I've got an older iPhone and totally forgot my passcode. Right now, I'm locked out for an hour, and I'm super hesitant to guess the passcode again because I'm worried about being permanently locked out. There are important things stored on my phone that I really need to access. If I just let it sit there for a few months or even up to a year, will I get more chances to guess the passcode? Also, has anyone ever successfully asked at an Apple Store to enable Touch ID so they could use their fingerprint to unlock the phone? I find it ridiculous that if I guess wrong even once after waiting so long, I could be completely locked out!
4 Answers
From what I've experienced, the device won't let you try logging in again if you've reached the maximum attempts. I recently had a similar issue with a new iPad and ended up having to completely reset it to regain access.
I have to wonder why your important stuff isn’t backed up or transferred to your new phone already. Don’t forget, old batteries can expand and make your device unuseable. Apple can help if you show proof that the phone is yours, which usually means having a purchase receipt.
You’ve only got 10 tries to enter the correct passcode on iOS 14. After that, you’ll need to wipe your iPhone completely to reset your attempts. Here’s a link that explains it all: https://support.apple.com/en-us/118430
Honestly, I think it’s a smart move by Apple to prioritize data security. Time-based attacks are real, and they probably think most users have their data backed up somewhere else. If your device got lost or damaged, for example, those ‘important things’ would be lost too!
So, you're saying that once I hit that limit, even if I leave it for a long time, I still won't be able to try again? That's a bummer.