I entered the wrong passcode several times while trying to unlock my iPhone. It briefly locked me out after an earlier attempt, and I've now reached the 8-hour lockout period. I have two possible passcodes left, and I'm confident one of them is correct. Will I still get another attempt after the timer ends, or will the phone require a reset?
3 Answers
If you’re genuinely certain one of the two codes is correct, wait for the timer to finish and try only once. Don’t guess repeatedly, because each wrong entry can increase the lockout or force an erase.
There may be a final attempt left, but if it fails, you’ll likely need to erase the phone and restore it from a backup. You can usually reset it with a computer, but the process removes the data currently stored on the device.
You should have one attempt remaining after the 8-hour timer expires. Be extremely careful, since another incorrect passcode may leave you needing to erase and reset the iPhone.
A computer reset may not work in every hard-lockout situation. If the device won’t accept recovery, Apple may require service and proof that you own it.