iPhone disabled how to unlock?
How to unlock disabled iPhone without losing data
It is not uncommon that iPhone users are sometimes making the query – iPhone disabled how to unlock? In this post, I am going to show how to unlock disabled iPhone without losing data.
‘iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes‘ is a message that mostly occurs as a result of passcode issues of the device. It usually means that you forgot the passcode on your iPhone and you entered the wrong passcode too many times for which the iPhone is locked out to protect itself against possible hacking attempts. Now let’s see how to undisable an iPhone without losing data when locked.
A passcode protects the contents of your iPhone from unauthorized access. When you set up a password to power on your iPhone to secure your device and you enter a wrong passcode five times in a row, you’ll be locked out for 1 minute with the message – iPhone disabled, try again in 1 minute. The waiting period mentioned in the message depends upon the number of incorrect passcodes entered in a row.
For 5 incorrect passcode entries in a row, the waiting period is 1 minute. If you get it wrong again you’ll be escalated to the next waiting period. The more times you get it wrong waiting period increases in the message and things get harder. If you do reach the 10th incorrect guess of your passcode, the iPhone will eventually be locked out and you’ll see the ‘disabled iPhone connect to iTunes’ message.
The messages of waiting periods against an increasing number of incorrect passcode entries are as follows:
5 incorrect entries in a row – iPhone disabled try again in 1 minute
7 incorrect entries in a row – iPhone disabled try again in 5 minutes
8 incorrect entries in a row – iPhone disabled try again in 15 minutes
9 incorrect entries in a row –
iPhone disabled try again in 60 minutes
10 incorrect passcode entries – iPhone disabled connect to iTunes
Now let’s see when due to incorrect passcode entries iPhone disabled how to unlock.
How to enable a disabled iPhone without losing data?
If you have not backed up your iPhone without erasing the device before you forgot the iPhone passcode, there isn’t a way to recover data from a disabled iPhone unless you unlock it. Then what to do if your iPhone is disabled due to not remembering the passcode?
There are methods of iPhone disabled bypass to regain access to your device, even if it is locked out. Let’s see when iPhone disabled how to unlock it without a passcode and regain access to your device. You can unlock a disabled iPhone which is locked out due to a wrong passcode entry by following the steps mentioned below:
How to undisable an iPhone?
Here’re three different ways on how to unlock iPhone when disabled:
1. Unlock iPhone with iTunes (via iTunes backup);
2. Unlock your iPhone using iCloud (if you don’t have access to a computer);
3. Unlock iPhone without iTunes or computer;
1. How to enable a disabled iPhone with iTunes
If you have previously synced your device with iTunes, there is not going to be much of a problem to go for an iPhone disabled bypass and reset your device without losing data.
Here’re the steps to follow on how to unlock a disabled iPhone with iTunes:
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the computer which you have previously used to synchronize your device and you have an iTunes backup of your iPhone;
Step 2: Next, start iTunes and put your iPhone in Recovery mode. To do this, follow the steps below depending on the model of your iPhone;
i. For iPhone 8 or later versions, press the Volume Up button followed by the Volume Down button. Next press and hold the Power button (Side button) until you see the ‘connect to iTunes’ screen. Of course, you already have connected your phone to iTunes;
ii. For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds and swipe right the ‘Power off’ slider that appears. Finally, press and hold the Volume Down until you see the ‘connect to iTunes’ screen;
iii. For iPhone 6s or older, press and hold the Power button for 3 seconds and swipe right the ‘Power off’ slider that appears. Finally, press and hold the ‘Home button’ until you see the ‘connect to iTunes’ screen.
