What Does iPhone Unavailable Mean and How to Fix It, Even on iOS 16/17

September 14, 2023
Amanda Lee
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What Does iPhone Unavailable Mean and How to Fix it - iOS 16 Updated

This is a complete guide to what does iPhone unavailable mean.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

iPhone Unavailable meaning.

iPhone Unavailable, the previous and present life.

Key Points and facts to save your data or not with iPhone Unavailable.

How to unlock iPhone Unavailable lockout screen.

Why you have no erase option.

Lots more.

Chapter 1. What Does iPhone Unavailable Mean?
Chapter 2. What Happens When iPhone Says iPhone Unavailable.
Chapter 3. The Key Points to save your Data or Not.
Chapter 4. How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Screen.
Chapter 5. Why You Have No Erase option.
Chapter 6. Erase Data on Settings after 10 Failed Passcode Attempts.

Chapter 1:

What Does iPhone Unavailable Mean

“iPhone Unavailable” means your iPhone is unavailable. It gets disabled as a security lockout device, triggering the Apple Security measures.

In other words, you can’t access and use your iPhone at the time.

Your iPhone is also like a bricked one if you can’t unlock it with the correct passcode after waiting for the required time period.

iPhone Unavailable is a new saying since iOS 15.2.

What does iPhone Unavailable Mean

You are not alone to ask "what does iPhone Unavailable mean" on earth. Apple started to use the saying since iOS 15.2. On the recent iOS 16, iOS 17 or later screen, the iPhone still says iPhone Unavailable when locked out.

It's unlike the occasion of "iPhone is Disabled Connect to iTunes". At least the "iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes" message tells people what to do next. While, you got nothing with the "iPhone Unavailable" screen.

When you got your iPhone Unavailable with a forgotten passcode, you need to factory reset it to use it again.

iPhone Unavailable message screen implies that you or other people have entered the wrong passcode attempts to access the iPhone.

Due to the many failed passcode attempts, Apple iPhone takes the actions as the brute-force passcode attacks or illegal hacks.

Apple then prevent you from using your iPhone with the escalating iPhone Unavailable alerts.

Chapter 2:

What Happens When Your iPhone says iPhone Unavailable

From iOS 15.2 to iOS 16, iOS 17 or Later

Apple has the escalating security measures when people unlock the screen with incorrect passcodes.

At the beginning, it shows you the alert to try again your password after a few minutes. The more wrong tries, the longer timer it shows you to wait for another try. Finally, for the extremely 10 wrong passcode tries, it’s completely locked.

Let's explain the whole message patterns on the iPhone Unavailable screen:

iPhone Unavailable on iOS 15.2 or later, before iOS 16.0.

The iPhone Unavailable messages show in white letters on the black lock screen, either with the Emergency option, or the Press home to unlock letters.

5 failed passcode attempts in a row, iPhone Unavailable Try again in 1 minute. Or Security Lockout, try again in 1 minutes.

6 failed passcode attempts in a row. iPhone Unavailable Try again in 5 minutes. Or Security Lockout, try again in 5 minutes.

7 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable Try again in 15 minutes. Or Security Lockout, try again in 15 minutes.

8 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable Try again in 30 minutes. Or Security Lockout, try again in 30 minutes.

9 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable Try again in 1 hour. Or Security Lockout, try again in 1 hour.

10 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable. Or Security Lockout.

After the seventh failed passcode attempts, it may show you the Erase iPhone option, next to the Emergency button. It may not show you the Erase Option on the screen.

We'll talk about the Erase Option Later.

During any of the set timer waiting period, when you enter the correct passcode, you should access your iPhone immediately.

When you end up staying on the final iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout screen, you need to reset your iPhone to factory settings.

iPhone Unavailable on iOS 16 or Later, as well as iOS 17

On iOS 16 or later, for iPhone Unavailable occasions, you should see the longer waiting time period, showed from our latest test results.

Yes, Apple updated or improved the feature.

The message groups are set with longer timer that the iOS 16 prior software on iOS 16 or later.

More scared for you. If you need to access your Unavailable iPhone very soon, the results are worse for the updated security measures.

4 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable, try again in 1 minute.

5 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable, try again in 5 minutes.

6 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable, try again in 15 minutes,

7 failed passcode attempts, iPhone Unavailable, try again in 1 hour.

8 failed passcode attempts, Security Lockout, try again in 3 hours.

9 failed passcode attempts, Security Lockout, try again in 8 hours.

10 failed passcode attempts, Security Lockout.

When you got your iPhone unavailable on iOS 16 or later, you almost can't use it for at least one day. It's terrible for a user to be in a bind because your iPhone stuck on iPhone unavailable screen iOS 16.

About the iPhone Unavailable Try Again Timer.

Once you trigger the iPhone unavailable message with a timer, you can't speed up it or change it. You have to wait until the time is up. Then the normal unlocking screen appears, and you can have another passcode entry try.

From the above information, you can see that on the iOS 16 or later, you should wait for even longer time than before. You'll need more than 12 more hours to get to the final security lockout screen. You may need to try again 8 hour later, 7 hour, 5 hours, 3 hours or 5 hours 30 minutes, or 2 hours 15 minutes, any timer between 8 hour and 1 minute.

Enter Correct Passcode to

Get iPhone Out of the iPhone Unavailable Mode.

During the iPhone Unavailable mode with try again in any timer message, if you enter the correct passcode on the screen when the time is up, you should access the home screen immediately.

You can break off the escalating security measures by authorize entering your iPhone with the right password. Otherwise, reset it to factory settings to enable it.

The correct passcode likes a key, to all your iPhone data. It opens the iPhone lockout screen like a breeze.

Chapter 3:

iPhone Unavailable & Forgot Passcode: The Key to Save your Data or Not - Backups.

iPhone Unavailable & Forgot Passcode: The Key to Save your Data or Not, Backups.

Worrying about data loss when iPhone gets unavailable? You will exactly lose your data when you forgot the passcode and also have no backups.

Definitely, you need a factory reset to get the iPhone out of the iPhone Unavailable lockout mode.

Then key to save your data is to have the previous backup before the final lockout.

You can salvage your data from restoring the backups, after a factory resetting.

About Saving the Data.

There is no ways without factory resetting the iPhone unavailable screen when forgot the passcode.

Absolutely, you can't back up a unavailable iPhone. Unfortunately for many people without any backups, data loss is painful.

However, after fixing it, you can use your iPhone again. As to the restoring data from backups after enabling it, we'll show you later.

In the below chapter, we'll show you the ways to fix iPhone Unavailable, even on iOS 16 or Later.

Things to Know before Fixing the iPhone Unavailable Error

1. To factory Reset it to get your iPhone out of the iPhone Unavailable, you'll install a clean iOS software instead. It comes out like a new iPhone.

2. The below methods should factory reset and erase all data on the device.

Chapter 4:

How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Screen
If You Forgot Passcode

To show you the solutions and the corresponding requirements clearly, we’ll dive into each possible solution.

If you got an unavailable iPhone, the solutions with a computer have higher success rate for you to fix it than those ones without a computer.

Things also become different on the newer iOS 16 software versions. It’s significantly more difficult to deal with the iPhone Unavailable on iOS 16. Maybe the reason is that it’s too new.

Based on these considerations, and what’s more, on our experience in fixing the iPhone Unavailable errors, we strongly suggest you to cope the problem with a computer.

Fix iPhone Unavailable in iPhone Unlocker app - third-party software.

SD iOS passcode Unlocker is a computer app to unlock the disabled iPhone with the Unavailable security lockout screen. It can unlock iPhone locked screen, remove the iPhone screen time passcode, and unlock Apple ID smartly.

It’s a lightweight app with an intuitive interface. Check the main features.

Unlock the iPhone passcode even if it’s disabled or unavailable locked out.
Remove the screen time passcode without any data loss.
Unlock your Apple ID on your iPhone or iPad when you can’t do it.
Support unlocking the passcode on iOS 16 or later or iPadOS 16 or later.

Firstly, free download and install the app to your computer.

Free Download Free Download

Then install it on your computer. Follow the below steps to unlock your unavailable iPhone or iPad.

Step 1. Launch the app and head to the Wipe Passcode Section.

Step 2. Click Start and enter your iPhone in recovery mode.

For iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and later, including iPhone SE 2, SE3.

Turn off your iPhone first. Press and hold both the side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a while to let it turn off completely.

Press and hold the side button for your iPhone while immediately connecting your iPhone to the computer. Keep holding the side button until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone. Then let go.

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus,

Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a while to let it turn off completely.

Press and hold the volume down for your iPhone while immediately connecting your iPhone to the computer. Keep holding the side button until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone. Then let go.

iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5s, and earlier:

Press and hold the side (or Top) button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Press and hold the home button for your iPhone while immediately connecting your iPhone to the computer. Keep holding the home button until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPhone. Then let go.

Step 3. Confirm your device information and start to download firmware.

When your iPhone is in recovery mode, SD iOS Passcode Unlocker can detect your iPhone information, confirm it, and click Start to proceed. Wait for the download to be finished in a few minutes. If the iPhone exists recovery mode before the download is complete, make sure to put it in recovery mode again when the download is done.

