But before I show you how to fix the disabled iPhone with or without iTunes (on Mac or PC), let us understand why this happened.
Why the iPhone gets disabled?
Your iPhone gets disabled when you enter the wrong passcode multiple times. Now, it may be you, your kid, or in rare cases by unwarranted touches.
If you enter the wrong passcode up to five times, nothing happens. On the 6th incorrect attempt, your iPhone is disabled for 1 minute. On the 7th, 8th, and 9th incorrect attempts, your iPhone is disabled for 5, 15, and 60 minutes respectively. One solution to fix this issue is to wait for the shown time and then enter the correct password. However, on the 10th incorrect attempt, the iPhone gets disabled. (Or, if you had earlier enabled ‘Erase data’ from the Settings app → Face ID & Passcode, then your iPhone is wiped out!)
Note: If you enter the same wrong passcode multiple times, it is counted only as one wrong attempt. For example, if you keep entering 9876 (which is the incorrect passcode) repeatedly, it won’t be counted as multiple wrong attempts. Next, let us learn how to fix it successfully!
How to fix your disabled iPhone using iTunes or Finder Via iTunes sync Restore iPhone from backup Use the recovery mode to fix your disabled iPhone Use the DFU mode to fix your disabled iPhone How to fix the disabled iPhone without iTunes Use iCloud.com Use the Find My app on other Apple device
How to fix your disabled iPhone using iTunes or Finder
Before you begin: If you are on a Mac running macOS Catalina or macOS Big Sur, use Finder. If you are on a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier or Windows PC, use iTunes.
1. Via iTunes sync
Points to Consider:
This solution may not always work. But it is the easiest and without any data loss. So, it is worth taking a shot. In case it did not work, get on with the subsequent solutions.
2. Restore your iPhone from backup
We will be using a previous computer backup and restore it on the disabled iPhone. Points to Consider:
This only works if Find My iPhone is off. (For the majority of users, this safety feature is ON) The backup file will only have data from that day. All new iPhone data will be lost. If you do not see this option, try the below ones.
3. Use the recovery mode to fix your disabled iPhone
4. Use the DFU mode to fix your disabled iPhone
In the above steps, we used the recovery mode. That works! But in the rare case that it didn’t, put your iPhone in the DFU mode. After the device is in the DFU mode, follow the same steps mentioned above – that is, restore your iPhone and then set it up.
How to fix the disabled iPhone without iTunes
Before you begin:
Ensure you know your Apple ID password to bypass the activation lock during the setup process. The methods below work only if your disabled iPhone is connected to the internet. If it isn’t, go to your office or home, where it can automatically connect to a known previously added Wi-Fi. The following methods are relatively straightforward.
5. Use iCloud.com
6. Use the Find My app on the other Apple device
Successfully unlocked a disabled iPhone!
I believe you could solve the issue and are now ready to use the iPhone like before. If in the rarest care, this article brought little to no help, please contact Apple Support. But one thing to understand is they too (almost certainly) will put your device in the DFU mode and follow the steps mentioned above. They do not have any special tools to get inside your disabled iPhone and fix it with all its data intact. So, make sure you follow the above guide carefully and visit an Apple service center only when you can’t figure out things independently. I hope it helps. READ NEXT:
How to Fix iCloud Restore Stuck Issue on iPhone and iPad 9 Ways to Boost WiFi Signal on iPhone and iPad How to Change iPhone Backup Location on Mac and Windows
