How to Enable a Disabled iPhone

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Restoring from an iTunes Backup

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you see the message “iPhone is disabled. Please connect to iTunes,” you’ll need to connect it to the computer on which you’ve backed up your data.
    • This method will only work if you backed up your iPhone to iTunes and know the passcode.
  2. If iTunes didn’t open when you plugged in your iPhone, click the iTunes icon on the Dock (macOS), or in the All Apps area of the Start menu (Windows).
    Advertisement
  3. It’s near the top-left corner of iTunes.
  4. iTunes will ask for your passcode.
  5. This will restore your iPhone with the latest iTunes backup.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Recovery Mode

PDF download Download Article
  1. After the amount of minutes specified in the message, you’ll be able to attempt another login.
  2. If you cannot remember the passcode, continue with this method.
  3. Use the USB cable that came with your iPhone or one that’s compatible.
  4. The steps vary by model:
    • iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the button on the right-side of the phone until the phone reboots to the recovery screen.
    • iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold Volume Down and the Power Button at the same time. Keep pressing until the phone reboots to the recovery screen.
    • iPhone 6 and earlier: Press and hold the Home and Power buttons at the same time until the phone reboots to the recovery screen.
  5. If iTunes didn’t open when you plugged in your iPhone, click the iTunes icon on the Dock (macOS), or in the All Apps area of the Start menu (Windows). Once the app opens, it will display the Recovery Mode screen.
    • If you see Update as an option on the Recovery Mode screen, click it to see if it gets you back into your phone. If updating doesn’t work, continue with this method.
  6. A confirmation message will appear, informing you that the next step will restore your iPhone to its original factory settings. [1]
  7. Your iPhone will be reset to its original settings. You’ll be able to set it up from scratch and configure a new passcode.
    8. Advertisement


Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    My phone was lost, then recovered. By that time I'd made a claim and received a replacement phone. Now my phone is disabled and I am trying to enable it and it won't let me. What do I do?
    Community Answer
    My best suggestion is to take it into the Apple store. The SIM card should still be in the phone, so they should still be able to get the data from it. Maybe the battery was out, and they can replace it there.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 15
  • Question
    How can I enable my iPhone 5s that's disabled, because I forgot my password?
    Snakey006550
    Top Answerer
    If your iPhone 5s is disabled, connect it to a computer with iTunes. Put it into recovery mode by holding the Home and Power buttons until the recovery screen appears. Open iTunes, and it will detect your iPhone. Select Restore to erase the phone and reset the password. You can then set it up again or restore from a backup. If you don’t have a computer, you can use iCloud’s "Find My" feature to erase the device remotely.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
  • Question
    My iPhone 6 home button isn't working. What can I do?
    Snakey006550
    Top Answerer
    Use AssistiveTouch as a virtual alternative. Open Settings, go to Accessibility, select Touch, then tap AssistiveTouch and turn it on. A floating on-screen button will appear, which you can tap to access the Home function and other controls. For a permanent fix, you may need to have the home button repaired at an authorized service center.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Get Past the Activation Lock on an iPhone or iPad without the Seller
      10 Simple Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android That Won’t Send Pictures
      How to
      Bypass Your Screen Time Passcode: Reset, Remove, or Hack Screen Time
      2 Ways to Factory Reset iPhone Without Apple ID Password
      How to
      Automatically Forward Text Messages to Another Phone
      4 Ways to Find Your Lost iPhone When It’s Offline or Dead
      How to
      Hard Reset an iPhone
      Malware on iPhone: Signs of Infection & How to Get Rid of It
      8 Easy Fixes for iPhone Messages that Won't Finish Indexing
      How to
      Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
      How to
      Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message: Explanation and Fixes
      Apple ID Sign Out Unavailable? Here's How to Fix It
      Turn Off Location Sharing on an iPhone Without Anyone Knowing
      How to
      Turn on Ringer on iPhone: Easy Guide + Fixes
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      From a Backup:
      1. Connect the iPhone to a computer with iTunes.
      2. Click the phone icon in iTunes.
      3. Click Sync .
      4. Enter your passcode.
      5. Click Restore .

      Recovery Mode:
      1. Enter the passcode.
      2. Connect the iPhone to a computer with iTunes.
      3. Force-restart the phone.
      4. Click the phone button in iTunes.
      5. Click Restore iPhone .
      6. Click Restore and Update .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 124,673 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement