How to Fix iPhone Unavailable (iPhone 14 Included)

There’s nothing more overwhelming than getting locked out of your iPhone and getting the “iPhone Unavailable” notification. This gets quite frustrating especially if you have an urgent task at hand. So what does this mean and why does this error occur? And most importantly, how to fix iPhone unavailable?

Take it easy! In this article, we have listed 4 proven ways in which you can fix the “iPhone unavailable” error and gain access to your iPhone once again. Just read on to find out the best method for you.

Also, if you are facing Face ID unavailable issue, you can read the guide: Ultimate Methods to Fix Face ID Unavailable Issue >

Why Is My iPhone Unavailable?

Before we talk about the fixes, you should first understand: What does iPhone unavailable mean? If you’re getting the “iPhone Unavailable” error, it could be due to the fact that you have forgotten your passcode and entered the wrong one several times. This is a security feature in Apple devices that helps protect your data in case of theft or unauthorized access.

If you enter the wrong passcode 7 times, your iPhone gets locked for 5 minutes. Similarly, if you enter the wrong passcode 15 times in a row, you will be locked out for a good one hour. The more wrong attempts, the longer your iPhone remains unavailable.

However, sometimes the problem seems to be unrelated to a wrong passcode. Some users reported the iPhone suddenly says “iPhone not available” for no apparent reason after charging or a software update. If this is the case, it’s likely that someone is trying to unlock your iPhone with the wrong passcode while it’s charging and you’re not aware of it. Or perhaps the iPhone is trying to unlock itself after a reboot without you noticing. Of course, it also can be a software bug.

Now you may understand why iPhone says iPhone unavailable. Therefore, stop entering the wrong passcode, and fix the “iPhone Unavailable” error with these tried and tested solutions!

Fix iPhone Unavailable without Password [Video Tutorial]

First of all, you can know more about how to fix iPhone unavailable in the following video.

Method 1. Fix iPhone Unavailable without Password

How do I unlock an unavailable iPhone? When you forgot your passcode or your iPhone Unavailable screen has no erase option, the easiest way to fix iPhone unavailable issue is to use a professional iOS unlocking software like AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker. It is a one-stop iOS unlocker that supports you to unlock any type of passcode with ease.

No matter if you are locked out of iPhone forgot your passcode, got a iPhone Unavailable screen for no reason, or iPhone is disabled due to several failed attempts, you can use this tool to unlock your device even without passcode. What’s more, you can also unlock Apple ID, MDM lock, Screen Time passcode, etc. with AnyUnlock. Here are some of its features you may be interested.

• You can unlock any kind of passcode, like digital passcode, Touch ID, Face ID, etc. with simple taps.
• The unlocking process only takes a few minutes or even seconds. You don’t need to wait for a long time anymore.
• AnyUnlock always puts user privacy first. You never have to worry about your personal information being leaked.
• Supports all iOS systems and iPhone models. You can even use it to unlock your new iPhone 14.

Download and install the latest version of AnyUnlock on your Windows PC or Mac. And then follow the steps below to learn how to fix iPhone unavailable without passcode by using this tool.

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.

Method 2. Fix iPhone Unavailable by Erasing iPhone

When you enter the wrong passcode on your iPhone several times, you get the security lockout message. However, if you’re using iOS 15.2 or later, you also get an “Erase iPhone” option.

Therefore, one way how to fix iPhone unavailable is to erase your iPhone!

For this method, you need to have a Wi-Fi connection and your Apple ID details at the ready. Also, using this method 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. Your iPhone will now be erased, and you will have to set it up as new.

Method 3. Fix iPhone Unavailable 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 4. Fix iPhone Unavailable by iCloud Find My iPhone

If for some reason 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.

How to Avoid iPhone Unavailable Error?

Now you know the causes of this problem and how to fix iPhone unavailable. Then, in future use, how to avoid this error from recurring or how to prevent iPhone from being disabled? You need to pay attention to the following three aspects.

1. The most basic and most important thing is that you need to remember your iPhone passcode, otherwise when you enter wrong passcodes for many times, your device will say your iPhone is unavailable again.
2. Also, always keep your iPhone by your side to prevent others from trying to unlock your phone.
3. Of course, some unexpected circumstances may also force you to enter a passcode, such as accidental clicks of fingers, friction in backpacks, etc. And usually, in these cases, the password entered is wrong, which is possible to disable your iPhone.

Therefore, as long as you pay more attention to these three aspects, you can minimize the probability of iPhone unavailable error.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long will iPhone unavailable last?

When you encounter the iPhone Unavailable issue, how long it lasts depends on the number of incorrect password attempts you’ve made consecutively. After 5 attempts, the screen will pop-up “iPhone Unavailable, try again in 1 minute”. After 6 attempts, you’ll see “iPhone Unavailable, try again in 5 minutes”.

How do you open an iPhone that is unavailable?

There are several ways to open an iPhone that is unavailable, 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?”

If you get this notification, it means that you have entered the wrong passcode more than 10 times. If you continue attempting with the wrong passcode, you will get locked out for an hour.

The Bottom Line

It is quite common to get the “iPhone Unavailable” error if you accidentally enter the wrong passcode several times, or if someone else tries to unlock your iPhone.

But luckily, there are several ways in which you can fix this error. However, using other methods, you will inevitably need to do some more operations. So, if you want to solve the problem faster and more conveniently, download AnyUnlock and try it!