Frozen XR iPhone

I have an iPhone 12 but I'd like to get this XR working. I was with Sprint and they no longer exist and T-Mobile (who bought out Sprint), says they can't open it. Anything I can do?

iPhone XR

Posted on Nov 3, 2022 2:02 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 3, 2022 3:36 PM

Then you didn’t follow the instructions correctly, and you weren’t holding the SIDE button long enough:


  • Press and quickly release VOLUME UP
  • Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN
  • Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears HOLD UNTIL YOU SEE THE APPLE LOGO, NO MATTER HOW LONG THAT TAKES.

The operative word here is QUICKLY; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky.


5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 3, 2022 3:36 PM in response to Captiva01

Then you didn’t follow the instructions correctly, and you weren’t holding the SIDE button long enough:


  • Press and quickly release VOLUME UP
  • Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN
  • Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears HOLD UNTIL YOU SEE THE APPLE LOGO, NO MATTER HOW LONG THAT TAKES.

The operative word here is QUICKLY; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky.


Nov 4, 2022 7:51 AM in response to Captiva01

The carrier has nothing to do with it, that’s why they couldn’t solve it. Here is the next thing to try:


If your device has iOS 15.2 or later installed, you can reset it without a computer; check out this link→How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support. Otherwise you will need a computer:

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.


And if that doesn’t resolve it your phone has a hardware problem.

Nov 3, 2022 8:02 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Okay, I tried that again. No matter how long I hold the side button it does nothing. Actually, not nothing, it goes black. I held it quite some time and it just goes black.


I forgot to mention that it's frozen in airplane mode. I have no idea how it got moved to airplane mode. When I finally release it it goes back to "phone disabled".


I'm sorry, you tried, I realize that. It was connected to Sprint when I got another phone and this one was never used again. Now, someone wants to use it and alas, it's frozen tight. Since T-Mobile bought out Sprint, I don't understand why they can't unlock it, but they say they can't. Thank you so much for trying.



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Frozen XR iPhone

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