My iPhone is disabled and it shows ‘Connect to iTunes’ or ‘try again’ message. Many iPhone and iPad users complain about this issue; but as a matter of fact, it is not an issue. A few failed attempts to unlock your iOS device disable your iPhone or iPad. Well, you are the owner of your device and you must remember the passcode to unlock it. So what could be the reason behind a disabled iPhone? In this detailed tutorial, I will explain some reasons why iPhones get disabled and a few possible solutions to fix the problem.
Here, users can use either iCloud or iTunes to fix this iPhone disabled issue. The solutions listed here will help you recover your passcode (if you forgot the password of your iOS device) and consequently you will be able to unlock your disabled iPhone. If you want to bypass iTunes, you can fix your disabled iPhone without iTunes.
What are the reasons behind this issue?
Kids tend to imitate parents; so when they see you unlock your iPhone, they also do the same when you catch your device. After typing wrong codes frequently, your iPhone gets disabled.
Children are not the only culprits to blame; your friends and family members also make futile attempts to unlock your iOS devices. And they don’t know how many attempts they can make to reach your Miami holidays’ photos.
Remember, your iPhone or iPad doesn’t get disabled in one or two incorrect passcode attempt. So how many attempts does it take to disable an iPhone or iPad?
Check this table below to know how many incorrect attempts your iPhone/iPad take before it becomes disabled.
| Incorrect Passcode Attempts | Results |
| 1 to 5 attempts | No worries |
| 6 attempts | Your iPhone disabled for 1minute |
| 7 attempts | Your iPhone disabled for 5 minutes |
| 8 attempts | Your iPhone disabled for 15 minutes |
| 9 attempts | Your iPhone disabled for 60 minutes |
| 10 attempts | iPhone is disabled. Connect to iTunes |
In case you have enabled Erase Data on Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode) screen, all the data will be erased on your iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts. Normally, people do not select this option when they set up Touch ID or Face ID.
Do you type the same incorrect passcode multiple times? Or you enter different codes for more than 6 times?
See this difference. There is the psychology behind entering incorrect passcodes. Remember those rotary phones of yesteryears? You used to dial numbers only to hear a stranger’s voice from the other end. The reason is simple: you have entered a wrong number. While making a phone call, you think you are dialing the right number, but actually, you are entering wrong numbers on the rotary dial. Similarly, when you are entering the passcode on your iOS device, you think you are typing the correct codes; however, you may be touching the wrong digits on your keypad. This happens when you set up a passcode that might create optical illusions. Numbers like 9 create this illusion; you may type six instead of 9. These two numbers are positioned above and below on your keypad.
For example, you have set up a passcode 4696 on your iOS device; and you keep typing 4969 repeatedly. This will be counted as your single incorrect attempt even if you enter the wrong (4969) for several times. When you type different incorrect passcodes for six or more times, your iPhone or iPad will become disabled.
How to Fix “iPhone is Disabled: Connect to iTunes” Issue
Enough information on reasons; now, let’s solve the issue. As mentioned above, you can either use iTunes or iCloud to fix the “forgot password” issue on iPhone.
It is confirmed now that when you forgot passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, your device becomes disabled. In this situation, you need to erase your iOS device by syncing it with iTunes. And if you fail to sync or connect your device to iTunes, you need to use recovery mode. We will check both the methods here.
Taking a backup of your device regularly is a good habit as a pro-iPhone or iPad user. Even if you are new to Apple ecosystem, you should take backup of your device at regular intervals. If you fail to do this, your data is lost forever; there is no way to bring back your data. Here, you have to erase your device, which obviously, deletes your data; however, when you erase your device, you can remove passcode as well.
Erase your iPhone or iPad using iTunes and remove passcode
Step #1: Connect your iPhone/iPad with your computer you have synced with. (Jump to this post if iTunes not recognizing iPhone)
Step #2: iTunes will open up automatically; if not, double-click on the iTunes icon to launch it. If you are prompted to enter a passcode, you can use another computer you have synced with. Alternatively, you can use recovery mode (find the link below).
Step #3: When your iOS device is synced with iTunes, make a backup.
Step #4: Once your device is backed up, click Restore (your device).
Step #5: When you are on Set up screen during the restoring process, tap on Restore from iTunes backup.
Step #6: Then select your iPhone/iPad in iTunes; check the date and size of each backup and choose the most relevant one.
Erase your iOS device using Recovery Mode and remove passcode
Recover mode is normally used when users have never synced their devices with iTunes. You can erase your device and passcode as well.
Step #1: Connect your iOS device with a PC or Mac via lightning cable.
Step #2: Launch iTunes and Force restart it to put your device into recovery mode.
Check our complete guides to put your iPhone 8, 8 Plus (and earlier models) into recovery mode. If you are using iPhone X, follow this guide to put it into recovery mode.
In case your device gets stuck in recovery mode, you can fix the issue without losing your data.
Step #3: Next, when you get an option to Restore or Update, click on Restore option and wait for few minutes as iTunes is downloading software for your device.
If it takes more than 15 minutes then your iOS device will exit from recovery mode and you will have to follow step 2 and 3 once again.
Step #4: Now, simply wait for the process to get complete. Once it is done you can easily setup your iOS device and start using it.
Alternatively, you can use iCloud to erase your iPhone or iPad remotely.
Erase iPhone or iPad Data Remotely Via iCloud
If you have turned on Find My iPhone feature and signed your iPhone into iCloud before the device is disabled, you can erase your iOS device data remotely via iCloud. Check this complete guide to remotely erase your iPhone or iPad data via iCloud.
Once your iOS device is erased remotely via iCloud, you can set up your iPhone as new.
Recover your iPhone or iPad without iTunes Backup
Imagine you have clean forgotten to take iTunes backup of your iPhone or iPad! And then your iPhone is disabled or locked! No worries; you can use dr.fone – Repair to fix disabled iPhone.
Step #1: Download dr.fone on your computer.
Step #2: Configure the software and open it.
Step #3: Choose the “Repair” square from the main menu.
Step #4: Now connect your iPhone or iPad with your computer using a cable and then click on Start button.
Step #5: A message flashes that your iPhone is connected; along with this, you will see some details of your iPhone. Here, you need to click on Next.
Step #6: You have to put your iPhone into DFU mode. Check the guides to put your iPhone X and iPhone 8, 8 Plus, iPhone 7, 7 Plus (and other models) into DFU mode.
Step #7: The software will detect the right firmware; click on Download button now.
Step #8: To restore iPhone, click on Fix Now.
Finally, restart your iPhone and start using it.
That’s all friends!
Could you fix the issue of a disabled iPhone using above mentioned methods? Share your feedback with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus