What To Do When Your Iphone Is Disabled
Mistakes happen luckily this one has a fix
Having your iPhone refuse to unlock while displaying an “iPhone is Disabled” message is terrifying. And if youve forgotten your passcode or have somehow managed to get locked out of your iOS device until the 22nd century like this poor dad, that panic is only going to escalate.
Luckily, all hope is not lost. Heres what might have happened to your precious smartphone to cause it to become disabled and how to restore your iPhone to full functionality. Weve also got tips on avoiding that iPhone is disabled message in the future.
How To Unlock A Disabled Iphone Without Itunes/icloud/ Computer
If you want to unlock a disabled iPhone without iTunes or iCloud or computer, here are your best options.
If your iPhone is not permanently disabled, you can simply enter the correct passcode and the iPhone will be unlocked.
If your iPhone is permanently disabled, you can use the Find My app on another iPhone to unlock it. Again, this method will erase all the data stored on your disabled iPhone. You can then restore your iPhones data from a backup via iCloud or iTunes. This is the best way to unlock a disabled iPhone without iTunes or iCloud or computer.
Step 1: Open the Find My app or the Find My iPhone app.
Step 2: Tap on the Devices tab and select the device you want to erase. If you dont see the device listed here, check whether the two conditions listed above are satisfied.
Step 3: Scroll down a bit and tap on Erase This Device.
Step 4: Tap Continue.If your disabled iPhone is connected to the Internet, it will automatically start erasing all data stored on it. Of course, the locked screen is removed from the iPhone.
As a matter of fact, this process is similar to how to unlock a disabled iPhone without iTunes or iCloud. The most important part is that you need to enter the right iCloud account and password.
Unlock Disabled Iphone Using Recovery Mode
Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer and follow the steps below to Reset or Remove Passcode from iPhone.
1. Connect iPhone to computer using its charging cable.
2. Open the Finder on your Mac . If you are using an earlier version of macOS or Windows PC, Open iTunes .
3. Next, follow the steps below to enter Recovery Mode as applicable for your model of iPhone.
iPhone 8 and later: Press and release Volume UP button > Press and release Volume Down button > Next, Press and hold the Side button , until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time. Keep holding them, until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
iPhone 6 or earlier: Press and hold Home and Side buttons at the same time. Keep holding them, until you see the Recovery Mode Screen
Note: Do not release the button as you see iPhone starting with Apple Logo. Continue holding down the button, until you see Recovery Mode Screen.
4. Restore iPhone Using iTunes
Once your device enters recovery mode, you will see a pop-up allowing you to either Update or Restore your device.
Since, you are trying to Erase the Passcode, select the Restore option.
Patiently wait for your computer to download the lateset version of iOS on your device. If the download is taking longer than 15 minutes and your device exits recovery mode, allow the download to finish and repeat step 3.
5. Setup iPhone Using Backup or As New Device
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Fix Your Disabled Ipad Or Iphone Using Finder
If you have a Mac that’s been updated to Catalina or later, use the Finder to unlock your device.
How To Unlock A Disabled Iphone Without Computer

If you have the Find My iPhone option enabled on your disabled iPhone, you can using iCloud to erase your device, which is a simple and quick means to unlock your disabled iPhone without computer. Here are detailed steps on how to unlock a disabled iPhone without computer.
Here’s what you need to do:
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Unlock Via Itunes Without Data Loss
If you had trusted and synced your iPhone with iTunes on your computer lately, then you can create a backup to avoid data loss when unlock your disabled iPhone. Restore your iPhone to factory settings to wipe it clean. Doing so will remove the disabled iPhone message, and your iPhone will be unlocked. With iTunes, you can easily restore your recent backup when set it up as this method will wipe out all your data.
The steps to use iTunes are:
fix iphone disable via restore with itunes
Once the process is successful, your iPhone will be unlocked. You need to set it up and restore your backup. This method will only work if you had synced your iPhone with your computer.
Locate Your Iphone/ipad Via Your Mac/pc
Depending on the software running on your Mac or PC the next step will either involve the Finder or iTunes .
macOS Catalina
macOS Mojave or older
If youre running Mojave or older on your Mac, you will need to open iTunes. There are lots of different versions of iTunes you could be running, and the method varies:
iTunes 12
iTunes 11
iTunes 10
The iPhone will be in the sidebar on the left.
On a PC running iTunes for Windows
The process will match one of the versions of iTunes listed above .
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Passfab Iphone Unlocker Key Features
PassFab isnt the only software on the market that can unlock a disabled iPhone, but it comes with many unique features that make it stand out from the crowd. You can get 58% off your PassFab iPhone Unlocker purchase during the Back to School promotion.
- Compatible with latest iOS/iPadOS Versions, including iPhone 14
- Works in a range of situations
- Turn off screen time without data loss or password
- Instantly unlock your iPhone in 4 simple steps
- Factory reset your iPhone without a password
- 100% success rate and 30-day money-back guarantee
Unlock Disabled Iphone Via Find My Iphone
This method is absolutely possible if you have enabled Find My previously as well as you remember your Apple ID and password. If you don’t remember your Apple ID or password, it is impossible to follow this method. Let’s see how to unlock disabled iPhones via find my iPhone
Steps
What to do if my touch ID is not working?
If you are unable to set a touch ID on your iPhone to protect it then face ID can also prove to be a good option. However, the Face ID option is only available on iPhone X and newer models.
5different methods to solve a single problem: how to unlock disabled iPhone. This must be your lucky day as there is no chance that you won’t be able to use your iPhone again. But guiding you through the right path is my duty. Out of all these methods, Mobitrix LockAway-Unlock iPhone Passcode is the perfect solution for you as you will not face any difficulty such as a lower success rate, time and effort-consumption or complex procedures.
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Unlock The Disabled Iphone Via Find My Iphone
If you have access to another Apple device, either a friendâs iPhone or an iPad, then you can the Find My App to unlock your disabled iPhone without a computer. Here is how:
Find My app on iPhone.
Sign in on the Find My iPhone app
List of Devices on Find My app
Erase iPhone button on Find My app
Adding a phone number to receive the erase iPhone alert.
Write the message to be displayed
Confirming the Erase started process
Pros:
- This is an approved, official way to reset a disabled iPhone
- Easy to use, as long as you have access to another iOS device.
- No need to download new software, as long as you have turned on Find My iPhone App previously
Cons:
Option 2 Unlock A Disabled Iphone Via Find My App
If you have another iOS device at hand, you can also use iOS devices’ built-in feature – Find My iPhone to restore or unlock the disabled iPhone without iTunes. Here’s how to do it. By the way, the below method also applies to users who have no iTunes or computer.
Step 1. Launch the Find My app or Find My iPhone app on your iPhone or iPad.
Step 2. Tap on the Devices and select the device you want to restore.
Step 3. Scroll down to tap “Erase This Device.”
Step 4. Tap “Continue”, then your device will be automatically erased.
Step 5. After that, you can set up your iPhone and restore it from an iCloud backup.
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How To Unlock A Disabled Iphone Using A Computer With Iphone Unlocker Tool
Another way to restore iPhone to its factory conditions when it’s unavailable or disabled is to employ iPhone Unlocker. It’s a great passcode removal tool for unlocking disabled iPhone. It’s supported for all iOS devices, despite the iOS version. It also has useful features, in addition to bypassing the passcode on Lock Screen, that makes it a comprehensive application, that is Remove Apple ID to bypass iCloud activation lock and remove the Screen Time passcode.
The software is easy to operate for all level users. Simply connect your disabled iPhone and let it take care of the rest: downloading iOS firmware for unlocking and erase iPhone to factory reset. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Launch iPhone Unlocker
Use the download link to get the software on your Mac or PC. Then fire it up.
On the window it opens, click Wipe Passcode.
Step 2: Confirm your device information
Next attach the iPhone with the computer. When it’s recognized, you should see the confirmation window, shown as the screenshot below. If not, click the link “Device is connected but not recognized”, which will direct you to enter recovery mode.
Select the information related to your device and click Start button.
