall your passcode, you must erase your device, which deletes all of your data and settings” (source). This can be accomplished by restoring the iPhone using iTunes or Finder on a computer. The restore process wipes the device completely clean and resets it to factory settings, allowing you to set up the phone again as if it was brand new.
Restoring the iPhone is the only way to regain access if you do not remember the proper passcode and cannot wait for the lockout period to expire. Just keep in mind that everything on the phone – photos, messages, apps, settings, etc. – will be deleted in the process unless you have a recent backup.
Preventing Lockouts
One of the best ways to prevent lockouts from happening in the first place is to use longer, more complex passcodes that are difficult to guess. Rather than using a simple 4-digit numeric code, opt for a longer alphanumeric passcode with upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. The longer your passcode is, the harder it will be for someone to correctly guess it repeatedly and trigger a lockout.
Additionally, be careful about letting others access your iPhone. Don’t allow friends, family members, or anyone else try entering passcodes on your device. The more people who attempt to unlock your iPhone, the greater the chances of reaching the maximum number of failed attempts. Keep your passcode private and do not share it with anyone to reduce the risk of lockouts.
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What to Do When Locked Out
If you find yourself locked out of your iPhone after too many failed passcode attempts, the most important thing is to be patient. There is no way to override or bypass the lockout period. You simply have to wait for the lockout to expire before you can try entering your passcode again.
The default lockout period is 1 minute, but it increases up to 1 hour after multiple failed attempts. If you are facing the maximum 1 hour lockout, you will just need to wait it out before trying your passcode again. Keep your iPhone connected and charging during this time.
If you have forgotten your passcode entirely, you will need to restore your iPhone to factory settings after the lockout expires. This will erase all data on your iPhone. In this case, it’s best to contact Apple support for guidance on how to properly restore your device.
Apple has tools like recovery mode that can be used to restore an iPhone locked with an unknown passcode. Working with Apple support is recommended, as they can walk you through the proper steps to wipe and restore your device without losing data.
Conclusion
Many iPhone owners have had the frustrating experience of facing lockouts after entering the wrong passcode too many times. While the default lockout period is just 5 or 10 minutes, multiple failed attempts can increase the lockout time exponentially to an hour or even longer. The key takeaways are to be mindful of how many failed attempts you’ve had, how long Find My iPhone may remain activated after sending a remote lock command, and what the maximum lockout time is for your specific model and iOS version. If you do get locked out, options like using Siri or Find My iPhone may still work to regain access. But the best plan is preventing lockouts in the first place by making sure you know your passcode and avoiding too many consecutive wrong guesses. With an understanding of how the lockout period works on iPhones, you can avoid those inconvenient long wait times before you can use your phone again.