Unlock Tips

2024 How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Screen [iOS 17 & iPhone 15]

by Anna Sherry   Updated on 2024-03-06 / Update for  Unlock iPhone

I forgot my phone password and I tried again and again and now it says iPhone unavailable without a timer. What should I do?

--From Apple Community

iPhone says unavailable appears on the lock screen after you enter wrong passcodes many times, which makes you very concerned about not getting into your iPhone as many iPhone users suffer from in the Community. But iphone unavailable message problems is easy to figure out. This article discusses why your iPhone is unavailable and how to fix iPhone Unavailable, so you can regain access to your device.

Why Does My iPhone Say iphone Unavailable?

The passcode is a security feature on iPhone. If you do not enter the correct passcodes multiple times, you will see the iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout screen, which means that iPhone is locked and prevents you from entering passcode again to protect your iPhone data.

What Does iPhone Unavailable Mean?

The message tells you how long you must wait before trying to enter your passcode again. The amount of time you have to wait increases with each incorrect passcode attempt.

  • iPhone Unavailable Try again in 1 Minute: This occurs after 4 wrong passcode attempts. It's a short pause to encourage you to take a breath and try again carefully.
  • iPhone Unavailable Try again in 5 Minutes: After 5 incorrect attempts, the wait time increases to 5 minutes. This gives you more time to recollect your passcode.
  • iPhone Unavailable Try again in 15 Minutes: If you enter the wrong code 6 times, the wait time jumps to 15 minutes. This signifies a more serious attempt to unlock the phone by someone who might not know the correct code.
  • iPhone Unavailable Try again in 1 Hour: This wait time is not standard. Apple's security measures typically jump from 15 minutes to 8 hours after the 7th wrong attempt.
  • iPhone Unavailable Try again in 8 Hours: There's a significant jump after the 7th wrong attempt.This is a strong security measure to deter forceful attempts to unlock the device and protect your data.

Tips: After 10 wrong attempts, the iPhone gets completely locked and you will need to take some measures to get rid of it.

But no worries! Though it looks terrible, there are some proven and helpful iPhone unavailable solutions.

The Latest Video Tutorial on How to Bypass iPhone Unavailable Screen

Now we know why iPhone is unavailable and stops you from trying passcodes to get into it again, and watch the video that walks you through the entire process. It is time to fix iPhone Unavailable step by step. Below are the four most common methods.

Way 1. Directly Erase iPhone on iPhone Unavailable Screen (iOS 15.2 and Later)

If you can't remember your iPhone passcode and enter the wrong passcode, it will display not only the iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout message, but also the Erase iPhone/Forgot Passcode option, which directly erases your iPhone on the lock screen. Follow the below-mentioned steps:

Requirements: Your iPhone is running iOS 15.2 or later, including iOS 17, has access to a cellular or Wi-Fi network, and has Apple ID signed in.

  • First of all, keep entering the passcode and see the Forgot Passcode? option on the bottom right corner.
  • Tap on it, and it will notify you about erasing iPhone and losing data. Tap on Start iPhone Reset to go ahead.
  • Enter your Apple ID password, then the erase process will begin. Once done, you can unlock your iPhone and set it up as new.

    iphone unavailable fix - erase iphone ios 17

In the lock screen of iOS 15.2 to iOS 16, instead of Forgot Passcode and Start iPhone Reset option, it shows Erase iPhone. But the process and requirements are all the same.

iphone unavailable - erase iphone

Way 2. Fix iPhone Unavailable without Passcode Using 4uKey

The first method above might not work in some situations. For example, your iPhone is not connected to a network, or you do not see the Erase option. How to fix iPhone Unavailable now? Try using Tenorshare 4uKey, which is able to unlock the unavailable iOS screen without passcode. It is compatible with the latest iOS/iPadOS 17 and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

  • First, you need to launch 4uKey on a computer and click Start. Connect your unavailable iPhone to it via a USB cable.

    start 4uKey to fix iphone unavailable screen
  • 4uKey will match the latest iOS firmware. Click on the Download button to download it on your computer.

    download firmware - 4uKey guide - iphone says unavailable
  • After that, the program will automatically start removing the passcode you forgot. It takes a few minutes.

    iphone unavailable fix - 4ukey is removing the lock screen
  • Wait for a few minutes, the forgotten passcode will be removed, and iPhone Unavailable messages will disappear.

    iphone unavailable fix - 4ukey unlocks successfully

Way 3. iPhone Unavailable How to Fix with iTunes

When iPhone says iPhone unavailable, the third way is to restore your phone to factory settings by using iTunes (or Finder on Mac). Since sometimes iTunes cannot detect the unavailable iPhone when it is locked, follow the below-mentioned steps.

  • Connect iPhone to iTunes or Finder on your computer and put it into recovery mode.

  • iTunes will pop up a message window saying iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. Then go with the restore option.

    iphone unavailable try again - restore iphone via itunes
  • Your iPhone gets restored in a few minutes. iPhone Unavailable is fixed and you'll see the Hello screen after it restarts.

Way 4. iPhone Unavailable How to Fix via Find My iPhone

There is another way to fix iPhone unavailable screen without computer. With Find My enabled across your devices, you can erase your unavailable iPhone wirelessly on iCloud.com with another device. It also needs Apple ID login and network.

  • Open icloud.com on a browser, and sign in to your Apple ID, go to Find iPhone.
  • Click All Devices on the top bar. Select your iPhone that says unavailable, and proceed with the erase option.

    iphone unavailable lock screen - erase iphone successfully
  • Since no firmware is involved, this process could be faster. And you will soon get access to your iPhone again.

iPhone Unavailable Fixed

Your iPhone is locked with iPhone unavailable screen if forgot passcode. But follow the 4 methods mentioned above, you can unlock it easily. We highly recommend Tenorshare 4uKey for iPhone unavailable fix with least limitations. Do set a passcode that is easy to remember next time so you will not face this issue anymore.

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