Step 3: Depending upon the version of the operating system running on your iPhone, you might see the passcode screen. If you see the screen simply reboot your iPhone;
Step 4: When you see an alert message appearing on your screen stating that an iPhone in Recovery mode has been detected, choose ‘Restore’ when you see the option to Restore or Update. Your computer downloads software for your iPhone and begins the restore process;
Step 5. After the Restore process completes your iPhone will be reset to its factory settings;
Step 6. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to restore your iPhone with the recent backup. Select your device in iTunes and choose the most recent iTunes backup of your iPhone mentioned in Step-1. Make sure not to disconnect the phone from your computer or turn it off during the restore process or else, you will have to start the backup and restore process all over again;
Step 7: Once the restore process is complete, your passcode will be erased from your iPhone and all of your data will be restored from the recent backup mentioned above. You should now be able to access the device without any problem;
2. How to unlock disabled iPhone using iCloud service
In case you have no access to any computer you are to take the help of iCloud service to restore your disabled iPhone. Now let’s see how to open disabled iPhone using iCloud service.
Prior backup of your iPhone to iCloud is required to unlock the disabled iPhone with the help of iCloud service. Creating an iCloud backup is incredibly easy. The steps below show how to backup iPhone to iCloud,
1. Connect the iPhone to a WiFi network;
2. For iOS 8 or later,
Go to Settings > iCloud > Backup;
For iOS 7 or earlier,
Go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup;
3. Under Backup turn iCloud Backup ‘on’ if it is ‘off’;
4. Tap the ‘Back up now’ tab. Make sure you remain connected to your WiFi network until the backup process is complete;
5. You can make sure that the backup has been completed successfully by tapping Settings > iCloud > Storage& Backup > Manage Storage;
6. Select your device and the backups should appear in the details section with the time and size of the backup;
By default, you get 5GB of cloud storage for free, but if you require more storage the iCloud plan prices are reasonably cheap. If you don’t have enough iCloud storage to back up your device, a message will come up that you can’t back up because there’s not enough storage available. In such a case either you can upgrade your iCloud storage plan or delete your older backups that you don’t need anymore.
Once the backup of your iPhone is available in iCloud follow the steps below on how you undisable an iPhone when locked using iCloud, when you have no access to a computer. This restore and unlock process would wipe the hard drive clean on your iPhone and your passcode will also be erased in the process.
Follow the steps below on how to unlock disabled iPhone without losing data using iCloud
Step 1: Launch ‘Settings’ from your iPhone;
Step 2: Tap ‘General’, then scroll down and tap ‘Reset’;
Step 3: Choose ‘Erase All Content and Settings’;
Step 4: When your phone restarts, you’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID and to restore a previous backup;
Step 5: Tap ‘Restore from iCloud’ and choose the backup that you’d like to use;
Step 6: The restore process can take some time to complete, as it needs to wipe the hard drive clean on your iPhone and then restore back all your data from the iCloud backup you created previously. Your passcode will also be erased from your iPhone during the restore process. You should now be able to use your iPhone again without any problems and this time, hopefully, you will set up a passcode you are able to remember;
3. How to unlock iPhone without iTunes or a computer
If you have no access to a computer to use iTunes/iCloud you can unlock the disabled iPhone by using the ‘Find My iPhone app’ on another iPhone. Here’s how to reset disabled iPhone without iTunes using the Find My app:
Step 1: Start the ‘Find My iPhone’ app on another iPhone. If the app is not available on this iPhone go to the App Store and search and download the app;
Step 2: After installing the app, run it and log in with your iCloud account and password;
Step 3: Next, select ‘Devices’ and you will see all iOS devices which share your same iCloud account. Choose the disabled iPhone from the list;
Step 4: Then tap on ‘Actions’ at the bottom of the screen and you will be offered three options;
Step 5: Choose the ‘Erase this device’ option and confirm that you want to erase your device;
Step 6: Once your iPhone has been erased, you may set it up again as a new iPhone;
Step 7: Restore all previous settings and data from your recent iCloud backup (you may lose some data if you have not backed up your iPhone through iCloud recently);
You should now be able to use your iPhone again without any problems and this time, hopefully, you will set up a passcode you are able to remember;
You may also like to read this related post: How to bypass iPhone Security Lockout – an easy step-by-step guide
Frequently asked questions
Before I conclude let me also reply to some of the related questions often asked by iPhone users.
