You go to unlock your iPhone and instead of your home screen, you get a message saying “iPhone Unavailable.” This frustrating message usually means you’ve entered the wrong passcode too many times. Here’s what to do if you see it.
The “iPhone Unavailable” message is an anti-unauthorized access feature that temporarily locks your device after five failed passcode attempts. Each additional failed attempt increases the lockout period. Keep guessing incorrectly and you could get locked out permanently.
Besides too many wrong passcode entries, the message can also appear when trying to update an iPhone connected to a Mac or PC. It may also show if the iPhone is in recovery mode but unreachable by iTunes.
To get back into your iPhone, first wait out the lockout duration, which should have a timer. Once the timer expires, you can enter the proper passcode to unlock. If you can’t remember the passcode, you may need to erase and reset the device.
On iOS 15.2 or later, you can reset without a computer if connected to cellular data or WiFi. Just use your Apple ID and password. For earlier iOS versions or no internet connection, you’ll need to connect to iTunes and restore from a backup.
If Find My iPhone is enabled, you can also erase the iPhone remotely from iCloud.com. Just sign in on another device to delete your locked iPhone’s data and restore it to factory settings.
In the future, avoid guessing incorrect passcodes to prevent the unavailable message. Entering passwords carefully or using Touch ID/Face ID prevents lockouts. Stick to trusted update methods as well. With some patience and the right steps, you’ll get your iPhone unlocked in no time.