iPhone 7 wont unlock with correct passcode!!
iPhone 7 Plus / iOs 10.2
I have used the same unlock passcode since I set this phone up four months ago. It worked fine last night before bed. I did NOT change my passcode. This morning, the phone did not recognize my finger print or passcode. I tried multiple times entering what is the correct passcode. I restarted the device and same thing. I had a family member call me and the phone would work but only their number was in the caller ID, not their name as stored in contacts. Same result with text messages. Got a few, but only with number from and not contact info.
It appeared that the device corrupted and "forgot" my information, but the carrier information was ok for phone calls and text messages.
I logged into iCloud and using "Find My iPhone" erased the device to restore it from iCloud back-up (as Apple suggests when you forget your passcode). This went pretty smoothly through the initial process and two-factor authentication but then a screen popped up that states ...."Enter Old Passcode, some of your data stored in iCloud is protected by the passcode previously used to unlock this iPhone. Your Passcode is encrypted and cannot be read by Apple" ........ At this point the old 6-digit unlock passcode must be entered. I initially thought that would work, because I did not change it and it appeared the device had "forgot" its associated account. However, again entering the only passcode I have ever used with this device did not work. I can skip it and proceed but it advised that protected data in iCloud will not be restored.
What is the problem here? How Did the device change my passcode and is there any other way to retrieve this data? (I do not sync/backup to iTunes, only iCloud). Also, is this an indication of a defect in the device hardware? I don't want to go through this hassle again.
Thank You for any helpful information.
iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10.2