Is there a way to unlock disabled iPhone without restoring?
Yes, there is way to unlock disabled iPhone without restoring.
iCloud contains the ‘Find My iPhone’ feature which can be used to erase your iPhone to remove your forgotten password. Erasing your iPhone using Find My iPhone only erases all content and settings including your passcode but does not restore your iPhone to factory settings. To unlock disabled iPhone without restoring follow the steps below.
(To do this you need a computer or smartphone with internet access)
Step 1: Sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID in a web browser on your computer. The Apple ID should be the same as the one used on your iPhone. Once signed in, click the ‘Find iPhone’ option;
Step 2: On entering the ‘Find My iPhone’ page, select your iPhone and click ‘Erase iPhone’. Now all your data and settings will be deleted, including your forgotten passcode;
How to unlock a disabled iPhone without a computer?
To reset a locked iPhone without a computer follow the steps below:
1. Log into the ‘Find My iPhone’ site via iCloud;
2. Access your Apple account by entering your Apple ID and password;
3. From the drop-down list of devices select your iPhone;
4. Click ‘Erase iPhone’;
5. Now ‘Confirm’ your action;
How do you unlock an iPhone if the touch-screen doesn’t work?
1. Go to Settings > Touch ID & Pass-code;
2. Make sure that iPhone Unlock or iTunes & App Store is ‘ON’, and that you’ve enrolled one or more fingerprints;
3. Try enrolling a different finger;
Can I back up a disabled iPhone without iTunes?
Yes, you can back up a disabled iPhone when iTunes can’t recognize your device. To do this you need to take the help of a tool – ‘Tenorshare iCareFone’ which is the best free iPhone backup tool. Follow the steps below to backup data using the above tool when iPhone is disabled:
1. Install Tenorshare iCareFone on your computer;
2. Run the program and connect the iPhone to your computer via USB cable;
3. On the main interface select ‘Backup & Restore’;
4. Now select the files you want to backup or select all;
5. Next click ‘Backup’;
6. Once the backup process is finished, click ‘Restore to device’ or ‘Export to PC’ to save the backup data either on your iPhone or computer. Thus you can recover data from disabled iPhones without iTunes backup;
How to unlock an iPhone without the passcode?
Here’s how to unlock an iPhone without the passcode:
If you can’t remember the passcode, use a computer to put your iPhone in recovery mode. Recovery mode will allow you to erase the phone and give you access to set it up again. After erasing your iPhone, you can restore your data and settings from a recent backup. In case, you didn’t back up your iPhone, you can set it up as a new device by downloading the data that you have in iCloud.
How to unlock disabled iPad without iTunes
If your iPad is disabled due to entering the wrong passcode too many times and you can’t remember your passcode, you need to use a computer to put your iPad in recovery mode. This process deletes your data and settings, including your passcode, giving you access to set up your iPad again.
After you erase your iPad, you can restore your data and settings from the backup. If you didn’t back up your iPad, you can set it up as a new device and then download any data that you have in iCloud.
You may also like to read this related post: How to Wipe an iPhone without passcode – 3 best methods
Conclusion
On going through the post it would be clear that there is no cause for worry when you get the iPhone disabled message due to a wrong passcode entry on your device. If the above steps on how to unlock disabled iPhone without losing data are properly followed it should not be difficult to fix the issue – ‘iPhone disabled connect to iTunes without losing data‘.
In order to follow the steps on how to enable a disabled iPhone, all you need is, a computer system with iTunes installed on it or to set up the iCloud backup service on your Apple device. It might take some time to restore all of the information back onto your device after you unlock the disabled iPhone, but eventually, you should be able to use your iPhone again without any problem bypassing the passcode.
Next time you run into a problem having found that your iPad or iPhone is disabled because you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, you need not worry about how to undisable an iPhone in different conditions.
You might also like to read: iPhone not connecting to WiFi – try these easy fixes