If your iPhone is disabled, you will see ‘This iPhone is disabled’ message and you won’t be able to access your iPhone. You will find below the steps to Unlock Disabled iPhone.
Unlock Disabled iPhone
By default, iPhone gets temporarily disabled when an incorrect Lock Screen Passcode is entered multiple times, before becoming permanently disabled, if more incorrect password attempts are made.
This security feature is designed to prevent unauthorized access to your Lost or Stolen iPhone and to prevent anyone from trying to guess the Lock Screen Passcode on your device.
Once iPhone becomes permanently disabled, the only way to gain access to your device is to Erase the Lock Screen Passcode, which also erases the entire data on your iPhone.
After the Lock Screen Passcode is erased, your iPhone won’t be prompting you to enter the Password and you will be able to gain access to your device.
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You will find below, different methods to Unlock Disabled iPhone by erasing its Lock Screen Passcode.
1. Unlock Disabled iPhone Using iCloud
If you had previously enabled Find iPhone feature on your device, you will be able to erase the Lock Screen Passcode and unlock your disabled iPhone using iCloud.
After erasing iPhone, you can Restore iPhone using an iCloud Backup (if available) or setup your device as New iPhone (if no backup is available).
1. Visit iCloud.com on your computer and sign-in to your iCloud Account.
2. Once you are in iCloud, click on Find iPhone icon.
3. When prompted, Sign-in using your Apple ID Password.
4. On the next screen, click on All Devices option and select the iPhone that you want to Erase.
5. On the next screen, click on Erase iPhone option.
6. On the confirmation pop-up, tap on the Erase option to confirm.
7. Once the data on your iPhone is erased, you will see your iPhone starting with the Hello Screen.
8. Follow the on-screen instructions, until you reach ‘Apps & Data’ Screen. If a backup is available, select Restore From iCloud option. If not, select Set up as New iPhone option.
9. Wait for the Restore Process to be completed.
How to download roblox studio on mac. After the restore process is completed, you will be able to Login to your iPhone without entering any password.
2. Unlock Disabled iPhone Using Recovery Mode
This method requires a Mac or Windows computer with iTunes installed on it and a Lighting to USB cable.
1. Power OFF iPhone
The first step is to completely Power OFF your device by using steps as applicable for your model of iPhone.
iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X and later: Press and hold Volume Down and Side button (ON/OFF), until you see Slide to Power OFF option. Drag the Slider to turn OFF iPhone.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold Side button (ON/OFF), until the Power OFF slider appears. Drag the Slider to Power OFF iPhone.
iPhone 6/6s/5/5s and earlier: Press and hold the Power button (ON/OFF), until you see Slide to Power OFF screen. Drag the Slider to Power OFF iPhone.
2. Enter Recovery Mode
After iPhone is powered OFF, connect iPhone to computer and follow the steps as applicable for your model of iPhone.
Note: If you are using Windows computer, open or launch iTunes, before connecting iPhone to computer.
iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone X and later: Press and hold the Volume Down button and connect iPhone to computer. Continue Holding the Volume Down button, until you see Recovery Mode screen.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down button and connect iPhone to computer. Continue Holding the Volume Down button, until you see Recovery Mode screen.
iPhone 6/6s/5/5s and earlier: Press and hold the Home button and connect iPhone to computer. Keep holding the Home button, until you see Recovery Mode Screen (iTunes Logo and Cable)
Note: Do not release the button as you see your iPhone starting with Apple Logo. Continue holding the button, until you see Recovery Mode Screen (iTunes Logo with cable).
3. Restore iPhone Using iTunes
Once iPhone enters recovery mode, you will see an iTunes pop-up on the screen of your computer, click on the Restore option and wait for the Restore process to be completed.
4. Setup iPhone Using Backup or As New Device
Once the Restore process is completed, you will find your device starting with ‘Hello’ screen.
How To Unlock An Icloud Locked Iphone
Follow the on-screen instructions, until you reach ‘Apps & Data’ Screen. If a backup is available, select Restore From iCloud or iTunes option. If not, select Set up as New iPhone option.
After completing the setup process, you will be able to access your iPhone and use it as before.
3. Unlock Disabled iPhone Using DFU Mode Restore
If you are unable to put iPhone in Recovery Mode, you can try to Unlock iPhone using DFU Mode.
DFU Mode will erase all the data on your iPhone, including its Lock Screen Passcode and provide you with the option to restore as New iPhone or restore from an iTunes or iCloud Backup.
The steps to put iPhone into DFU Mode vary, depending the model of your iPhone and can be found in this guide: How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone.
When the iPhone I bought from eBay arrived I tried to set it up but it kept on asking me for the previous owners Apple ID and password, which I didn’t know.
Yep, the device was iCloud locked.
This is when I realized I’d been caught with a well-known scam.
Sellers on eBay sell activation locked devices to unsuspecting buyers knowing they are practically unusable.
I thought I was stuck with a worthless iPhone but before throwing it out I decided to do some research to see if there was a way to do an iCloud unlock on it.
After a lot of trial and error, I eventually found a solution to unlock it quickly and easily so I could set up and use the iPhone properly.
You’ll find my recommendations and conclusions of my research below.
Conclusions
The Apple activation lock is a complex security system that is almost impossible to hack. Here are the conclusions of my research into it:
There are some free methods to remove the iCloud lock such as:
Getting the original owner to type in his Apple ID and password to the phone and signing out of iCloud, or
Unlocking the device remotely via Apple’s website icloud.com if the seller is located miles away, or
Asking Apple to remove it
However, Apple will not help you remove the iCloud lock without proof you are the owner, such as the original receipt
There are many free unlocking services online but all the free ones I tried were scams
Most of the paid unlockers are scams that rip you off leaving you hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket
The only safe way to iCloud unlock your iPhone is to use one of the recommended services
Recommendations
If you want to remove the iCloud lock on your iPhone and none of the free methods worked for you then your best bet is to use a trusted supplier to unlock your device.
I recommend AppleiPhoneUnlock because they are quick and reliable and offer a money-back guarantee.
Can you really unlock an iCloud locked iPhone?
Yes, it is possible to unlock the iCloud activation lock…
…but be very careful who you use as most companies are scammers.
I am ashamed to tell you that I spent a fortune with different suppliers trying to get the activation lock removed from my iPhone. I had almost given up hope. I believed it would end up as an expensive paperweight or discarded in a drawer.
Eventually, after trying dozens of methods over a couple of months I found a couple of suppliers that actually worked. Yes, they managed to remove the lock for me.
I decided that I needed to write an article so that others wouldn’t have to go through the same frustrating journey as me.
How much does it cost to do an iPhone iCloud unlock (or is it free)?
There are a bunch of websites that claim to do this for free with an activation lock removal tool, PDF, or service. Telecor xl installation manual.
The free options I tried were confusing. They were inaccurate. All were scams of one type or another. Some were actually dangerous and ended up infecting my computer with a virus.
Don’t make the same mistakes as me – avoid the free iCloud removal tools and services.
Unbelievably, many of the paid options were scams too.
Companies advertised fees of up to $250 USD (£200 GBP) with no service actually provided.
Oddly, the price had no relation to the quality service offered with the best companies charging around $65 USD (£50 GBP).
Some of the paid companies I suggest you avoid include:
i-Cloud unlock buddy
Unlock instantly
iPhone approved unlock
iPhone unlock
IMEI24
AppUnlock
iRemove Tools
i-Cloud remover
How long will it take to unlock iCloud activation lock?
Some companies will never manage to do it. They will take your money then stop all communication leaving you out of pocket and angry.
This happened to me with several iCloud unlock providers.
However, if you use a good quality service the process to unlock your iPhone works like this:
Step 1: See what model iPhone you have
You need to know the model of the iPhone you want to iCloud unlock. To find out the precise model you can check the Apple website [1].
