How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Lock Screen - 4 Solutions

When you see your iPhone says iPhone Unavailable, how to fix the iPhone Unavailable lock screen issue.

• If you entered the wrong passcode too many times, you should be lockout of you iPhone, saying iPhone Unavailable since iOS 15.2.

• When your iPhone is showing iPhone unavailable message, you can't use your iPhone immediately until you input the correct passcode, after the try again timer is up. Security Lockout messages also appear alternatively When iPhone is unavailable.

• When you forgot the passcode, there is no way to bypass the unvailable iPhone without factory resetting it.

• There is no exception to retaining the existing data from a lockout iPhone. Fixing it means you should lose all existing data. Later, you can restore your data from the iPhone backups. If there's no backups, you should lose all data.

• Exactly, even if you find iPhone Unavailable with "Press home to unlock" button, it won't work for you to unlock it by pressing the home button.

Note If you see the iPhone is disabled messages on a little earlier iOS versions, you can use the same methods below to fix your disabled iPhone.

In this article, we’ll show you how to fix the iPhone unavailable lock screen step by step.

• If you have “Erase iPhone” on the iPhone Unavailable screen, Erase it on the Device.
• Unlock the iPhone Unavailable black screen using third-party software.
• Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” message via Finder or iTunes.
• Fix the Unavailable or Disabled iPhone via iCloud Find My.

Note that the black lockout screen can be in different appearances：

White Letters saying the disabled mode alerts on the Black Screen.

Message says either iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout, with Press home to Unlock only,  or Emergency at the bottom of the black screen). Some with Erase iPhone button, while some have no Erase iPhone option.

Some of the messages appear with the "Press home to unlock" button, while others of the lock screens show the "Emergency" button.

Why Does Your iPhone Say "iPhone Unavailable"or "Security Lockout" Messages?

What does iPhone Unavailable Mean? iPhone Unavailable error means you can't access your iPhone at the very moment for security reasons.  It's locked for entering too many wrong passcode attempts.

If you forgot the passcode and entered 5 failed passcode tries in a row, the iPhone’s security measures will be aroused, showing iPhone Unavailable. When you input more wrong pins, the security measure will be escalating. The fifth wrong try, iPhone says "iPhone Unavailable try again in 1 minute". From there, it says "iPhone Unavailable try again in 5 minutes", "iPhone Unavailable, try again in 15 minutes", "iPhone unavailable, try again in 1 hour",  and “iPhone Unavailable” in a timed sequence for keeping entering the wrong passcode.

On newer iOS 16 or later, you even got the iPhone Unavailable try again in 3 hours, 8 hours messages before the complete iPhone Unavailable lockout. This time, iPhone Unavailable messages arise from the 4th wrong try to the 10th failed passcode try.

Some people also got an iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout after an action on the iPhone for no reason. They may trigger the iPhone Unavailable after a reset, a recovery mode, a factory reset, a restore or transfer, or even more circumstances.

How to Fix an iPhone When it says iPhone Unavailable.

we've posted a comprehensive guide with 4 solutions and a video guide here.

All the below methods reset the iPhone and lose all existing data on it.

Before starting, let's review the key points again.

• If you don't want to lose your data, ensure you’ve backed up your iPhone before the "iPhone Unavailable" screen appears.
• If you remember your passcode, wait patiently, when the try again time is up, enter your correct pin code carefully. Immediately, you can access your iPhone.
• If you can't remember your passcode, you should factory reset your iPhone and erase all data to fix the "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout".

Solution 1. Use Erase iPhone Option on the iPhone Unavailable screen.

Essential prerequisites for the solution:

• Your iPhone should run on iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 or later.
• Your iPhone needs to be connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
• You need your Apple ID and the password, that you are currently signing in to your iPhone.
• Find My iPhone should be enabled before the security lockout.

Some iPhones on iOS 15.2 or later have the “Erase iPhone” option with the “Security Lockout, try again in 15 minutes or 1 hour” screen at the bottom-right of the screen. You'll start to have the option after the seventh failed passcode attempt.

If you have no Erase option on your iPhone Unavailable, Skip to Solution 2 and others.

Steps to Tap Erase iPhone for a factory reset on your unavailable iPhone.

You just need to tap Erase iPhone and tap Erase iPhone again to confirm.

(If no timer shows on the first screen, don't wait anymore to guess the passcode, do reset it to enable your device. )

Tap Erase iPhone option at the bottom. Read the message on the screen. Erase All Content & Settings, This iPhone is in Security lockout. You can try your passcode again in [time] hours or minutes. or you can erase and reset this iPhone now, showing you the address support.apple.com/iphone/passcode.  If you see the timer is null, there is no chance here, you should reset it immediately to enable your iPhone.

Enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID on your device.

When the iPhone restarts, set up your iPhone again.

About the onscreen descriptions after tapping "Erase iPhone".

Distinguish the "you can try your passcode again in (null)" meaning from "you can try your passcode again in X minutes".

When you see "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" with no time, tap "Erase iPhone" if there is, you'll see the screen shows you "this iPhone is Unavailable, you can try your passcode again in (null)" or "this iPhone is in security lockout, you can try your passcode again in (null)".  The screen notifications mean that there is no chance for you to try any passcode attempts. You should reset your iPhone to unlock the screen, even if you know your correct password. Reset, Reset, and Reset the lockout iPhone.

