Unlock an Unavailable iPhone X or XS: Full Guide

This guide covers the legitimate ways to regain access to an iPhone X or iPhone XS that shows “iPhone Unavailable” on the lock screen. You’ll learn why this happens, how to unlock it with or without a computer, and what to do if you’ve forgotten your passcode or the device is disabled for security reasons. Before starting, make sure you know your Apple ID password and have access to the computer you normally sync with, because most recovery paths require one or both.

What You’ll Need

• A computer (Mac or Windows) with the latest version of iTunes, or Finder on macOS Catalina or later
• The USB cable that came with your iPhone (or any certified Lightning cable)
• Your Apple ID email and password
• If you use two-factor authentication, a trusted device or phone number to receive the verification code
• If the iPhone was previously synced to a computer, that same computer (so a local backup can be restored)

Step-by-Step

1. Determine the exact message. If the screen says “iPhone Unavailable, try again in 1 minute” or a longer time, the device is temporarily locked after too many failed passcode attempts. If it says “Security Lockout” or “iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes,” the lockout is permanent until you erase the device.
2. Try the temporary wait. For a short lockout (under 15 minutes), simply wait out the timer. Do not attempt more passcodes—each wrong guess increases the lockout duration and can eventually erase the phone automatically if the “Erase Data” setting is enabled.
3. Use your computer to erase and restore (the main method). Connect the iPhone to your computer using the Lightning cable. If asked “Trust This Computer?” on the iPhone, tap Trust (you can only do this if the screen is not fully locked out—if it is, skip to Recovery Mode below).
4. Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows or older macOS). Your iPhone should appear in the sidebar (Finder) or the top-left device icon (iTunes). If you see a message that the iPhone is in Recovery Mode or needs to be restored, proceed to step 7.
5. Select “Restore iPhone.” In Finder, click the “General” tab, then “Restore iPhone.” In iTunes, click “Restore iPhone” on the Summary page. Confirm that you want to erase the device and install the latest iOS. This will download the iOS software (around 3–5 GB) and wipe the phone.
6. Set up as new or restore from backup. Once the restore finishes, the iPhone will show the “Hello” setup screen. You can set it up as a new device, or restore from a backup you made earlier. If you have an iCloud or computer backup, choose that option. After setup, you’ll need your Apple ID and password to activate the phone (this is the Activation Lock step).
7. If the computer doesn’t detect the iPhone, enter Recovery Mode. Disconnect the cable. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button (on the right edge) until the Recovery Mode screen appears (a computer icon with a cable). Keep holding the Side button while reconnecting the cable—release only when the recovery screen shows.
8. Restore from Recovery Mode. Once in Recovery Mode, your computer will show a dialog saying “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.” Click “Restore” (not Update, since Update may not remove the passcode lock). Follow the on-screen prompts.
9. Use iCloud Find My (if the phone is linked to your Apple ID and you have another device). Go to iCloud.com/find from any browser, sign in with your Apple ID, select the locked iPhone, and click “Erase iPhone.” This remotely wipes the device and removes the passcode. After the erase, you can set it up again with your Apple ID. This only works if the iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.
10. Use the “Forgot Passcode?” option on the lock screen (iOS 15.2 or later). After several failed attempts, the lock screen may show “Forgot Passcode?” Tap it, enter your Apple ID password, and the phone will erase itself. This requires the iPhone to be connected to the internet.

Common Mistakes

• Guessing the passcode repeatedly. This is the #1 cause of permanent lockouts. After 10 wrong attempts, the iPhone erases itself (if “Erase Data” is on) or locks permanently.
• Using “Update” instead of “Restore” in Recovery Mode. Update keeps your data but also keeps the passcode lock. You must choose Restore to clear the passcode.
• Disconnecting the cable mid-restore. This can corrupt the iOS installation and leave the phone stuck in Recovery Mode. Let the restore finish completely, even if it takes 20–30 minutes.
• Forgetting to turn off Find My iPhone. If Find My is enabled and you don’t have the Apple ID password, the restore will fail at the activation step. You must know the Apple ID credentials.
• Trying third-party unlocking tools. Many are scams or require you to jailbreak the phone, which voids your warranty and can leave the device unusable. Stick to Apple’s official methods.

Tips

• Always back up your iPhone regularly. If you have a recent iCloud or computer backup, losing the passcode is a minor inconvenience, not a data disaster.
• Write down your passcode somewhere safe. A password manager or a note in a secure app is better than memory alone.
• Use Face ID as a backup. Face ID works most of the time, so you’ll rarely need to type the passcode. But it won’t help after a restart or after 48 hours without unlocking—you’ll still need the passcode then.
• Check if the “Erase Data” setting is on. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Erase Data. If it’s on, 10 failed attempts will wipe the phone automatically. If it’s off, you’ll just get a permanent lockout instead.
• Keep your Apple ID password current. If you change it, update it in your iPhone settings so you’re not caught off guard during a recovery.

Troubleshooting

• The computer says “iPhone could not be restored” with error 4013 or 9. This usually means a connection issue. Try a different USB port (preferably a rear port on a desktop), a different cable, or restart your computer. If it persists, put the phone in Recovery Mode again and retry.
• The iPhone won’t enter Recovery Mode. Make sure you press the buttons in the correct order and hold the Side button long enough (about 10 seconds). If the Apple logo appears, you held it too long—start over.
• You don’t remember the Apple ID password. Go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it using your trusted phone number or recovery key. You cannot bypass Activation Lock without this.
• The restore completes but the phone still asks for a passcode. This can happen if you restored from an old backup that was made before the passcode was set. Erase the phone again and set up as new, then restore your data manually.
• iCloud Erase says “Unable to Erase.” The phone must be online. If it’s not, you’ll need to wait until it connects to Wi-Fi, or use the computer method instead.
• The screen is black or unresponsive. Force restart: press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. If that doesn’t work, charge the phone for an hour and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will I lose all my data if I restore an unavailable iPhone?
A: Yes, restoring erases the phone completely. The only way to keep data is if you have a backup (iCloud or computer) that you can restore afterward.

Q: Can a professional unlock my iPhone without the passcode?
A: Apple does not provide passcode bypass services. Third-party services that claim to do so are either scams or require unauthorized modifications that won’t work on current iOS versions.

Q: How long does the lockout last if I keep guessing?
A: The timer increases with each failed attempt: 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, then longer. After 10 attempts, the phone erases itself (if Erase Data is on) or locks permanently.

Q: Does restoring in Recovery Mode require the phone to be unlocked first?
A: No. Recovery Mode is designed to work even when the phone is locked. That’s why it’s the standard method for forgotten passcodes.

Q: Can I use my iCloud backup after restoring?
A: Yes, as long as you know your Apple ID password. During setup, choose “Restore from iCloud Backup” and select the most recent backup. The backup will include your photos, messages, and app data, but not the old passcode.

Q: What if the phone is linked to someone else’s Apple ID?
A: You’ll need that person’s Apple ID password to remove Activation Lock. If you bought the phone secondhand and the seller didn’t remove it, contact them. Apple cannot remove Activation Lock without proof of purchase and the original owner’s cooperation.

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