Step 2: Get the IMEI number from your iPhone
The IMEI serial number [2] identifies your unique iPhone. You need to provide the IMEI code so that they unlock your iPhone.
On these devices, you’ll find the IMEI on the SIM tray.
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone X
iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 7
iPhone 7 Plus
iPhone 6s
iPhone 6s Plus
iPhone 3G
iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4 (GSM model)
iPhone 4s
On these devices, you’ll find the IMEI on the back.
iPhone 6
iPhone 6 Plus
iPhone SE
iPhone 5s
iPhone 5c
iPhone 5
Step 3: Pick an iCloud unlocker
How To Unlock Iphone 6s Plus With Icloud Lock
You need to be careful to choose a supplier that will do what they promise. I suggest you pick one I have reviewed.
Step 4: Ask them to unlock iCloud on your iPhone
All of the suppliers I recommend have an easy to use website.
You simply let them know your iPhone IMEI and model, then pay for the service. You will get an order confirmation letting you know the order has been placed.
If you have any questions you can get in touch with them via each companies responsive help desk.
Step 5: iCloud lock is unlocked
Normally less than 3 or 4 days later they will complete the iPhone unlock. Some unlocking services are quicker than others but normally it is done within a week.
The actual speed depends on the supplier you choose.
Once completed you will be able to setup your iPhone properly without being asked for the previous owners Apple ID or password.
Which companies provide a trustworthy iCloud unlock service?
I went through them all one-by-one carefully examining their websites. Most looked impressive and made bold claims. Many had customer testimonials and some had very persuasive videos showing how their methods worked.
It was tough to decide who was a scammer.
I decided to checkout if they had contact details or an ‘about’ page that provided more details on who the owners were. After all if they did a good job they would have nothing to hide.
Many didn’t have this basic information so I decided not to trust them. After all how was I meant to contact them if I had an issue?
If there was a way to contact them I wrote them an email to ask them about there service. If I got no response I removed them from my shortlist. If a company doesn’t respond to pre-sales questions how would they answer any post-sales ones after I had paid? I decide I didn’t want to find out.
If the service included downloadable software or online tool I tried it out to see if it worked. If it didn’t then it was cut from my list. I then checked each of the remaining candidates in some of the online review sites such as TrustReview to evaluate real customer feedback.
If they were poorly regarded then they were removed from my list.
I then tried out the remaining suppliers by paying them money to unlock locked iPhone.
This resulted in the following shortlist…
Best iCloud unlock provider: IMEIdoctor
Summary box
Price: From $40 USD | £35.99 GBP
Speed: around 5 days (with the option of a 24-hour turnaround for an extra fee)
Customer Services: Quick and helpful
IMEIdoctor has just started unlocking iCloud accounts and their enthusiasm really shows with the quality of their service and their high success rate.
They have a good helpdesk team that answered my questions in a friendly manner within an hour or two.
I tried unlocking a variety of iPhone models from an older iPhone 4 through to a newer iPhone X. All of them had the iCloud activation lock removed quickly without a hitch.
The only negative is their charging structure. It isn’t very clear on their website but the payment you make initially is simply a deposit for the service. The remainder of the fee is payable before the unlock is completed.
I found this a bit inconvenient as the website makes it look like the lower price is for the complete service. It isn’t.
Having said this, every single iCloud unlocking service I tried did the exact same thing. So they were not doing something unusual for this market segment but I’d prefer more upfront pricing.
Overall, I found that I actually ended up paying nearer $50 USD (£39.99 GBP) for the unlock. I believe this is still value for money considering the alternative is to buy a replacement iPhone for several hundred dollars.
They accept a wide range of payment methods including Mastercard, Visa, and Maestro giving lots of flexibility on how to pay. Of course, their website is highly secure.
They also offer a 100% money-back guarantee if they can’t deliver the service – although I didn’t have to try this out as all my devices were unlocked.
If your device is locked and you need to get it unlocked, you should use DrSIMUnlock.
