Restore an iPhone 12 that is corrupted beyond the point of being able to update/restore

Question

Level 1

48 points

Restore an iPhone 12 that is corrupted beyond the point of being able to update/restore

Recently, someone came to me asking for help when he got an iPhone 12 second hand and it was not wiped upon being handed to him. I noticed signs of some files being corrupted, like the time/date being very wrong, the language being different, and the iphone kept looping a 1 hour "iPhone Unavailable" and even though I did not touch the phone after that for more than an hour, I came back to it to see it had restarted back to 1 hour the second I picked it up. I tried using my laptop and the Apple Devices app to Update and Restore, but it gave me an error saying that the software corrupted during the update. I cannot restore the device. What should I do? I and my friend DO NOT have the Apple Account password nor the device passcode. Help appreciated. It also is not very clear exactly which model of iPhone 12 it was, all I know is it's from the iPhone 12 lineup. EDIT: Attached is a picture of the error.

iPhone 12

Posted on Sep 25, 2024 5:52 AM

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Answer 1

muguy

Level 10

93,440 points

Sep 25, 2024 6:27 AM in response to Xxmaclhrjs

Without the Apple account password used to lock the device, it will be unusable. Recycle it responsibly.

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Answer 2

muguy

Level 10

93,440 points

Sep 25, 2024 6:54 AM in response to Xxmaclhrjs

If the device is activation locked you will. not be able to bypass the lock.

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Answer 3

Xxmaclhrjs Author

Level 1

48 points

Sep 25, 2024 6:46 AM in response to muguy

There is no way to restore it?

Because I've seen countless videos of it being done while doing research on it but I haven't gotten to that point yet I can't restore it, DFU formatting mode did not work.

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Answer 4

Xxmaclhrjs Author

Level 1

48 points

Sep 25, 2024 6:45 AM in response to Xxmaclhrjs

There is no way to restore it?

Because I've seen countless videos of it being done while doing research on it but I haven't gotten to that point yet because I can't restore it, DFU formatting mode did not work

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Answer 5

Sep 25, 2024 9:24 AM in response to Xxmaclhrjs

Can you not factory reset the phone without using the computer? I have never wiped a phone completely of iOS. The download should be to computer first, not directly to the phone anyways. The iOS should be downloaded to iTunes on there, then opened to install to phone when asked for it. It should overwrite everything.

Boot up in safe mode, bypass the password this way, and factory reset. Then login with new Apple ID.

Otherwise, try to download an older version ios. Like in the 15’s. After installing the fresh copy, set up the phone, use it for a while to see if it is still buggy, then maybe you can try updating it.

if all else fails, go to an Apple store or Best Buy (Geek Squad), or repair shop.

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Answer 6

Xxmaclhrjs Author

Level 1

48 points

Sep 26, 2024 5:55 AM in response to Poetic_madness

Well, I cannot access the device due to a corrupted "iPhone Unavailable" screen that keeps blocking me from entering and it was not wiped when being handed over so I do not have the passcode. I will try safe mode and see if it works, thanks for the reply!

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Answer 7

Xxmaclhrjs Author

Level 1

48 points

Sep 26, 2024 6:09 AM in response to Poetic_madness

There is no safe mode for iPhones and I have tried the recovery mode it doesn't work.

I am also NOT trying to wipe iOS completely.

I will keep trying other methods, thanks for the reply though.

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Restore an iPhone 12 that is corrupted beyond the point of being able to update/restore

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