Step 4. Unlock start and complete.

When the download is over, click Unlock option. As the unlock process should erase all data on it, the app should let you confirm again with 0000. Do it.

When you see the success screen, disconnect your iPhone from the computer. Set it up.

Video Guide to Unlock iPhone Unavailable iOS 16 or later

Fix iPhone Unavailable in Finder.

If you got your iPhone unavailable on the newer iOS 16 or later software, Use Finder first to get your iPhone out of the lockout screen.

Apple Finder replaced iTunes starting with macOS Catalina to sync, restore, and manage backups and more. If you have a macOS computer running on macOS Catalina or later, opt for Finder to fix it.

If you have no computer, you can also go to the Apple store, and fix your iPhone unavailable with theirs. Or borrow a computer from your family or friends.

First. Update your Mac to the latest macOS version.

For example, if your Mac is running on macOS 12 Monterey, update it to the latest version macOS 12.6, which was released on September 12, 2022.

With updating your macOS to the latest version, your Finder is also updated to the latest version.

Second. Turn off your iPhone and put it in recovery mode.

iPhone Recovery Mode — iPhone in Recovery Mode, connecting to the computer

Make sure to unplug your iPhone from the computer first.

Follow the below directions to get your Unavailable iPhone into recovery mode.

Putting iPhone Unavailable in Recovery Mode Directions

For iPhone 8 or later

For iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and later, including iPhone SE 2, SE3,

Press and hold both the side button and the Volume down button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a while to let it turn off completely.

For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus

Press and hold the side button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a while to let it turn off completely.

For iPhone 6s and earlier

iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5s, and earlier:

Make sure to use a good USB cable to hook your iPhone to the computer. So that the whole process will go well.

And When Finder pops up a window, click Restore.

Then click Restore and Update on the next prompt screen, click Restore.

Click Agree and Next.

The Finder should download the lates iOS software and install the clean version.

Pay attention that the recovery mode exits every 15 minutes. If during the downloading process (longer than 15 minutes), it comes back to the iPhone Unavailable mode screen, let the download finish. Then put it in recovery mode again.

Later, set up your iPhone.

When you see the Hello screen, congratulations. You've saved your iPhone from the lockout status.

During the setup process, you need your Apple ID and password to log in. If you have Find My on before the iPhone got unavailable, you'll need to enter your previous Apple ID and password to pass the activation lock.

Whatever, if you see the Hello screen, you've unlocked your unavailable iPhone sucessfully. Hooray. You can take a tea break then.

Fix iPhone Unavailable Using Erase iPhone Option on Device

Chapter 4:

How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Using Erase iPhone Option on Device.

After seventh failed passcode attempt, if you see the Erase iPhone button on the bottom right corner, use this option to fix your iPhone Unavailable screen.

Three essential prerequisites to use Erase iPhone option.

Your iPhone should run on iOS 15.2 or later.

Your iPhone needs to be connected to Wi-Fi network or a cellular before the lockout.

You should know your Apple ID and password.

Find My iPhone on settings should be enabled before the security lockout.

Let's start.

Try your passcode and wait for the timer is up. Continue trying to enter the passcode for the seventh time, until you see the Erase iPhone option in the bottom corner of the screen.

Tap Erase iPhone. You should see the next screen.

It says "This iPhone is in security lockout. You can try your passcode again in [number] hours, or [number] minutes, or you can erase and reset this iPhone now".

Meanwhile, it shows you the Apple guide page address as "support.apple.com/iPhone/passcode".

Tap Erase iPhone. You should see the next screen.

iPhone Unavailable-Erase all content and settings

Later, iPhone will require you to enter the Apple ID password. You should enter the Apple ID password of the iCloud account that is exactly signed in the iPhone before the lockout.

When the password is entered, wait for the iPhone to erase itself. You'll later get the iPhone like a new iPhone. When it restarts and shows you Hello screen, you can swipe up to set it up.

Chapter 5:

Why You have No Erase Option.

There are several reasons that you should have no Erase option there on your iPhone device. And they cause that you can't use the Erase option to reset it to factory settings.

Your iPhone isn't running on iOS 15.2 or later.

Your iPhone is neither connected to Wi-Fi network nor a cellular before the lockout.

Your iPhone may be running on the different iOS software models that have no Erase option. There are also some unknown reasons for the no Erase option.

Your Find My iPhone is not enabled before the security lockout.

In this stage, you should use other ways to fix it, like resetting it on a computer.

Want to Read:

Amanda Lee

I am the chief editor of softwaredive.com. I have been engaged in software and computer gadgets fields for over 10 years, offering proven guides, tips, and software solutions in data recovery, and multimedia field.