[5 Powerful Ways] How to Unlock an iPhone When It's Disabled

"My iPhone is acting up again. Why am I not able to access it?" Is this the situation you are facing right now? Well, if yes then it's your lucky day as I am going to discuss this issue and 5 different methods to unlock your disabled iPhone at length in this guide. What did you say? You don't have any technical background to follow this guide? Absolutely not a problem because it comes with the easiest steps that a non-tech person can also follow.

Why is my iPhone disabled?

Before getting to the methods, you must be wondering why my iPhone acts like this and is disabled? Where did I go wrong? Well, the reason why your iPhone is disabled is that you or anyone from people near you intentionally or unintentionally entered too many wrong passwords. Kids often enter too many wrong attempts unintentionally as they play around.

Apple is very concerned about their users' data and privacy so it locks your iPhone if there is a security issue like someone attempting to unlock your passcode. If your iPhone shows "iPhone is disabled, try again in X minutes" you still have a chance to enter the right passcode and access it. But if it prompts "iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes" then you are completely locked out.

Method 1: Forgot iPhone Passcode? Unlock Your disabled iPhone via Mobitrix LockAway

A professionally designed unlocking tool for iOS users, Mobitrix LockAway helps you in removing your passcode if you forgot it to unlock your iPhone within 20 minutes only. Besides passcodes, it can also help you in removing the Face ID from your iPhone in case it is malfunctioning or causing some troubles. The R&D team of Mobitrix LockAway can get you out of this troublesome situation quite easily because of 10+ years of experience in iOS cracking.

Mobitrix LockAway can help you in the following situations:

• If you forgot your iPhone passcode.
• Too many incorrect attempts disable your iPhone.
• Bought a second-hand iPhone
• Face/Touch ID not functioning properly
• iPhone Screen is cracked or shattered

Unlock Your Disabled iPhone in 20 mins

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If you're tired of reading text guide, you can check the following video guide.

Steps

1. Download Download and Install Mobitrix LockAway
2. Click "Unlock Screen Passcode" in the main menu


Unlock screen passcode home

3. Click Start to remove iPhone Passcode. And then Keyfile will be detected automatically


Unlock screen passcode product



Unlock screen passcode looking for keyfile

4. Download and extract Keyfile Package


Unlock screen passcode download and verify keyfile

5. Click "Start to Extract" after Keyfile has been downloaded successfully.


Unlock screen passcode firmware has been downloaded

6. When the extraction is complete, please click Start Unlock


Unlock screen passcode extraction complete



Unlock-screen-passcode-remove-screen-lock

7. Unlock is complete.


Unlock screen passcode unlock is complete

Method 2: Unlock Your Disabled iPhone via Erase iPhone Option Without Computer

"Erase iPhone" is a new feature launched by Apple for users that have iOS 15.2, or later. The function of this feature is to bypass your locked iPhone without a computer. In simpler words, the feature helps unlock your iPhone by removing all the settings and data on your iPhone, including the passcode in case you forget it. 

"Erase iPhone" will only work if you follow these requirements:

• iOS 15.2 or later must be running on your locked iPhone.
• To see the "Erase iPhone" option, you must be signed in to your Apple account before getting locked out. 
• You must remember your Apple ID and password.
• A secure Wi-Fi or cellular connection is a must for your locked iPhone.

Steps 

1. To see the Erase iPhone option in the "Security Lockout try again in 15 minutes" interface, you need to enter the wrong password seven times


Security Lockout try again in 15 minutes

2. You will see the "Erase iPhone" option at the bottom of your iPhone's screen. Click it to move forward and confirm your action again.


Security lockout click erase iphone

3. Enter your Apple ID and password to proceed on the "Sign out of Apple ID" interface.


Sign out of apple id interface

4. Your iPhone will prompt the erasing progress with the Apple logo and a bar. 


Showing the progress of the erase

5. Wait for it to finish, and your iPhone will restart automatically.
6. Set it up as a new device with a passcode you will remember.

