Fix iPhone Unavailable with 4 Ways 2024 [iPhone 16 & iOS 18 Updated]

There’s nothing more overwhelming than getting locked out of your iPhone and encountering the “iPhone Unavailable” notification. Sometimes you may just change to a new screen password or don’t know if anyone else has purposely locked your iPhone. Take it easy, here we are explaining why iPhone says iPhone unavailable and how to fix this issue with 4 proven ways.

Why Does My iPhone Say Unavailable?

The locking screen showing “iPhone Unavailable, try again in 1 hour” means that you have forgotten your passcode and entered the wrong password on your iPhone lock screen for 15 times. Before that, you may receive a notification of 5-minute waiting when you tried wrong attempts for 7 times. This is a security feature in Apple devices that helps protect your data from leaking or unauthorized access. Sometimes, the problem shows suddenly for no apparent reason after charging or software updates. This can be a system bug and is unrelated to any wrong password.

Knowing why your iPhone not available, you can check how to fix this issue and regain access to your personal data.

Method 1. iPhone Unavailable Fix by Erasing iPhone [iOS 18 Updated]

When you enter the wrong passcode on your iPhone several times, you get the security lockout message. For those who are using iOS 15.2 or later, there is an “Erase iPhone” option on the locked screen too. As a result, you can directly erase your iPhone to fix iPhone not available error.

For this method, you need to have a Wi-Fi connection and your Apple ID details are ready. Please note that erasing iPhone will delete all data from your iPhone, so go for this option only if your device has recently been backed up.

Step 1. When you get the security lockout message, tap on “Erase Phone” in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 2. Tap “Erase” once again to confirm your selection.

Step 3. You will be asked to enter your Apple ID credentials. Enter the password.

Step 4. Wait for your iPhone to be erased, and then set it up again as new.

iOS 17 Unavailable Screen Unlock

The new iOS 18 system has updated iPhone unavailable lock screen. If your iPhone says iPhone unavailable, try again in 15 minutes, there is a Forgot Passcode option on the screen. It allows you to enter your previous passcode within 72 hours to unlock your iPhone in case you have forgotten your new passcode and entered it wrongly. To use the passcode reset in iOS 18:

Step 1. On the iPhone unavailable screen, tap on Forgot Passcode.

Step 2. Tap Try Passcode Reset and choose Enter Previous Passcode.

Step 3. Enter your old passcode then follow the onscreen instructions to set a new passcode.

How to Erase Your Device in iOS 18 and Fix iPhone Unavailable

Besides using the previous passcode to unlock iPhone, iOS 18 supports resetting your iPhone in new ways.

Step 1. On the iPhone unavailable screen, tap the Forgot Passcode option in the bottom corner of the screen.

Step 2. On the Security Lockout screen, tap Start iPhone Reset and confirm.

Step 3. Enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID.

Step 4. Tap Erase iPhone to permanently delete all of your data and settings. If you use an eSIM with iOS 18 or later, you can also choose to keep your eSIM and erase your data or to delete your eSIM and erase your data.

Step 5. After restarting, follow the onscreen instructions to set up your device again, restore your data and settings from a backup, and set a new passcode.

Method 2. Remove iPhone Unavailable Screen with iTunes/Finder

Another method to fix the “iPhone Unavailable” error is via iTunes or Finder. This method will also erase all content and settings from your iPhone; therefore, make sure your device has a recent backup available. If you’ve backed up your data and got the latest iTunes on your computer, follow the steps below to solve how to fix iPhone unavailable.

Step 1. You will first have to put your iPhone in recovery mode. Here’s how to put different iPhone models in recovery mode:

• For iPhone 6 and Earlier: Press and hold the home and side buttons simultaneously until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
• For iPhone 7: Press and hold the volume down and side buttons at the same time until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
• For iPhone 8 and Later: Press and release the volume up button. Press and release the volume down button, and then press the side button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.

Step 2. Now connect your iPhone to a PC using a lightning cable and launch iTunes (Windows) or Finder (macOS).

Step 3. iTunes or Finder will detect the issue and show a pop-up asking you to update or restore your iPhone. Click on “Restore.”

