If you unsuccessfully try to unlock an iPhone or iPad too many times, an "iPhone is Disabled: message will pop up, and you'll be locked out. Here's how to fix a disabled iPhone or iPad without your password by using Finder, connecting to iTunes or iCloud, or using Recovery Mode. Show
Related: iPhone Virus Warnings: How to Get Rid of Fake Security Alerts on Your iPhone How to Unlock Disabled iPhone or iPadOh no... the dreaded "iPhone is disabled" has popped up on your iPhone screen; now what? Learn how to fix a disabled iPhone, four ways! Check out our free Tip of the Day for more great iPhone troubleshooting tutorials. Jump To:
Why Is My iPhone Disabled?An iPhone or iPad will become disabled after six consecutive failed passcode attempts. That means you can try to unlock your device five times before it will lock you out. On the sixth attempt, your iPhone will be disabled for one minute. The seventh attempt will lock you out of your disabled iPhone for five minutes, the eighth attempt for fifteen, and the tenth for sixty minutes. But if you reach attempt number ten and have still not successfully entered the correct passcode, you’ll receive the message that your iPhone is disabled. Unless, of course, you have your iPhone or iPad set to erase after ten failed passcode attempts. iPhone Disabled? How to Unlock iPhone without PasscodeHow do I get your iPhone out of disabled mode? Unfortunately, there is no way to unlock a disabled iPhone or iPad, which means you’ll need to wait to try and unlock your iPhone in however many minutes are indicated on the screen. There are several methods that may help you remember your iPhone passcode. If you can't remember your passcode, you'll need to use Finder, iTunes, iCloud, or recovery mode to erase your device. You'll then need to restore your iPhone with an iTunes or iCloud backup. Here are some guidelines on what method might work best for you:
iPad or iPhone Disabled? Connect to iTunesHow do you unlock an iPhone that is disabled and says connect to iTunes? Prior to macOS Catalina, an "iPhone is Disabled, Connect to iTunes" message would appear when you were locked out of your phone. If you have a locked or disabled iPhone or iPad and have a PC, or haven't updated your Mac to Catalina or a later version of macOS, this is the first solution you should try. Some of the screenshots have been adjusted for easy viewing.
If, for whatever reason, this doesn’t work for you (and you don’t meet the iCloud method requirements), skip to using recovery mode. Fix Your Disabled iPad or iPhone Using FinderIf you have a Mac that's been updated to Catalina or later, use the Finder to unlock your device.
Fix Your Disabled iPhone or iPad with iCloud
Use Recovery Mode to Fix Your Disabled iPhone or iPadHow do you fix a disabled iPhone without connecting to iTunes or iCloud? If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone or iPad, or says it's in recovery mode, you can use recovery mode to set up your device from scratch.
Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox. How do I get my iPhone out of Disabled mode?Fix Your Disabled iPhone or iPad with iCloud. On your computer, open a browser and visit icloud.com/find.. Log in with your Apple ID and password.. Select All Devices at the top.. Click on the device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch) of yours that is currently disabled.. Click Erase iPhone/iPad, then confirm.. What causes an iPhone to say disabled?Causes of the iPhone Disabled Error
The cause is almost always the same: An incorrect passcode has been entered too many times. The passcode is an iPhone security measure that requires you to enter a numbered password to unlock the device.
Does iPhone disabled go away?If your screen reads "iPhone is disabled," the most likely cause is too many wrong passcode attempts. Sometimes this can happen without you realizing it, if the phone is in your pocket or a bag. You will need to erase your device to remove the lock and passcode, then re-sync it with iTunes.
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