Method 3: Fix "iPhone is disabled" via Find My iPhone (icloud.com)

Apple introduced an app to locate your lost or stolen device known as "Find my". One of the features of this app is "Erase it with ease" which deletes all the data on your iPhone or iPad to set it up as a new device. This feature can prove to be beneficial in case you forget your passcode.

Requirements

• The "Find My" app must be enabled on your locked iPhone.
• iCloud account must be logged in before you get locked out.
• A secure internet connection on your iPhone via Wi-Fi or a cellular network.
• You must know your Apple ID and password.

Tip: Make sure you do not go back during the procedure as it will reset the progress. If this happens, you will have to repeat the process. The best way is to do it without any disruption.

Steps

1. Open the website of iCloud.com on a web or phone browser
2. Sign in with your Apple ID and password


Enter your apple id and password

3. Select the "Find My" option and enter your Apple ID password again to log in


Click Find iPhone



Enter your Apple ID password

4. Click on 'All Device' and select your device from the list.


Click all device and choose your device

5. Choose "Erase iPhone." Confirm your choice by entering the password again to continue


Click erase iphone



Enter the password to continue

6. Enter the code you receive on the trusted device to continue.


Two factor authentication

7. Enter your phone number and select next, then done.


Enter your phone number

8. It will prompt "Erase started," and you can see the progress on your iPhone displayed with the white Apple logo.


Srase started

9. Wait for the procedure to complete. Your iPhone will automatically restart and you can go to your iPhone and reset it.
10. Enter your Apple ID and password
11. Set a new passcode.

You can restore the backup from iCloud or iTunes in the "Apps and Data" tab if you backed up before you got locked out of your iPhone.

Method 4: Unlock a disabled iPhone via iTunes

In 2001, Apple released a new app for playing media and managing audio and video files on your iOS devices known as iTunes. Later in 2011, some new features were added to this app that let iOS users to backup and sync data across multiple iOS devices. The app also included a Restore option to unlock your iPhone passcode if you no longer remembered it.

Preparations

1. A PC or Mac
• On a PC: Windows 8 or later, and the latest version of iTunes must be installed.
• On a Mac:

a.macOS Catalina or newer, open a Finder window.

b.macOS Mojave or older, install and launch the latest version of iTunes.

2. A compatible USB cable

Steps

Step-1 Turn off your iPhone

1. If your iPhone is connected to a computer then immediately remove it.
2. Now, turn off your iPhone according to the model of your iPhone:
• iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation): Press and hold both the side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears.
•  iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6: Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears.
• iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5s, and earlier: Press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears.
3. Drag the slider to turn your iPhone off and wait for it to turn off completely.

Step-2 Put your iPhone in recovery mode

Note: If you are unaware of what a recovery Mode is, it is considered a troubleshooting mode for iOS devices that solves the issues of your iPhone via iTunes or Finder when it is connected to a computer. 

1. While connecting your iPhone to the computer, press the following buttons according to your iPhone's model:
   • iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation): side button.
   • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Volume down button
   • iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 6s, and earlier: Home button.
2. Keep pressing the button till the recovery mode screen appears on your iPhone.

See the recovery mode screen

If you are stuck on a passcode screen, please repeat steps 1 and step 2 to turn off and put your iPhone in recovery mode again.

Step-3 Restore your iPhone

1. Go to the iTunes app. Choose "Restore" from the two options when it shows "There is a problem with the iPhone that requires updating or restoring it."


The iphone that requires it to be updated or restored

2. Confirm your action by clicking on the "Restore and Update" option on the prompt "Are you sure you want to restore the iPhone to its factory settings?"


All of your media and other data will be erased

3. To begin the downloading and restoring process, tap next and select "Agree" in the "iPhone software update" prompt.
4. The procedure can take 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the speed of your internet. Click the download icon in the top-right corner of the interface to check the progress.


click this icon to check the download process

Tips:
• If your device exits the recovery mode screen while the download process is still left and it's been over 30 minutes, you need to repeat steps number 1 and 2 again to turn off and enter recovery mode again.
• It can also prompt "There was a problem downloading the software. The network connection timed out." To get over this, you can manually download the iPhone software update.
5. Select the "Restore" option after the download is finished when it shows "iTunes will erase and restore your iPhone to iOS 15.4.1 and verify the restore with Apple"
6. iOS 15.4.1 iTunes looks for restoring the software on your iPhone by prompting "Extracting software…."


