Trying to unlock an iPhone too many times can trigger a security feature that disables the device. This is done to protect data on the phone in case it falls into the wrong hands. Here are some key things that happen when you enter the wrong passcode too many times on an iPhone:
Lockout Period
If you enter the wrong passcode 6 times, the iPhone will impose a 1 minute lockout period. This means you have to wait 1 minute before you can try entering the passcode again. Each subsequent failed attempt will double the lockout period up to a maximum of 1 hour.
Lockout Schedule
| Failed Attempts | Lockout Period |
|---|---|
| 6 | 1 minute |
| 7 | 2 minutes |
| 8 | 4 minutes |
| 9 | 8 minutes |
| 10 | 15 minutes |
| 11 | 30 minutes |
| 12+ | 1 hour |
So if you enter the wrong passcode 12 times, the iPhone will lock you out for 1 hour before you can try again.
Data Erase
If you continue entering the wrong passcode after the lockout period increases to 1 hour, the iPhone will erase all data after 10 failed passcode attempts. This is done for security reasons – to prevent someone from brute forcing the passcode.
On an iPhone 8 or later, the erase happens immediately after the 10th failed attempt. On older iPhones, you’ll see a message saying the device will erase after 10 failed attempts and give you the option to enter passcode #11 to trigger the erase.
Bypassing the Erase
There are a couple ways to avoid having your data erased after 10 failed passcode attempts:
- Backup your data and restore it later if the erase occurs
- Have your iPhone unlocked by your network provider or third party service
- Use an iPhone unlocking tool to bypass the passcode
But if you don’t have backups or access to specialized unlocking services, the 10 failed passcode attempts will result in complete data loss on your iPhone.
Disabled User Interface
In addition to data erasure, the iPhone user interface (UI) becomes disabled after 10 failed passcode attempts. This means even if you later enter the correct passcode, you will see limited functionality:
- Cannot make or receive calls
- Cannot access camera
- Cannot send/receive messages
- Cannot use any apps
- Cannot access settings
- Cannot connect to wifi or cellular data
Basically the iPhone is reduced to a brick unless you take further steps to recover it. The disabled UI is designed to make the device useless to thieves even if they eventually guess or brute force the passcode.
Recovery Options
If your iPhone is erased and/or has a disabled UI after too many failed passcode attempts, you have a few options to recover it:
Restore from Backup
If you have an iTunes or iCloud backup, you can erase the iPhone and restore from the backup to get your data back. However, this will not reinstate a disabled UI. You will need to follow additional steps below to fully reactivate the iPhone.
Remove Passcode with Restore
Doing a restore through iTunes or Finder will remove any passcode from the iPhone, bypassing the disabled UI. However, this also erases all data unless you can restore from backup.
Unlock with Network Provider
Contacting your cell provider can sometimes help unlock the phone, bypassing disabled UI, by confirming your identity and ownership of the device.
Use Unlocking Service
Various online services and specialists can unlock your iPhone by bypassing the passcode restrictions through low-level techniques. This fully restores phone functionality.
Avoiding Lockouts
To avoid losing access to your iPhone from too many failed passcode attempts, it’s important to:
- Know your passcode – Never forget your passcode!
- Don’t allow others access – Don’t let someone else try entering passcodes
- Use strong passcode – Have a sufficiently long & complex passcode
- Disable auto-erase (newer iPhones) – Turn off auto-data erasure after 10 failed attempts in settings
- Have backups – Maintain current backups via iTunes or iCloud
Enabling auto-erase is still recommended for most users to maximum security. But you can disable it if you are willing to accept the small risk and take responsibility to prevent brute force attacks on your phone.
Conclusion
Entering the wrong iPhone passcode too many times triggers security protections to safeguard your data, including UI disable and data erasure. To recover from the disabled state, you will need backups, help from your network provider, or an unlocking service. Avoid this situation by using a strong passcode properly and maintaining good backups.
