If you’ve ever seen the “iPhone unavailable” black screen on your iPhone, you know how frustrating it can be. This article will help you solve the problem by offering four different ways to get rid of the screen.
Introduction
Have you recently tried to use your iPhone but have been greeted by a very unpleasant screen that says iPhone unavailable? Or maybe you’ve locked yourself out of your iPhone by entering the wrong passcode too many times?
Either way, it can be a very frustrating experience, especially if you don’t know how to fix an unavailable iPhone and get access to it again.
Well, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many other iPhone users have had this issue at one time or another. Thankfully, there are multiple solutions available to help you solve the problem.
In this article, we will show you how to deal with an unavailable iPhone in four different ways. So, let’s get started!
Part 1: Why Does Your iPhone Say “iPhone Unavailable”?
The iPhone Unavailable/Security Lockout Screen means that the phone is no longer able to be used and you must wait for a certain amount of time before trying again. This usually happens when you intentionally or unintentionally enter the wrong passcode too many times.
If you enter an incorrect passcode 10 times in a row, you are prevented from entering any more incorrect passcodes. Your iPhone’s security feature is activated and your device will lock you out permanently, and it will display the message ‘iPhone Unavailable’ or ‘Security Lockout’.
Part 2: What To Do When iPhone Says Unavailable?
As earlier mentioned, iPhone unavailable is not a major issue to be concerned about, and it can easily be easily fixed. Below, you can read step-by-step instructions on four different ways to fix an unavailable iPhone, and then decide which method works best for you.
Way 1. Directly Reset with Erase iPhone Option on the Screen
This is the simplest way to get rid of the iPhone unavailable screen and it can be directly done on your device. When you exceed 10 failed attempts to enter a passcode to unlock your iPhone, you’ll see the “Erase iPhone” option at the bottom of the screen.
It helps you erase all of the data and settings on your iPhone, including the passcode. However, in order to use this option, make sure you have iOS 15.2 installed on your device, remember your Apple ID password, and have a data connection.
If all of the requirements are met, then you can directly reset your iPhone with the “Erase iPhone” option.
Here is how to do it:
Step 1: If your “Erase iPhone” option does not appear, keep entering the passcode. After some time, it should appear. If not, restart the device, and connect to a data connection.
Step 2: Once you have taped the “Erase iPhone,” you will be prompted to enter your Apple ID password to start the erase process.
Step 3: Once your device has been erased completely through the erasing process, you can set it up again.
Way 2. Using 4uKey to Unlock an Unavailable iPhone without Passcode
Second way to deal with the unavailable iPhone screen is by using a 3rd party tool called Tenorshare 4uKey iPhone Unlocker. This simple yet powerful software can help you get rid of the unavailable phone screen without passcode in just a few simple clicks.
Besides providing you with a wide range of options and features, Tenorshare 4uKey comes with an extremely user-friendly interface that makes it very easy to use, even for first-time users.
You can use it to fix your iPhone if it becomes unavailable or displays a security lock screen. It can also help you remove your Apple ID, bypass the MDM screen, and factory reset your iPhone without even using passcode or iTunes.
Following are some other features of Tenorshare 4uKey:
- Quickly unlock the locked screen without passcode or Apple ID
- Supports every iPhone model/iOS version (including iOS 15)
- Offers straightforward interface – no tech knowledge required
- Fix disabled iPhone even if you don’t have iTunes or iCloud
- Allows you erase iPhone permanently without a passcode
- Remove 4-digit/6-digit screen passcode, as well as Face ID & Touch ID
Here are the steps for using 4uKey to deal with unavailable iPhone:
Step 1: To unlock the lock screen passcode of your iPhone, first launch the Tenorshare 4uKey on your computer, and then click “Start” to begin.
Step 2: Now, connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable. Then, once the device is recognized by the program, you can click “Next” on the main Welcome window.
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to download the Firmware Package and save it on your computer.
Step 4: Then click “Start to Remove” to begin removing the iPhone passcode and setting up your iPhone as new.
Way 3. Unlock an Unavailable iPhone via iTunes
Restoring an iPhone with iTunes is yet another approach that Apple recommends to unlock an unavailable iPhone.
Although the restoration process is easy, it will also erase all of your data and settings if you have not backed up your device. The success rates are also very low because iTunes often fails to recognize a locked-out phone.
Here is how to do it:
Step 1: To begin, launch iTunes on your computer and connect the iPhone that is locked to the system.
Step2: After you’ve done that, put your device into recovery mode. Then, iTunes will detect your device and offer two options; choose “Restore.”
Step 3: After downloading and installing the latest iOS on your device, you will be prompted that your iPhone has been erased and then you can set it up again.
Way 4. Erase iPhone via Find My iPhone
Additionally, Find My feature is available for use across all of your devices, allowing you to remotely erase a phone or tablet that is lost, stolen, or simply unavailable.
This erases all data and resets the device, but it works only if you have enabled Find My, are connected to the Internet, and have an Apple ID login.
Step 1: Sign into your iCloud account through your browser. From there, please access the “Find iPhone” function.
Step 2: Now, choose the device whose data you want to erase from the top drop-down menu of “All Devices,” and then click the “Erase” button at the bottom.
Step 3: Confirm by clicking “Erase” again and then enter your Apple ID password to delete the device and its data remotely.
Part 3: How to Avoid Disabling your iPhone?
Preventing an iPhone from being disabled again in the future is quite simple and you just need to follow some measures such as:
- Make passwords easy to remember, but difficult for others to guess
- Avoid letting your kids input wrong passcodes too many times
- Always protect your phone from prying eyes
- Regularly update your iOS device to the latest version
- Keep Find My feature enabled on your iPhone at all times
- Backup your iPhone regularly to avoid data loss
Final Words
When you constantly have to remember a lot of passwords, it’s easy to get confused and forget your iPhone passcode. If this ever happens to you, don’t panic – there are ways to fix it.
In this article we’ve provided 4 different ways to help you learn how to undisable an iPhone. You can use any one of these based on your personal needs and situation.
However, if you are not tech-savvy and want to minimise complications by using other methods, we would recommend you to use 4uKey. It’s not only a simple and effective way to unlock a disabled iPhone, but it also offers you access to a number of other useful features.