Preparing to restore the software on this iphone



iPhone software update

7. You can see the white Apple logo and a bar as restoring progress on your screen. It will take between 20 minutes to 2 hours, according to your iPhone's data.


Your iPhone has been restored to factory settings

8. Let your iPhone restart automatically when the restoration process is completed.
9. Reset your iPhone and set a new password that is easy to remember.

A Free Bonus: Remove Forgotten Passcode via iPhonePass Without Data Loss

Mobitrix released a free unlocking tool, iPhonePass, for its customers stuck in locked iPhone issues. The purpose of this tool is to unlock the iPhone 5s to iPhone X without losing any data. iPhonePass jailbreaks the device to get the authority and remove your passcode. Since iPhone 5s to iPhone X do not have a very strong chip, it is easier to follow the steps and remove the passcode.

Preparations:

A Mac (any version is suitable)

• Download a lock removal tool – iPhonePass
• Download a jailbreak tool---checkra1n (only compatible with macOS)

Steps

1. Launch Checkra1n and click 'Start' to Jailbreak your iPhone.


Launch Checkra1n

2. Till installation is not finished, do not disconnect your iPhone.


Install Jailbreak

3. Do not use your iPhone and wait for some time after Jailbreaking it.
4. Connect your iPhone to your MacBook to establish a network link.
5. Go to the "Terminal" and enter the "sudo iproxy 22 44" command


Enter "iproxy 22 44 "

6. Remove the screen password. Double-click to delete the script "deliphonepass.sh".


Delete "deliphonepass.sh" file

7. Set a new passcode from settings as your passcode will be removed and no data loss will occur.

If your iPhone is not in the supported model list, this method will not work for you.

How to avoid getting a Disabled iPhone again?

Prevention is better than looking for a solution. Here are some ways you can follow to avoid getting disabled iPhone again

How to set up a Touch ID?

1. Go to your iPhone's settings
2. Open 'Touch ID & Passcode' tab and enter your password to proceed
3. Click 'Add a fingerprint' and keep touching the fingerprint sensor according to the on-screen prompt.
4. Confirm your action when finished.

How to set up a Face ID?

1. Launch your iPhone's settings
2. Go to 'Face ID & Passcode.'
3. Enter your current passcode or set a new one as an alternate.
4. Select 'Add a face' and keep your head in the position according to your iPhone.
5. Follow the on-screen prompt and click done

How to back up with iCloud?

1. Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi.
2. Open your settings and then click ID.
3. Go to iCloud and toggle the iCloud Backup option.
4. Click 'Back up now' and wait for the procedure to end.

How to back up with your Mac?

On Finder:

1. Launch Finder on your Mac with macOS Catalina or later and connect your iPhone to the Mac.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen and enter your iPhone passcode or confirm 'Trust this computer.'
3. Select your iPhone in the iTunes list.
4. Select your iPhone in the sidebar and click 'Back up now.'

On iTunes:

1. Open iTunes on your Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier and connect your iPhone to the Mac.
2. Follow the instructions on the screen and enter your iPhone passcode or confirm 'Trust this computer.'
3. Select your iPhone in the iTunes list.
4. Locate the summary in iTunes and click 'Back up now.'

How to back up with iTunes on your PC?

1. Launch iTunes on your PC and connect your iPhone with the PC.
2. Follow the prompt to enter your iPhone passcode or confirm 'Trust this computer.'
3. Select your iPhone in the iTunes list.
4. Go to the summary in iTunes and click 'Back up now.'

• Open the Settings > Accessibility > Touch > disable "Tap to Wake" option.
• Then go to "Display and Brightness" and turn off the "Raise to Wake" option.