How to Unlock iPhone to Use USB Accessories?

I recently bought a charger and my phone was charging perfectly fine than a friend went to use it and got a “unlock iPhone to use accessory” error and now it won’t charge my phone. I’ve changed my settings to allow USB accessories and the charger still works to charge my AirPods. Any suggestions on what the problem is and what I should do? – A user posted in Apple Discussions.

Many users have encountered the alert that “USB ACCESSORY, unlock iPhone to use accessories” on the locked screen when charging. Why does my iPhone say unlock iPhone to use accessories and how can I fix this issue? This post will clarify the answers.

Why Does My Phone Say Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories?

Your Phone says unlock iPhone to use USB accessories because you have enabled the USB Restricted Mode. What is USB Restricted Mode? It is a precaution for locked iDevices to stop any data being accessed through the port when a USB cable is connected.

At the beginning of iOS 11.4, Apple allowed one hour to access the locked device through a USB port. And every time you reconnect your device, the timer will reset. But since iOS 12, there is no chance to access the data if you have enabled the USB restricted mode. The 1-hour free time is canceled and it will always show unlock iPhone to use accessories when charging.

You may like this iPhone tip: How to Fix Your Computer Not Recognizing iPhone > 

Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories in Settings

If you can remember your password, it would be quite easy to unlock iPhone to use USB accessories. And if you find it really bothersome to have to unlock it every time, you may get your iPhone out of USB restricted mode, as long as you can enter the right screen passcode. But to be honest, it is not suggested to disable USB restricted mode since it is a preventive precaution for iOS devices. Anyway, before you do that, let’s see the steps to unlock iPhone to use USB accessories first.

Follow the steps to unlock iPhone to use accessories in settings.

1. Navigate to Settings on your iPhone.
2. Go to Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode) and input your passcode.
3. Locate the USB Accessories option in the Allow Access When Locked area and activate it.

That’s all there is to it when it comes to granting access to USB accessories. When you switch on USB Accessories, you will no longer see the “Unlock iPhone to use accessories” prompt on your iPhone’s screen while connecting USB devices or USB accessories to your iPhone. This operation will also resolve the issue of your iPhone not charging when connected to a computer via a USB connection.

How to Disable USB Accessories on iPhone?

The USB Restricted Mode is always secure and reliable to protect your iPhone data especially when you are charging in some strange places. However, some users may have a frequent connection for data transfer or file backup. Allowing USB access would be more convenient for them. To enable USB Restricted Mode:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down to find Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.
3. Toggle off USB Accessories at the bottom of the screen.

Administrators can use Apple Configurator or mobile device management to adjust the USB Accessories option on supervised iOS devices.

Bypass Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories Without Passcode

Since you need to unlock iPhone first and then disable the USB Restricted Mode, is it possible to unlock iPhone to use accessories without passcode? Yes, you can unlock accessories if you forgot your iPhone screen passcode or you are facing iPhone unavailable problems. Try the following methods to unlock to use accessories on iPhone without passcode.

Method 1. Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories without Passcode in 1 Click

You may discover numerous techniques online to get rid of the “Unlock iPhone to use accessories” warning, but if you want the most straightforward approach,  AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker is your reliable tool.

For a long time, lock screen removal tools have led the pack of “screen lock removal solutions.” What sets AnyUnlock different is its complete solution, great dependability, super-fast speed, and user-friendly and intuitive interface, which allows even non-technical people to unlock iPhone to use accessories without any technical complexities. Furthermore, the creators place a high priority on ensuring the safety of your device. It is also now compatible with the most recent iOS 16 version. And you can learn more about AnyUnlock with the following contents.

• Unlock the screen passcode of any iDevice only in 3 steps. Then you can use USB accessories at once.
• Remove a variety of iPhone screen locks such as Face ID, Touch ID, a 4-digit passcode, and a 6-digit passcode are all supported.
• AnyUnlock is a completely self-service software and you can unlock your device only by taping on buttons. No technical knowledge is necessary.
• It can also help you unlock your Apple ID, bypass iCloud activation lock, MDM restrictions, SIM lock, etc. from any iDevice quickly and easily.

Free install AnyUnlock on your PC, which works well with both Mac and Windows computers. The steps for using this software to unlock iPhone to use accessories are as follows.

Step 1. When AnyUnlock is entirely installed on your computer, launch it. On the screen, tap the Unlock Screen Passcode option.

Step 2. To download the firmware for your iPhone model, click Start Now and then the Download option.

Step 3. After downloading the firmware, tap the Unlock Now option to begin unlocking your iPhone device. On your PC screen, you should be able to view the live progress.

Step 4. When you remove your iPhone’s passcode, the notice below will show.

Method 2. Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories via Recovery Mode

Don’t panic if you don’t remember the password to unlock iPhone to use accessories charging. You may use the recovery mode to unlock a password-protected iPhone. While in recovery mode, the iPhone can avoid the “Unlock iPhone to use accessories” limitation and successfully connect to the PC.

The first step is to boot your iPhone into recovery mode. The procedures for entering the recovery mode change depending on the iPhone model, and the information below should assist you. It demonstrates the steps in detail for you to unlock iPhone to use accessories.

iPhone X or later

Remove your phone from the PC > Hold down the Volume and Side buttons at the same time. To switch off your phone, drag the slider >  Connect your iPhone to your computer while holding down the Side button to enter recovery mode.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Unplug your iPhone from the computer > Press and hold the Side button while sliding the slider to turn off your phone > Connect your iPhone to your PC by pressing and holding the Volume Down button. Your phone should be in recovery mode at this point.

iPhone SE (1st generation), and iPhone 6s and Earlier

Ensure that your phone is not linked to your PC > By pushing the Power button and moving the slider, you can turn off your iPhone > Connect your iPhone device to your PC by pressing and holding the Home button.

Once you have entered the Recovery Mode, follow the below steps.

1. Open the iTunes app on your computer and choose your iPhone.
2. You will be asked if you want to restore or upgrade your device. To restore your iPhone, press the Restore button.

When the repair is complete, the passcode on your iPhone will be erased.

The Bottom Line

It’s easy to disable USB Restricted Mode and bypass unlock iPhone to use accessories in settings. You can decide to keep the alert or not according to your own needs. For those who want to unlock iPhone to use USB accessories without passcode, AnyUnlock is the best choice. It helps to unlock iPhone even without password in easy steps. Download AnyUnlock now and get full access to your iPhone.