If you keep entering the wrong iPhone passcode, the screen may show “iPhone is disabled, try again in 15 minutes.” On newer iOS versions, you might see iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout instead, but the result is the same: the iPhone is locked until you wait or reset it.
This article introduces the methods you can use to recover a disabled iPhone. Some methods erase the device first, so a recent backup matters if you want your data back after the reset.
1. What Makes the “iPhone is disabled, try again in 15 minutes.”?
Any time you enter the wrong iPhone passcode, Apple adds a longer waiting period. Repeated mistakes can move from a short delay to 5 minutes, then 15 minutes, and eventually a one-hour lockout.
When you receive “iPhone is disabled, try again in 15 minutes.”, you are already close to a longer lockout. Do not keep guessing. If you changed the passcode recently on iOS 17 or later, Apple may also offer a temporary Forgot Passcode? path that lets you use the previous passcode within 72 hours.
Your iPhone can show a device lockout message such as “iPhone is disabled,” “iPhone Unavailable,” or “Security Lockout.” That is different from an Apple Account issue, which uses Apple Account recovery instead of device-passcode reset steps.
2. How to Unlock Disabled iPhone Using Mobitrix LockAway [Most Convenient]
iPhone being disabled is annoying. However, it’s time you learned how to fix this by using a powerful and effective tool, Mobitrix LockAway. With this tool, you don’t require your Apple credentials. LockAway will unlock the iPhone regardless. It fully supports iPhone 5s to iPhone 17 and iOS 26 and earlier versions.
LockAway is easy to use, works instantly, secures your data and privacy, and many people have used it to unlock their devices successfully.
Mobitrix LockAway - Unlock Screen Passcode - Home Menu
LockAway not only unlocks your iPhone, but it can also unlock other locks such as: Alphanumeric passcode, Face ID, Touch ID, and 4/6-digit passcode.
Three steps are needed to unlock your iPhone using LockAway.
- Download LockAway, then connect your device to the computer.
- Open LockAway, then select the “Unlock Screen Passcode” Mode.
- Click Start to remove the iPhone screen passcode.
- Once the process completes, your iPhone is now unlocked and ready for you to use.
Mobitrix LockAway - Click Start to Remove Screen Passcode
Mobitrix LockAway - Unlock Screen Passcode - Unlock is Complete
3. Unlock Disabled iPhone without Erasing Data via iPhonePass
Another method to unlock iPhone passcode is iPhonePass, a free tool from Mobitrix.
Why use iPhonePass?
- The tool is free.
- Your data will remain on your iPhone after the unlocking process.
- This tool can unlock iPhone 5s – iPhone X.
The existing iOS vulnerability can allow iPhone 5s-iPhone X to be jailbroken. That is, you can obtain the super authority of your iPhone. In this case, you can unlock your disable iPhone without passcode theoretically.
To prepare the unlocking process:
- A MacBook
- Download a lock deletion tool – iPhonePass and jailbreak tool checkra1n.
To use iPhonePass, do the following:
- Jailbreak your iPhone with Checkra1n.
- Please connect your iPhone to your MacBook and establish an internet network for your iPhone and Mac.
Launch your Terminal in your MacBook and enter the command of “iproxy 22 44”. - Use iPhonePass tool to remove the screen passcode.
Double-click the file named “deliphonepass.sh”.
It is recommended to jailbreak your iOS device with Checkra1n. It is a perfect jailbreak tool which has the simple operation and supports a wide range of iPhones.
Launch Checkra1n and click Start to Jailbreak your iPhone. Note that it can only run on MACOS.
Installing jailbreak and note that set up your iPhone right after jailbreaking.
Now your iPhone screen passcode will be removed, you can now access your iPhone as normal without losing any data on your device and reset a new passcode.
It is recommended to turn off the jailbreak status on your iPhone after resetting your iPhone screen passcode. The safety status of your iPhone would be affected by jailbreak. You can use a repair software named Perfix will help you repair it. Using the Standard Repair Mode in Perfix, the jailbreak status on your device will be turned off with zero data lost.
iPhonePass method is more technical and recommended to people who can comfortably use their Macbook. However, if you don’t have a good background of computer, other methods exist for you to use, for instance, the Mobitrix LockAway tool is much easier to use for any user.
Part 3: Other Methods to Unlock the Disabled iPhone
LockAway is the recommended method in this guide, but Apple also provides other ways to reset a disabled iPhone. The tradeoff is that the official methods usually erase the device and restore data only if you already have a backup.
1. Unlock via iTunes without data loss (need to be trusted and synced lately)
If you had trusted and synced your iPhone with iTunes on your computer lately, then you can create a backup to avoid data loss when unlock your disabled iPhone. Restore your iPhone to factory settings to wipe it clean. Doing so will remove the disabled iPhone message, and your iPhone will be unlocked. With iTunes, you can easily restore your recent backup when set it up as this method will wipe out all your data.
The steps below use iTunes on older Windows setups, but the same restore flow may appear in Finder on newer Macs or in the Apple Devices app on current Windows PCs.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer and open iTunes, Finder, or the Apple Devices app.
- Once the computer recognizes your device, create a backup first if the phone was trusted and synced recently enough to allow it.
- After creating the backup, choose “Restore iPhone” to start the reset.
- The restore erases the iPhone. When it finishes, set the phone up again and restore the backup if one is available.
Once the process is successful, your iPhone will be unlocked. You need to set it up and restore your backup. This method will only work if you had synced your iPhone with your computer.
2. Erase iPhone via iTunes recovery mode
If you had not synced your iPhone with your computer, you could still put your iPhone into recovery mode to unlock it. Regardless of your iPhone model, this method will work for you. Follow the steps below.
- Open iTunes but don’t connect the iPhone first.
- Enter Recovery mode.
- On the iTunes dialogue box that appears, select the “Restore” option.
For iPhone 8, SE, 8 Plus: long-press the volume and Side buttons. When the power slider appears, release it and turn the device off. While holding the side button, connect the iPhone to the computer. Hold the Side button and only release it when you enter the recovery mode screen.
For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Long-press Side button, turn off the device when the power slider appears. While holding the button for volume down, connect the iPhone to the computer. Only release the button for volume down when you enter recovery mode.
For iPhone 6s and earlier versions: long-press the side button. Once the power slider appears, switch off the iPhone and connect it to the computer while holding the Home button. Hold the Home button until you enter recovery mode.
The instruction displayed on the screen will guide you, and your iPhone will be unlocked. This method requires you to have a computer and an existing backup to restore data.
3. Erase iPhone via Find My iPhone (iCloud)
If you don’t have a PC to use iTunes, as in the above method, you can use iCloud to erase the iPhone from another Apple device or from the web. You need your Apple Account password, and Find My must already be turned on for the locked iPhone.
You should have the latest iCloud backup for the best chance of restoring your data after the erase.
The steps below will guide you on using iCloud.
- Using your Apple ID password, log in to your iCloud account.
- Click Find iPhone > All Devices. Select your disabled iPhone.
- Cick Erase This Device.
- Click “Remove This Device”.
If you didn’t turn on Find My iPhone, or if you do not know the Apple Account password, this method might not apply to you.
This article dealt with how to unlock iPhone is disabled try again in 15 minutes. The article introduced and recommends using Mobitrix LockAway to unlock your iPhone as the tool is fast and instantly unlocks your iPhone.
If you had synced your iPhone to your computer, a backup-and-restore path may save more of your data. If not, choose between recovery mode, Find My, or a third-party tool based on whether you have a backup, a computer, and your Apple Account password.
