"iPhone unavailable" message on lock screen

AmbiguousCROOK wrote:

worthless. awesome IPHONE you suck I can't et into my phone nor restart it and you already scammed me $800.....thanks

That’s one way to look at it. The other way is simply restore your phone as described on this very page and you will have a working $800 phone. In fact, I’ll even repeat the instructions so you don’t have to scroll up to see them:

If your iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later installed, check out this link→How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support. Otherwise:

See this Apple support link→If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Or watch this companion video ⬇️

After restoring the phone using one of the methods above you can restore your most recent backup.

If your iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later installed, check out this link→How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support. Otherwise:

See this Apple support link→If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Or watch this companion video ⬇️

After restoring the phone using one of the methods above you can restore your most recent backup.

If your iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later installed, check out this link→How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support. Otherwise:

See this Apple support link→If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Or watch this companion video ⬇️

After restoring the phone using one of the methods above you can restore your most recent backup.

Biggest problem here was the phone cannot be detected by the pc so you cant do anything to fix it. Was able to solve it with a tech from the apple support app.

Here are the steps, but you will need a mac OS desktop or laptop (havent tried with windows itunes) to connect the phone... Much better if you have a backup.

1. shutdown the phone (vol up, vol down, hold power
2. before you connect the phone to the computer via cable, hold the power button to open the phone
3. when the apple logo appears, connect the cable
4. phone should now appear on your computer
5. restore backup or back to factory settings

If your iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later installed, check out this link→How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support. Otherwise:

See this Apple support link→If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Or watch this companion video ⬇️

After restoring the phone using one of the methods above you can restore your most recent backup.

I tried updating it via itunes, then perform restore factory default and it worked.

Connect your phone using the charging cable to your laptop

open the itunes app in your laptop (example is the apple music player)

press the volume up (don't long press)

press the volume down (don't long press)

Long press the power button until you see the apple logo

keep on pressing the power button until you see the charging cable on the screen

then a pop up window will appear asking you to select update the software or proceed to restore factory default option

I tried to perform the software update first, and perform backup recovery - (mine recovery failed) so I proceed with restore factory default.

then it worked.

Hope this helps!

I had a similar problem. I got there as I had forgotten my password (it's an old phone Xs) and had tried as many iterations of the password as I could think of until the phone was completely locked and wouldn't allow any further attempts at unlocking and permanently had 'iPhone unavailable' on the screen.

I spoke to Apple and they suggested I plug it into my laptop and then push the up volume button, then the down volume button (both on the left of the phone) and then hold the power button (on the right of the phone)) and you will see the Apple logo after a little while, keep on holding and you will see the picture of the computer and the cable. At this point you can take your finger off the power button.

On the computer it then gives you an option to restore and update. I think once you have done this process you can restore an old backup.

Hope that helps

If your iPhone has iOS 15.2 or later installed, check out this link→How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support. Otherwise:

See this Apple support link→If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Or watch this companion video ⬇️

After restoring the phone using one of the methods above you can restore your most recent backup.

If you CAREFULLY follow the below instructions and your phone does not reset to factory settings and prompt you to set it up your phone is permanently broken and you should throw it away, or at least make a Genius Bar appointment to see if it can be fixed:

See this Apple support link→If you forgot the passcode on your iPhone, or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

Or watch this companion video ⬇️

I just had the same issue. Laptop wasn’t recognizing even after DFU mode. Took it to the Apple store and they erased and restored the phone completely free. Make sure u have a back up or your Apple ID(iCloud) email and password. Thanks

I was able to reset the iPhone after the screen read "iPhone unavailable" by taking out the phone service sim card, turning off, then holding the on button until the last step. The cable was inserted once the apple logo appeared. It took me back to the recovery option.

Turn off Raise to Wake in Settings, Display & Brightness and turn off Tap to Wake in Settings, Accessibility, Touch to prevent it opening in your pocket or purse

Again here is the solution

You can sometimes remedy this without a computer if on iOS 15.2 or later by tapping on "erase iPhone" , but you will still need the Apple ID password. It will WIPE the phone, no choice!

How to remove your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch passcode without a computer - Apple Support

video

https://youtu.be/7s8-zLG9ySQ

 ios 15.1 and earlier:

If you've forgotten your iPhone passcode – Apple Support (UK)

You have to erase and restore the phone. Go to the apple store. They will do it for u for free

Hello JessandVi,

Thanks for choosing the Apple Support Communities. If we understand correctly, you are unable to update your iPhone due to a message that states "iPhone unavailable". We can understand why you'd reach out for a solution.

Have you tried unplugging the iPhone, plugging it back in, then updating again?

Also, here is a resource that can help.

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Cheers!

Guys this also happened to me. But the phone told me to wait 15 minutes. I waited the 15 minutes and the phone was able to unlock. I am not sure about all those steps performed with an apple tech.

I would like to know why it happened, though? To me it happened out of nowhere. The phone was working properly and had it in my pocket as i was cooking breakfast. Took out my phone to check weather, and said iPhone was unavailable. Then i rebooted the phone and when it came up it said iphone unavailable, wait 15 minutes.

these are my phone details:

phone model: Iphone XR

software: 15.3.1 (19D52)