Runner up iCloud unlock provider: AppleiPhoneUnlock.uk
Summary box
Price: deposit of $20 USD (£19 GBP)
Speed: between 2 to 5 days
Customer Services: 24 hour response time
AppleiPhoneUnlock only started unlocking iCloud account in 2018 also making them newcomers. Having said that they have rocketed up to 2nd place in my list because they prove a great service.
Unlock Icloud Iphone 6
They respond quickly to queries and appear to offer a great service but they are ‘too new’ to be my top pick. They need a longer track record to gain my endorsement as the best.
They also failed to unlock an iPhone 5 when I was carrying out the testing. However they refunded me in vouchers quickly and without a fuss.
Unlock speed was a little slower than my top pick but still a very acceptable 2-5 days to complete. I know speed may be important for some of you so this is another reason why it was the runner up. DoctorUnlock tell me this is something they are working hard to improve so I’ll keep an eye on this.
They use the same charging structure as DoctorUnlock meaning the ask for an initial deposit followed by a second payment to complete the unlock. They say this is because the final price depends on a number of factors such as the model, it’s location and age of your iPhone. These other factors are taken into account once the unlock has been purchased to give a final fee.
This means they have the ability to unlock devices from anywhere in the world.
AppleiPhoneUnlock accepts a wider variety of payment methods including American Express.
Overall AppleiPhoneUnlock is a good supplier but not yet quite up to the standard of the best. They are gaining on top spot rapidly and DoctorUnlock need to stay on their toes or they may well be replaced as the premium iCloud removal service.
People also ask
Will having an iCloud backup help?
An iCloud backup will not help you unlock iCloud locked devices. The iCloud backup would help you to restore your device if you had forgotten your passcode and had to erase, reset and recover it. However, the passcode recovery procedure does not help you with iCloud locked iPhones.
How can I fix iCloud so my iPhone works?
You can’t fix iCloud because it hasn’t actually broken. What has happened is that the iOS system has secured your iPhone so it can’t be used by someone else if stolen. This is actually how it is meant to work so there isn’t a way to fix iCloud, just a method to follow in order to remove it.
Iphone 6 Plus Icloud Remover
How did I end up with an iCloud locked iPhone?
Having an iCloud locked iPhone is due to the previous owner forgetting to sign out of iCloud before selling their phone to you. Your iCloud locked iPhone won’t be able to be used as it is linked to the iCloud account of the original owner unless you know their username and iCloud password. If you don’t know their login details then they need to sign out of iCloud using the Find my iPhone App to unlock iCloud activation lock.
Can I unlock iCloud activation lock?
Yes, you can unlock iCloud activation lock and remove the iCloud account for free or by paying a reliable service provider such as the ones mentioned in this article.
Can I remove iCloud account on iPhone?
Yes, you can remove iCloud account on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and the Apple Watch even when the iCloud lock has been triggered. This can be done by asking the previous owner to remove it remotely for you or by using one of the recommended paid services found in this article. So if your iPhone has been locked by iCloud activation lock you can remove the iCloud lock for free, or by using a good quality paid service.
Will using an iOS system recovery tool help me?
Using an iOS system recovery tool will not help you because the lock is not an iOS issue. The iOS system is installed on your device and controls how it works whereas the iCloud lock is controlled remotely by Apple from their servers. Performing an iOS system recovery is pointless and a waste of your time.
Affiliate disclosure
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.
Please understand that I recommend these tools because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something.
Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Wrapping up
The iCloud lock is designed to prevent someone stealing your iPhone and selling it on. It is a good idea as it reduces theft and protects your data. However, it can lead to innocent buyers purchasing locked phones through no fault of their own. The way Apple has implemented this security system means you are stuck at the lock screen and can’t enable your device which seems harsh.
The same Apple ID security system is in place with all iOS based devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. I have further articles that explain how to bypass, unlock, or remove iCloud activation lock if you would like to know more, or try some other solutions.
Sources
[2] Apple support article: Find the serial number or IMEI on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch