[2024] How Many Attempts to Unlock iPhone?

If you have ever forgotten your iPhone passcode, you may wonder how many times you can try to unlock your device before some restriction is imposed. It is important to know this process as this will avoid permanent lockouts and more importantly prevent data loss.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at how many passcode attempts you can enter on an iPhone, what happens after 10 failed passcode attempts, and how you can unlock your iOS device after 10 failed tries.

How Many Times Can I Attempt to Unlock My iPhone?

Initially, you can enter your passcode as many times as you like, but after the 6th incorrect attempt, your iPhone will impose an increasing lockout duration. Specifically, for the first five incorrect passcode attempts, the iPhone remains accessible. You can continue entering the passcode without any penalties or lockouts. However, if you’ve entered the wrong passcode for the next few attempts, you will see your iPhone is disabled or unavailable for a certain minute.

• After the 6th failed attempt: Your iPhone will be temporarily disabled for 1 minute. You must wait this duration before trying again.
• After the 7th failed attempt: Your iPhone will disable itself for 5 minutes after the 7th incorrect attempt.
• After the 8th failed attempt: Your iPhone will remain disabled for 15 minutes, requiring you to wait once more before trying.
• After the 9th failed attempt: the lockout duration increases to 60 minutes, significantly prolonging access.

What Happens After 10 Failed Passcode Attempts on iPhone?

If you reach the 10th consecutive failure, your iPhone will face a permanent lock.

• If the “Erase Data” option is enabled, you’ll be asked to connect your iPhone to iTunes. This will erase your data unless you have backed up your iPhone data already.
• If the “Erase Data” option isn’t enabled, your iPhone will be permanently locked and your data won’t be erased.

What to Do If Completely Locked Out of iPhone?

If your iPhone is disabled or completely locked out, you can force unlock your iPhone. Forcing an unlock on an iPhone means bypassing your device's passcode or security features. If your iPhone is disabled after several failed attempts, you can unlock your device by erasing the device and removing the passcode. Nevertheless, this action will result in the loss of all data unless you have a backup. Furthermore, if "Find My iPhone" is activated, you will need to enter your Apple ID and password to reactivate the device after erasing it. Moreover, you can use third-party tools to unlock your device.

Connect to iTunes

1. Launch iTunes or Finder on your computer.
2. Use a USB cable to connect your iOS device to the computer and put your device into recovery mode.
3. In iTunes or Finder, you will see a prompt to restore or update your device. Choose the Restore option. This process will erase your device, including the passcode.
4. Once the restoration process is complete, set up your iPhone or iPad as a new device.

Use a Reliable Screen Passcode Unlocker

If you find yourself locked out of your iOS device after 10 failed tries, don’t feel upset. You can turn to a reliable screen passcode unlocker - BuhoUnlocker - to help you regain access. This user-friendly software is designed to bypass screen locks, including 4-digit and 6-digit passcodes, Touch ID, Face ID, etc. Whether you’re using an old iOS model or the latest one, you can quickly remove locks and regain access to your device.

1. Free download BuhoUnlocker and install it on your computer. Launch the software and connect your iOS device using a USB cable.

2. Click on the Unlock Screen Passcode option and follow the on-screen instructions to start the process.

3. Once the unlocking process finishes, your device will be reset, and you can set it up as new or restore it from a backup.

Use iCloud - If Find My iPhone is Enabled

If "Find My iPhone" is enabled and you forget your screen passcode, you cannot unlock the iPhone directly using the passcode. This is because Apple established this security measure to protect users' data. When "Find My iPhone" is activated, it adds an extra layer of security by linking the device to the user's Apple ID. This means that even if someone tries to bypass the passcode, they still need the associated Apple ID and password to access the device or disable the feature. In this case, you can use “Find My iPhone” to erase the device remotely, removing the passcode and deleting all phone data.

Here are the steps:

1. Go to iCloud.com: Sign in with your Apple ID.
2. Select "Find iPhone": Click "All Devices" and choose your iPhone.
3. Erase iPhone: Select the "Erase iPhone" option to wipe the device.

Put iPhone into the Recovery Mode

When an iPhone becomes disabled due to multiple failed passcode attempts, recovery mode can get it out of the dilemma. Recovery mode can unlock a disabled iPhone by allowing users to restore the device to its factory settings, erasing forgotten passcodes or security locks. All you need to do is connect your device to a computer and use iTunes or Finder to initiate a restoration procedure. Not only does this method remove the screen passcode, but wipes the device completely clean. Then you'll get a fresh start and choose to restore from your iPhone backup.

1. Ensure you’ve installed the latest version of iTunes or Finder. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the computer.
2. The way of entering the recovery mode varies from device.

• iPhone 8 and later:

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.

• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down and Side buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.

• iPhone 6s and earlier Press and hold the Home and Top (or Side) buttons simultaneously until you see the recovery mode screen.

3. Once your iPhone is in recovery mode, a prompt will appear in iTunes or Finder. Click on "Restore" when prompted. This will erase your iPhone, including the passcode.

After the restore process is complete, your iPhone will restart. Afterwards, you can follow the on-screen instructions to set it up as new or restore from a backup if you have one.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the number of times you can attempt to unlock your iPhone is limited to a specific number of tries. Normally, after six incorrect attempts, your iPhone will be disabled for a period of time. And then after 10 failed attempts, it will be permanently locked. Then you need to perform a factory reset to regain access to your device.

To avoid frustration and potential data loss, it's advisable to remember your passcode somewhere. Regularly backing up your data can also provide peace of mind, ensuring that your information is safe even if you need to erase your device. By understanding passcode unlocking limitations and taking preventative measures, you can effectively manage your iPhone's security and access.