My iPhone 4s is disabled - can't be restored in iTunes because Find My iPhone is enabled.

Question

My iPhone 4s is disabled - can't be restored in iTunes because Find My iPhone is enabled.

I am currently using my old iPhone 4s as an extra device around the house for my kids to use as an iPod. The cellular service is not available on the phone. I had a password set up so the kids couldn't use it with out my permission. Well, someone tried to put in an incorrect password so many times that the phone says "iPhone is Disabled - connect to iTunes." I tried connecting to iTunes, but because I had the "find my iPhone" enabled, iTune's won't restore the phone.

I have tried going to iCloud to erase my phone (I read this is the only way to go about restoring the phone if you have this enabled), but the phone shows up as "offline" and won't erase until it is online again. I wasn't sure how to get it online again. I read that it will show up as "off line" if the cellular service is turned off.

So, what do I do? Please help!

Thank you!

Posted on May 4, 2015 7:29 AM

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Answer 1

AmishCake

Level 6

9,636 points

May 4, 2015 8:50 AM in response to lafleurdesign

You can go to iCloud.com on any computer and sign in to turn off Find My iPhone there for the device. Then just erase it from the device itself.

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Answer 2

May 4, 2015 9:09 AM in response to AmishCake

Thank you. I just did that, but iTunes still won't let me restore. It says that "Find my iPhone" needs to be turned off.

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Answer 3

May 5, 2015 7:11 AM in response to lafleurdesign

Please help! I have tried everything I can think of and have searched the internet trying to find a way to remedy this. My iPhone does not show up in the list of devices when I go to iCloud from my computer, but when I got to iTunes and click "Restore iPhone" it tells me that I need to turn off "Find my phone." I have powered off my phone, restarted it and had no luck.

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Answer 4

PepeHH

Level 1

20 points

May 5, 2015 7:20 AM in response to lafleurdesign

maybe your device belongs to another iCloud account? do you remember any other email addresses that you may have?

do you have the proof of purchase? if yes - call apple support and they can delete FMP from your device

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Answer 5

May 5, 2015 7:29 AM in response to PepeHH

This is the only iCloud account I have had. I will look to see if I still have proof of purchase.

Any other ideas if I can't locate proof of purchase?

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Answer 6

AmishCake

Level 6

9,636 points

May 5, 2015 8:00 AM in response to lafleurdesign

Maybe try forcing it into DFU mode?

Turn your device off and connect your cable to the computer, but not the device just yet. Start up iTunes. Now, hold down the home button on your device and plug it in to the cable - don't let go of the button until iTunes tells you it's detected a device in recovery mode. Now you can restore to factory settings.

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Answer 7

PepeHH

Level 1

20 points

May 5, 2015 8:04 AM in response to AmishCake

when you do this, you have to enter code for iCloud as well...and then you have a useless device

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Answer 8

May 5, 2015 9:15 AM in response to AmishCake

I just tried forcing DFU mode following your instructions. It looked like it was going to work, and looked like it was restoring to factory settings, but when it was complete, the phone was still disabled and when linked to iTunes, it still says I can't restore because "Find my iPhone" needs to be turned off.

Thank you for the ideas! Any more?

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