Step 4. It will take several minutes to restore your iPhone, after which it will restart with the Hello screen.

Method 3. Bypass iPhone Unavailable Using iCloud Find My iPhone

For some reason if you cannot erase or restore your iPhone with the previously mentioned methods, we have a third option too: using iCloud Find My iPhone to resolve how to fix iPhone unavailable.

This method is relatively quick and erases your iPhone remotely. And you can also complete this method on the website. Here is how to do it.

Step 1. From a PC, visit iCloud, and enter your Apple ID and password.

Step 2. Click on “Find iPhone” and select the device you want to erase.

Step 3. Click on “Erase” once again to confirm your selection.

This will remotely erase your iPhone, and you can regain access to it again without a hassle. However, this method will delete all data from your iPhone, so make sure there’s a recent backup available.

So you see, it’s not that difficult to restore your iPhone when you get the “iPhone Unavailable” error. You just need to keep your device backed up and the restoring process will carry out smoothly.

Method 4. iPhone Unavailable Hack without Password

The 3 methods we have mentioned above are worth trying, but they require some other password or verification more or less. To make it easier and faster to unlock your iPhone without any passcode, an iPhone unlocker is necessary. AnyUnlock is a professional tool aiming at unlocking all types of iPhone locks with ease. You can check the full features of AnyUnlock in the following:

• Unlock screen locks including 4-digit/6-digit passcode, Face ID, Touch ID.
• Remove Screen Passcode in minutes.
• Remove iCloud activation lock instantly.
• 100% Safe and workable to use.
• Support iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch devices.

Download and install AnyUnlock. Then follow the steps to remove screen passcode and fix iPhone unavailable issues.

Step 1. Launch AnyUnlock and connect your iPhone via a USB cable. Choose Unlock Screen Passcode mode.

Step 2. After iPhone is connected, click Start Now button to continue.

Step 3. Click the Download button to get a matching firmware for your iOS. Once the downloading is completed, click Unlock Now.

Step 4. Wait until Screen passcode removed successfully page appears to indicate that your iPhone has been unlocked successfully.

Tips to Avoid iPhone Unavailable Issues

Since we have known the causes of iPhone not available alert on your iPhone, it’s important to take measures to avoid such errors in the future. Preventing iPhones from being disabled will always be convenient for you. Here are 3 suggestions.

1. Always remember your iPhone screen passcode and enter it carefully when unlocking the screen.
2. Keep your iPhone by your side in order not to get harmful unlock attempts from others.
3. Update iOS system or software at home with a good Internet connection to avoid any possible bugs.

In a word, your iPhone will be available as long as you are careful enough to it. Any tips to iPhone usage can not eliminate errors bu just in case.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long will iPhone unavailable last?

The iPhone not available last time depends on how many times you have input the wrong passcode to unlock your iPhone screen. Generally, it lasts for 1 minute with 5 wrong attempts, while 6 attempts in 5 minutes and 7 attempts in 15 minutes. The more wrong attempts you have tried, the longer iPhone unavailable error will last.

How do you open an unavailable iPhone?

There are several ways to open an unavailable iPhone. The 3 common ways we have discussed in the article above: Via erasing the iPhone, iTunes, or iCloud. And the most convenient and easiest is to use AnyUnlock. For detailed steps, you can check the guide above.

What does it mean when iPhone says “iPhone Unavailable. Try Again in 15 Minutes?”

It means that you have entered the wrong passcode for 7 times to unlock your iPhone screen. If you continue attempting with the wrong passcode, you will get locked out for an hour or longer.

The Bottom Line

iPhone unavailable error is annoying especially when you are urgent to use your iPhone. But it’s solvable in some effective ways. Also, you’d better keep in mind the tips to avoid iPhone unavailable issues. For those who can’t think about their iPhone screen passcode, it’s useless to wait for the unlocking time. AnyUnlock will work perfectly on fixing iPhone not available without password, and there is no worry about iPhone being disabled again by entering wrong passcode. Download AnyUnlock and remove any passwords on your iPhone in a few clicks!