Locked Out Of iPhone Heaven? Here’s What To Do

Apple is serious when it comes to security, so much so that they even employ hackers to test vulnerabilities. Even then, there are times where it can be too secure.

If you get locked out of an iPhone, you need to know the options you have to solve this problem.

In this guide, we give you everything you need to know to restore a locked iPhone. If you have a locked iPhone and you need to use your device soon, all you need is to follow these tips:

1. What Happens When You Forget Your Passcode?

If you don’t remember your passcode, avoid attempting it too many times. If you input the wrong passcode too many times, you will end up with a locked iPhone. This error will give you a message “iPhone disabled, please try again in x minutes.”

From this point, all you need is to try again once the time restriction runs out. Don’t make too many mistakes after getting the initial warning. iPhone security will prevent you from using the device unless you supply the right passcode.

If you try again and you still get the passcode wrong, you will get a message stating “iPhone disabled. Connect to iTunes.”

What does this mean for you? This means you can’t unlock your iPhone any further. For most people, this means you have no other way of restoring your iPhone and retrieving the data inside.

Once this shows up, you need to erase your device by connecting it to iTunes. Unless you have an existing backup somewhere, you will lose all your internal data on the device. You lose all your contacts, photos, videos, and personal data.

You could bring your phone to a third-party repair shop. They have special apps that could help bypass the system and unlock your phone.

2. Why Does Apple Give You a Locked iPhone?

Why does iOS delete your data when you get a locked out of iPhone alert?

The goal is to guard confidential information. Keep in mind, your iPhone contains many personal details about you, which include:

• Phone numbers and email
• Internet and social media passwords
• Banking and credit card details
• Personal identity and information

If any of these get into the wrong hands, you risk identity theft or credit card abuse. The long-term cost for you to protect yourself will be more than retrieving all your data. If the device goes to someone who doesn’t know the passcode, Apple assumes it’s an entity you can’t trust.

Find My iPhone prevents anyone who doesn’t have your Apple ID and password from using the device. This stops thieves from using and reselling your phone on the black market. If the app’s tracking is on, you can search for the phone’s location once it goes online again.

3. How Do You Restore a Locked iPhone?

Even if you can’t unlock your iPhone, you can still use the device if you are the rightful owner.

For starters, you need to download iTunes to your desktop or laptop. iTunes is essential in restoring all your data as you do backups with this software. If you never performed backups, it’s still vital to download iTunes for a device restoration.

Download iTunes for PC or update the one you have on your Mac. Next, connect your locked iPhone to your desktop or laptop through the official Apple USB cable. Make sure to set the device to sync with your iTunes.

If you have an iPhone 8 or later phone, press and hold the side button. Press this together with one of the volume buttons. If you have an iPad with Face ID, press the top button with one of the volume buttons.

For iPhone 7, its different versions, and any iPod Touch 7th generation, you need to turn off the device. Connect your locked iPhone to the computer while holding the volume down button. Hold the volume down button until you see the recovery mode.

For iPhone 6 or earlier, its derivatives, 6th gen iPod Touch or earlier, or iPad with Home button, connect the powered-off device and hold the Home button. Keep holding until the recovery mode kicks in.

4. Connecting to iTunes

Once you connect to iTunes, you will see a prompt that shows there is a problem with your device. Click the Restore button when prompted. The process will take a few minutes and all you need to do is wait from this point.

Once it restores, you will get a message notifying you that the restore is successful. Your iPhone will then show the initial welcome screen.

If you don’t have Find my iPhone on, the process is more straightforward. Through this restoration process, you can restore whatever backed-up data you have. You may have some on your iCloud or on iTunes itself.

If you have Find my iPhone on, you need to connect to mobile data or WiFi. You then need to input your iCloud ID and password to reconnect your device. This syncs your device with your account, verifying you are the owner and restoring your locked data at the same time.

If you’re having issues updating your iPhone or you have some broken buttons, it’s best to contact Apple. Talk to your local Apple authorized service provider and see what they can do for you.

Getting Locked Out of iPhone Is Not The End

For those locked out of iPhone devices, security measures prevent you from getting anything back. You need to restore the device itself and connect to your iTunes. Only after restoration can you put your data back through iCloud or iTunes.

If you’re looking for more support for your Apple devices, you need an expert to help. Let us be the ones to fulfill your needs!

Contact us at Techville, and see how a team of certified technicians can help.