Are you receiving an “iPhone unavailable” message? Here’s how to fix it

Receiving an “iPhone unavailable” message on your lock screen is never a welcome sight. The problem is common, caused by entering an incorrect password too many times. This is a system intended to protect against unwanted access, but it can just as easily be triggered by unintentional pocket presses or by a simple oversight. Fortunately, there are several ways to get back into your iPhone, although some require a little more work, depending on the circumstances of your lockout.

Your options for an iPhone unavailable error vary slightly depending on your iOS version, whether you’ve recently changed your password, and what other technology you have.

Use Password Reset

If you’re using iOS 17 or later and have reset your phone’s passcode in the last 72 hours, you have the option to revert to your old passcode to resolve the issue.

1. After five incorrect passcode attempts, the iPhone unavailable screen will appear and you can select the Forgotten password option in the lower right corner

2. Select Enter the previous access code

3. After entering your old password and unlocking your phone, you will need to immediately reset the password with a new number.

Reset your iPhone without a computer

To reset your iPhone without a computer, you need to be using iOS 15.2 or later, have Find My enabled, have an active cellular or Wi-Fi connection, and know your Apple account and password. Apple recommends that if you are using an eSIM on iOS 16 or later, you contact your carrier before following these steps, as they may be able to provide you with a QR code that allows you to reconfigure your eSIM.

1. From the iPhone unavailable screen, select Forgotten password

2. Select Resetting iPhone

3. Enter your Apple account password to log out of your account

4. Select Erase iPhonewhich will delete all your data and settings. If you’re using an eSIM and iOS 17 or later, you’ll have the option to keep your eSIM but erase your data, or delete both your data and your eSIM.

5. Your phone will restart; From there, follow the instructions to set up your device again

Reset your iPhone with a computer

To reset your iPhone with a computer (PC or Mac), you will need a cable to connect your phone to your computer and an Internet connection. On PC, you will also need the Apple Devices app, available from the Microsoft Store. After resetting your iPhone, you will only be able to restore it if you have an existing iCloud backup.

1. Turn off your iPhone by holding down the side button and the volume down button, then using the power slider

2. Connect the cable to your computer, then plug in your iPhone and quickly hold down the side button

3. Hold the button when the Apple logo appears and continue to hold it until the an image of a computer and a cable appears; it means your phone is in recovery mode

From there, the instructions differ slightly depending on whether you’re using a PC or Mac.

Reset an iPhone on PC

1. Open it Apple Devices app and select your phone from the sidebar

2. If necessary, choose to trust the device, then select General

3. Choose Restore and follow the instructions

4. Once your iPhone is restored, you can disconnect the phone from your PC and set up your iPhone

Reset an iPhone on Mac

1. Open Researcher and select your phone from the sidebar

2. If necessary, allow the accessory to connect to your Mac

3. A window will appear stating that there is a problem with the phone that requires its update or restoration; choose Restore

4. Once restored, you can disconnect your iPhone and set it up again

Apple notes that you may need to update your iPhone before you can complete the restore process; If your phone restarts during this process, you will need to turn it off and repeat the steps to enter recovery mode.