4 Ways to Unlock iPhone "Security Lockout" Screen 2023

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Jerome Mills
Last updated: Feb 10, 2023

Summary: This guide will walk you through how to unlock your iPhone when it displays the Security Lockout screen. 

Basically, when your iPhone is locked, enter the correct passcode to unlock it. However, if you enter the wrong passcode too many times, your iPhone will be permanently locked and you will see the Security Lockout screen on your iPhone.

Wondering what the Security Lockout means and how to unlock your iPhone? Keep reading this blog where you'll find 4 easy fixes.

How to Unlock "iPhone Security Lockout" Screen - 4 Ways

What Does Security Lockout Mean on iPhone?

This means that you have entered the wrong passcode too many times. Security Lockout is a new feature introduced by Apple in iOS 15.2 to protect your iPhone from prying eyes.

When you enter the wrong passcode for the 5th time, you will see the message iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 1 Minute. If you enter the wrong password again after 1 minute, you will need to wait 5 minutes. If you still enter the wrong passcode for the 7th time, you need to wait 15 minutes. The more wrong attempts, the longer you have to wait. After 10 wrong attempts, your iPhone is totally disabled and you will see the message Security Lockout.

If your iPhone is locked forever, how do you unlock it? Read on.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPhone via Security Lockout

If your iPhone is permanently locked, the only way to unlock it is to reset it. Fortunately, the Security Lockout feature allows you to quickly unlock your iPhone without a computer.

Unlock iPhone with Security Lockout

Before resetting your iPhone, make sure the following:

  • Your iPhone is running iOS 15.2 or later.
  • Your iPhone is connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network.
  • You know your Apple ID and password.

Here’s how to reset your iPhone:

  1. Tap Erase iPhone at the bottom of the Security Lockout screen.
  2. Tap Erase iPhone again to confirm your action.
  3. When prompted, enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID.
  4. Click Erase iPhone to permanently delete all content and settings from your iPhone.
  5. Once the process is complete, reset your iPhone and restore your data via iCloud, iTunes, or other backup methods.
Tip
iPhone not showing the Security Lockout screen? Continue entering your passcode until the Security Lockout screen appears.

How to Unlock a Locked iPhone via iCloud

If you don't see the Erase iPhone button, or the Erase iPhone button is unavailable, you can unlock your iPhone using iCloud. Here’s what you need to do.

  1. Open Safari and visit icloud.com.

  2. Enter your Apple ID and password.

  3. Follow the onscreen instructions to authenticate again.

  4. Tap Find iPhone, and then tap All Devices.

    Log in to iCloud

  5. Select the iPhone you want to reset and tap Erase iPhone.

    Erase Device from iPhone
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to enter your Apple ID password and all data on your iPhone will be deleted.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPhone via BuhoUnlocker

Another way to unlock a disabled iPhone is to use BuhoUnlocker, an iOS unlocking tool that unlocks your screen passcode in just a few clicks.

Here's how to unlock your iPhone with BuhoUnlocker:

  1. Download and install BuhoUnlocker on your computer (PC or Mac).
  2. Launch it and click Unlock Screen Passcode > Start.
    Select Unlock Screen Passcode
  3. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and put it into recovery mode.
    Put iPhone in Recovery Mode
  4. Download the firmware for your iPhone, click Start Unlock, and wait for the unlocking process to complete.
    Download iOS Firmware for iPhone
  5. When you see the hello screen on your iPhone, set up your iPhone.
Tip
All your data will be lost. But if you have a backup, you can restore your files from the backup later.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPhone via Finder or iTunes

If you want to manually unlock your iPhone with a computer, use Finder or iTunes.

  • For Macs running macOS Catalina and later, use Finder.
  • For Macs running macOS Mojave, use iTunes.
  • For Windows PCs, use iTunes.

The steps are roughly the same for Finder and iTunes. Here’s how:

  1. Turn off your iPhone.

  2. Connect your iPhone to your computer via a cable, then press the corresponding button to put your iPhone into recovery mode.

    • iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X and successors, iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation): Use the Side button.
    • Phone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Use the Volume Down button.
    • Phone SE (1st generation), iPhone 6s, and earlier models: Use the Home button.
  3. Continue to hold the button until the Recovery Mode screen appears on your iPhone.

    iPhone Recovery Mode Screen
  4. Open Finder or iTunes on your computer and locate your iPhone.

  5. You will see Restore and Update options. Select the Restore option. Then, the computer will automatically begin downloading the software for iPhone and start the recovery process. (The download process takes about 15 minutes.)

    Restore iPhone in Recovery Mode
  6. Once the recovery process is complete, unplug the cable from the computer and reset your iPhone.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have successfully unlocked your iPhone through one of the methods above. Keep in mind that these methods will erase all data on your iPhone. It is recommended that you back up your iPhone regularly to avoid unnecessary data loss.