If the try again minutes is not null, you can still try some passcode attempts when the time is up. If there is a "try again in any minutes" notice, not "try again in null", and the correct passcode is entered when time is up, you can bypass the locked screen immediately.

Why Can’t I Find the Erase iPhone Option?

If you have no Erase iPhone option, the reason may be the iOS software has different versions. There are different versions of iOS 15.2 or later software on different iPhone models.

As you can see from the top screenshot that there is not an Erase iPhone option on this iPhone 12, however, there is an “Erase iPhone” on another iPhone 13/14 or 11.

Actually, many people don't have an "Erase iPhone" option where the iPhone says “iPhone Unavailable”. Thus, you'd better use the software method in Solution 1, Solution 2, or Solution 3.

If you do care about your data, keeping a regular backup is important to you. Unfortunately, many people including me have learned a hard lesson that people can’t save all data from the unavailable/security lockout iPhone or disabled iPhone for Apple’s security design. In that case, hope you have any backups to restore from after bypassing it.

Solution 2.  Unlock the “iPhone Unavailable” Black Screen using Third-Party Software.

We dive into reliable software solutions after many tests for our audience. SD iPhone Unlocker is our pick to bypass the "iPhone Unavailable" screen that has a high success rate in the iPhone unlocking software market. It’s also affordable and offers a one-month subscription, a one-year subscription, and a lifetime plan.

After using the app to reset your iPhone Unavailable screen, you should install clean iOS software. And you get your iPhone like a new iPhone. It won't affect any other functions on the iPhone, like phone calls. You can check our video tutorial below. The app is very good at fixing the disabled iPhone proven by thousands of users and our tests.

Firstly, free download and install the software to your computer. Install and launch the program.

1. Open the app and Head to “Unlock Screen Passcode”.

2. Read the Notes and Click Start.

3. Follow the onscreen directions to put your iPhone in recovery mode or DFU mode.

To put your showing null iPhone in recovery mode, follow the onscreen snapshots. or the above instructions.

4. Confirm your iPhone information and download the firmware.

5. Click Unlock to bypass the black iPhone Unavailable screen. When the screen shows you Unlock is Complete, wait for a few moments. Then your iPhone restarts. And you can set up your iPhone later.

Solution 3. Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message via Finder or iTunes.

When you connect your unavailable iPhone or disabled iPhone to your computer, launch Finder or iTunes. You'll see nothing happens at this moment for an unavailable/disabled iPhone. Because your iPhone is locked, Finder or iTunes can’t detect it.

• First of all, put your unavailable iPhone into recovery mode after connecting it to your computer with a USB cable. Then the Finder or iTunes will show you a pop-up screen with the Restore option.

If you don't know how to go to recovery mode, click the link recovery mode to refer to the instructions, after connecting your iPhone to the computer.

• Secondly, click Restore iPhone.
• Thirdly, set up your iPhone after the restoring process.

Also, you can retrieve your data via restoring from iTunes back up or iCloud back up.

Solution 4. Fix the Unavailable or Disabled iPhone via iCloud Find My, Without Computer solution.

Requirements:

• You should know your Apple ID and the password.
• Find My iPhone is enabled on your iPhone.
• Your iPhone is connected to the internet either via cellular data or Wi-Fi.

1. Open www.iCloud.com on any of your browsers on a smartphone, tablet or computer.
2. Enter your Apple ID credentials.
3. Tap or click Find My iPhone. Then locate your device after clicking All Device.
4. Tap or Click Erase iPhone. Enter your Apple ID password to confirm it.

Done.

Video Tutorial: iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout How to Fix It.

Supporting iPhone models:

Although this video uses an iPhone 12 for a tutorial, all the solutions in this article support iPhone models(supporting iOS 15 compatible devices), from the prior ones to the latest ones.  All of these iPhone models may get into the screen "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout", running iOS 15 or later. Don't worry, if your iPhone model shows you the lock screen of iPhone Unavailable, you should settle the problems without going out to the local Apple Store first.

The third-party software solution is a quick and easy way if you are in a bind when applying the other options. Restart or a force restart won't help to get rid of the iPhone Unavailable screen.

People Also Ask:

What does iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout Mean, Even on iOS 16.

What Does iPhone Unavailable Mean.

How long does iPhone Unavailable last?

Can You Speed Up the iPhone Unavailable/Security Lockout Time?

iPhone Unavailable after Restore or an update, Factory Reset, recovery mode, or other unknown reasons?

There are also some people complaining that iPhone showing iPhone unavailable after an update, restore, factory reset, or recovery mode. It is estimated that there are some unknown reasons for triggering those iPhones being stuck on “iPhone unavailable”.

If you still have any questions on how to fix the iPhone Unavailable, you can search on our site from the search bar, or leave a comment below.

Maybe you also want to read our tutorials on No Erase Option When iPhone Unavailable, iPhone Went from Disabled to Unavailable, How to Reset iPhone without Password or Computer, How to Restore Unavailable iPhone without Losing Data,  iPad Unavailable, How to Sign Out of Apple ID without Password, and iPhone is Disabled for 1 Hour.

More people also asked questions and answers about iPhone Security Lockout/Unavailable: Security Lockout on iPhone Must Knows, iPhone Disabled Bypass, How to Put iPhone in Recovery Mode without a Computer.

If your iPhone is disabled on iOS 15 prior versions, please refer to iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes.