iPhone disabled, cannot enter recovery or DFU mode

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Level 1

17 points

iPhone disabled, cannot enter recovery or DFU mode

Hi,

I bought an iPhone 5c on eBay. The original user/seller has removed her FindMyPhone iCloud lock. I checked the IMEI and she has successfully removed it.

After replacing the damaged screen today, it is asking for her old passcode. The seller obviously isn't going to give this and I just want to reset/restore and wipe the device. I've read that this is possible by going into recovery mode with iTunes.

I have the lastest iTunes on my Windows 10 PC and plugged the phone in. I get the message 'iTunes could not connect to the iPhone "iPhone (2)" because it is locked with a passcode'. I read somewhere online that all the 10 passcode attempts have to be used up in order to use restore in iTunes so I used them. I now have 'iPhone Disabled, connect to iTunes'.

I've tried going into recovery mode and DFU mode but it never works. The phone just displays the Disabled message. I always get the same 'could not connect "iPhone (2)" locked passcode' error message in iTunes instead.

IIRC, you can use a computer that wasn't used by the original owner to do a restore back to factory settings but it isn't working.

Any ideas please?

iPhone 5c

Posted on Oct 19, 2015 3:25 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

imodztech

Level 2

199 points

Oct 19, 2015 5:42 PM in response to skyshrimp

First power the phone down.

Onice completely shut down do the following.

Open tunes on your computer and plug your charger into your computer but NOT your phone.

Now press and HOLD the home button down while you plug in the lightning connector into your phone.

Continue holding the home button and do not release till you see the iTunes logo and lightning connector displayed on the screen.

RElease the the home button. You are now in recovery mode and iTunes will now detect and allow a complete restore

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Answer 2

imodztech

Level 2

199 points

Oct 20, 2015 6:21 AM in response to skyshrimp

I agree 100% with Lawrence.

C to make sure you did not damage the Home button contacts on the phone side. If you did, well you're on your own.

IF not use them to manually put your device into recovery mode.

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Answer 3

Oct 19, 2015 5:47 PM in response to skyshrimp

If you use DFU mode or Recovery mode correctly it won't ask for the passcode. If it does ask you haven't done the steps correctly.

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Answer 4

skyshrimp Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 19, 2015 6:42 PM in response to imodztech

Hi imodztech,

Nothing is connected to the iPhone. I've held down the power button. 'Slide to power off' appears and I've powered it off. I wait for the tiny spinning power down graphic to finish.

I opened iTunes on my computer and then plugged the charger into my computer and NOT the iPhone.

Pressed and HELD the home button while I plugged in the lightning connector into the iPhone.

I continue to hold the home button and the phone vibrates twice. I don't get the logo/connector displayed on the iPhone screen.

The phone just resets back to the Disabled screen and the same 'could not connect "iPhone (2)" locked passcode' error message pops up in iTunes instead of the restore option.

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Answer 5

skyshrimp Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 20, 2015 6:08 AM in response to skyshrimp

I have an update,

False alarm 😟 The screen wasn't actually pushed down all the way against the body of the iphone with the 'no service' problem. I clicked it all the way down and the home button was indeed working. I tried a second screen on the 'no service' 5c and that home button worked too.

I tried both screens on the iphone with the iTunes problem (in the OP) and both couldn't go into recovery or DFU mode.

I tried connecting my iPhone 5 (third iphone) and it went into recovery mode.

I've tried Reiboot and it refuses to put the offending phone into recovery without the home or power button required.

I've just tried the 'no service' iphone with reiboot. It went into 'one click' recovery mode and out without a problem. Maybe it's because I can't get the original iphone working because I can't choose to trust this computer.

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Answer 6

Oct 20, 2015 6:04 AM in response to skyshrimp

We have a totally different situation here. Apple says there are no user-serviceable parts in an iPhone, for good reason. Most people who open their phones do some hidden damage and the phones cease to work correctly. This has apparently happened to you. You might get help at ifixit.com, but we can't help here because we don't know what you might have damaged, and Apple won't provide any support for a phone that has been opened.

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Answer 7

skyshrimp Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 20, 2015 6:37 AM in response to imodztech

Thanks,

I've recently discovered these home button contacts. They don't appear damaged to the eye. What's the best way to press the contacts without the home button? I just tried it on the 'no service' iphone with the screen connected but 90 degrees so I can access the contacts. I just loaded an app and touching both contacts with a screwdriver seemed to have worked as it went back to the main screen (with all the other apps) 🙂

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Answer 8

skyshrimp Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 21, 2015 5:43 AM in response to skyshrimp

The seller emailed me today as she has remembered the passcode! It's too late right 😟

I swapped the logic boards today. The pink Disabled phone is the one with the iTunes 'recovery' problem and the green phone is the one with the 'no service' issue.

The pink phone now with the green logic board has a working home button so it's not the contacts.

The green phone with the pink Disabled logic board still has a home button issue.

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Answer 9

imodztech

Level 2

199 points

Oct 19, 2015 6:45 PM in response to skyshrimp

sounds like you have a defective home button.

THis is would be why you cannot enter recovery or DFU mode.

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Answer 10

skyshrimp Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 19, 2015 7:01 PM in response to imodztech

That's odd as I took the screen from another 5c which only has a 'no service' issue and the home button worked fine. I used that iPhone's WIFI for days without a problem.

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Answer 11

skyshrimp Author

Level 1

17 points

Oct 19, 2015 7:18 PM in response to skyshrimp

I've just put the screen back on the other phone and the home button isn't working as you suggested. Thanks imodztech!

Now I just need to fix the home button somehow.

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