How to unlock an iPhone in a few minutes?

The security of an iPhone often gives iPhone owners a lot of hassle. Blocking problems often occur. Try again in X minutes or, even worse: iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes, help is at hand. Here's how to fix these errors and get your phone working again.

Common errors and messages

Disabled iPhones are usually caused by typing in the wrong password too often. We explain how to fix a disabled iPhone using iTunes or iCloud. Circumventing a forgotten password is also possible but with a little experience and know-how. The different messages that may be displayed are: iphone is disabled. Try again in 1 minute, iPhone is disabled, try again in 60 minutes, iPhone is disabled, connect to iTunes. If you see the third message, things are bad. Warnings that include a waiting period are less worrisome, but can lead to more serious problems if you're not careful.

Full iPhone recovery

You can restore via iTunes or iCloud. Connect the iPhone to the Mac or PC with which it's usually synced, and start iTunes if it doesn't sync automatically. Syncing with a Mac or PC is less demanding than it used to be. If you don't have a machine that's synched with your iPhone, you'll need to use iCloud recovery or restore mode. ITunes may also ask for a password when you plug in, which is obviously bad news. Wait until iTunes has a chance to sync your device, then click Restore iPhone and follow the instructions. Once iTunes has finished deleting data from the iPhone, you'll arrive at the setup screen as if you were setting up a new device.

Using Recovery Mode

Recovery mode is a more radical method of deleting your device, and may be a trial run if the above strategy does not work. Plug the USB cable into your computer, but do not connect it to the iPhone. Launch iTunes, press and hold the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons for 10 seconds until the iPhone turns off. Press and hold the Home button, but release the Sleep/Wake button. Now plug in the USB Dock/Lightning connector to connect the iPhone to the Mac (press and hold the Home button). iTunes should display a message saying "iPhone detected in recovery mode.