Can't restore my 1-owner iPhone w/ iTunes: says I need passcode

Question

Level 1

46 points

Can't restore my 1-owner iPhone w/ iTunes: says I need passcode

iPhone 6 OS10.1, macOS Sierra lastest version (10.12.1)

The phone froze the other night while I was using it. So, I reset it by holding the home and sleep buttons. Now the phone in a constant Apple logo startup loop. Just sits there with the Apple logo for hours until I press the home and sleep buttons again to turn it off.

So, I decided I needed to update the OS via iTunes ... hooked it all up (latest version of Sierra and iTunes), and iTunes said that I could not update .. that I had to restore ... No problem since I had a recent iCloud backup. But, the iPhone 6 will not restore either ... I get this really senseless message that my phone is locked with a passcode. Of course it is ... aren't most iPhones? So why is the restore function not working? Since the phone is in an Apple logo loop, there is no way to even enter a passcode.

Any ideas Apple community?

Thanks, Frank

iPad 2, iOS 8.3, iPad 3

Posted on Oct 25, 2016 4:14 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 25, 2016 4:17 PM in response to metaweb

You will have to restore the phone from Recovery Mode. See: If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support. If you follow the instructions carefully it won't prompt you to enter a passcode on the phone.

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Answer 2

metaweb Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 26, 2016 4:49 AM in response to LACAllen

I finally got it restored. Here was the problem that I encountered that had to be fixed first. My Photos App in Sierra is defaulted to start up when my iPhone is connected to the Macbook via USB. So every single time that I tried the recovery mode following each step as directed by Apple, when the iPhone display switched from the iTune recovery display back to the Apple logo, which meant that the iPhone was now communicating with my Macbook, the darn Photos app would launch and cut off the restore process because it wanted the iPhone passcode to unlock the device to access the Photos App.

So, I finally researched how to disable the Photos App from auto-launching whenever an iPhone is plugged into USB. After I disabled that booger (which was not intuitive), the iPhone played nice with iTunes recovery mode. Why in the world luanching the Photos app is a default (and annoying) setting is confusing.

Thanks all!

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Answer 3

metaweb Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 25, 2016 5:34 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Those are the instructions that I have been following to a T ... At the end it does say that if it does not work, to go to the Apple Store for help. Guess I will do that when I am in the States in December .... Thanks!

Still says that it can't update because the iPhone is locked with a passcode.

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Answer 4

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Oct 25, 2016 8:05 PM in response to metaweb

To be clear, there is no other magical solution waiting at the Apple Store.

Their help is for people who can't do this themeless for whatever reason. They will only assist you to use the exact same instructions.

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Answer 5

CC_Dubb

Level 1

19 points

Oct 25, 2016 8:08 PM in response to metaweb

Place the device in recovery mode by holding the home & power button until you see the iTunes symbol on the phone screen; iTunes will then prompt you to restore the device; which should reinstall the latest software and put you back to the setup assistant

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Answer 6

metaweb Author

Level 1

46 points

Oct 26, 2016 4:51 AM in response to LACAllen

I realize that, but perhaps they could see or have experience identifying what was hanging up my recovery process. Now I know, the darn Photo Apps in Sierra was interrupting the process. Now I have unchecked the iPhone device from auto-launching the Photos App, and all is cool. Genius Bar people probably know of this quirk ... I did not.

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Answer 7

Klotar

Level 2

297 points

Oct 26, 2016 7:47 AM in response to Michael Graubart

Possibly, you may have accidentally clicked the "Follow" button at the top of this thread. If you scroll up and it shows as "Following" with a checkmark, just click it once to change it to "Follow" and you should stop getting the notifications. Not saying that is what happened in your case but that should stop it.

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Answer 8

Oct 26, 2016 11:30 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

My dear Lawrence Finch, it is not a good idea to misunderstand something and and as a result imply that the writer is an idiot. Are you seriously suggesting that I write messages to automated systems? I made it clear to anyone (any human) who chooses to read the string of posts. As for unchecking the 'Follow' link, that was pointed out to me by a previous contributor to the string, and I followed her/his advice and thanked her/him.

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Answer 9

Oct 25, 2016 4:15 PM in response to metaweb

What you need to do is follow the instructions in this support article > If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple Support

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Answer 10

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Oct 25, 2016 8:07 PM in response to metaweb

Of course it is ... aren't most iPhones?

You tell us. Did you place a passcode (optional by the way, not set by default) on your phone?

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Answer 11

Oct 26, 2016 7:33 AM in response to metaweb

Why am I receiving this string of posts? I neither posted this question nor joined in the discussion. Please stop.

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Answer 12

Oct 26, 2016 8:34 AM in response to Klotar

Thanks very much, Klotar. You are absolutely right: it showed 'Following' at the top.I have changed it. It's not that the string wasn't interesting, but my inbox gets too full anyway…!

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Answer 13

Oct 26, 2016 9:42 AM in response to Michael Graubart

When you post to a thread you are automatically set to follow the thread by default.

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Answer 14

Oct 26, 2016 9:55 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Yes, indeed! It would be odd if it were not so. But I made it clear earlier on in this thread that I did not post this question and did not want to follow it.

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Answer 15

Oct 26, 2016 10:36 AM in response to Michael Graubart

Made it clear to who? It is an automated system. You have to uncheck the "follow" link. The system doesn't read your mind or interpret what you post, and no one but you can change the setting.

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