Step 3: Download firmware package
Now come to the important step of unlocking a disabled iPhone. The software is downloading the firmware for the device. Wait for the tool to do its thing until it’s finished.
Step 4: Begin unlocking passcode
How To Unlock A Disabled Iphone With Itunes

Just as the prompt on your disabled iPhone says, it’s a straight-forward solution to unlock your disabled iPhone with iTunes. But be aware that unless you have backed up with iTunes before, your data will all be erased after the restore.
Step 1 Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable and launch iTunes. If you’ve synced your iPhone with iTunes, no “enter password” is required.
Step 2 iTunes will automatically sync your iPhone and create a backup file. If it doesn’t, click Back up Now in the “Summary” window to backup your disabled iPhone manually.
Step 3 After the sync process, click Restore iPhone in the “Summary” window to unlock your disabled iPhone.
Step 4 During the setup process, tap Restore Backup to restore iPhone from iTunes backup files and then you can reset your iPhone passcode without losing any data.
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How To Unlock A Disabled Iphone Without Itunes Or Icloud Or Computer
Last Updated On by iPhoneGeeks Staff
Have you ever forgotten your iPhone passcode? If yes, you probably have managed to disable your iPhone. And you are asked to connect the disabled iPhone to iTunes. Expect iTunes is there any possible way to unlock a disabled iPhone? In this guide, we will show you how to unlock disabled iPhone without iTunes or iCloud or computer.
If your iPhone or iPad is disabled then you will have to wait for some time before you can enter the passcode, or if you have entered the passcode wrong 10 times, then you will have no choice but to restore it to factory settings. Either way, its possible to restore a disabled iPhone but it may not always end in returning the phone to the state it was in before it was disabled. Theres a very real chance of you losing your data in this process, but well try to avoid that. Continue reading to learn how to reset disabled iPhone without iTunes or iCloud or computer.
Unlock The Disabled Iphone Via Finder On Mac
Unlock the Disabled iPhone Via Finder
If you have a Mac computer that runs on macOS Catalina, you have another option available to unlock your disabled iPhone. Finder is a feature that can unlock a disabled iPhone, as an alternative to iTunes.
To use this method, you need to have your iPhone with you and connect it to your Mac with a USB cable.
Note: this option works only with Mac computers running on macOS Catalina, not other systems.
Pros:
- Using Finder with MacOS Catalina is an official way to unlock disabled iPhones for free
- It is a simple method with few steps
Cons:
- This option only works if you have a macOS Catalina. It will not work with other computers or other systems.
Tips: Restore the data and settings after erasing iPhone
After removing the passcode, you can restore your data through backups on iCloud.
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How Can I Stop My Phone Being Disabled
The way to avoid seeing these messages in future is to either be more careful about inputting your passcode, choose a complex passcode with more characters , or stop using a passcode at all .
You might find your iPhone has attempted to unlock itself from inside your pocket in that case you would be wise to opt for the screen to turn off automatically after 30 seconds to minimise the likelihood that the screen will spring to life again.
What you cant do is turn off this safety measure. You cant even turn off or change the time delays as these are automatically activated on your iPhone.
Allow us to note in passing, however, that there is a related and more drastic security measure that is optional: one that will wipe the device completely if someone gets the passcode wrong 10 times in a row. This is useful if your iPhone contains data you cannot allow to fall into the wrong hands.
Go into Settings, then Touch ID & Passcode , then enter your passcode. If you scroll down to the bottom youll see a toggle labelled Erase Data. Dont use this option lightly it could prove highly inconvenient if youre forgetful.
Way 3 How To Undisable An Iphone Using Mac Finder
How to bypass the iPhone if it is disabled? If you are using macOS Catalina or later, you can unlock the iPhone using Mac Finder.
- Connect your device to the PC using the USB cable and click the Finder option.
- Choose your device from the menu and click the Restore Backup option.
- Choose your recent backup and enter the passcode.
Cons:
- Sometimes your device cant detect the backup file .
- Chances of errors are high.
- Data loss is possible.
Thats it! You have finally learned how to unlock a disabled iPhone using iTunes, Mac Finder, and UnlockGo.
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