If you have entered the wrong passcode in your iPhone multiple times then you will see an error message, say that “iPhone is disabled, try again in X minutes” or “iPhone is disabled Connect to iTunes”. You are seeing this error message because you forgot iPhone passcode and entered wrong iPhone passcode too many times.

iPhone is disabled Connect to iTunes error messages
iPhone is disabled Connect to iTunes error messages

Either you or someone else has entered the wrong passcode in your iPhone too many times, then this will end up with a disabled iPh1. But worry this problem is not terminal. Here, in this article, we will explain everything about How to fix a disabled iPhone.

Error Messages: iPhone disabled
Here is the most worrying notification that you may or will see on your iPhone:

  • iPhone is disabled. Try again in 1 minute (Not too bad)
  • iPhone is disabled. Try again in 60 minutes (Annoying message)
  • iPhone is disabled. Connect to iPhone (worst error message of all)

First two messages are easy to solve, but the last or third message is the worst message. If you forgot iPhone passcode and not able to remember it now.

The last message is the most dangerous message for iPhone user, iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes. You will be able to unlock your iPhone by connecting your iPhone to iTunes, but it will wipe out your data as the part of the iPhone recovery process.

If you are planning to unlock your iPhone by connecting your iPhone to iTunes make sure you have backed up all the data of your iPhone.

Why have you received these error messages?

You are seeing these messages on your iPhone screen that means you have entered the incorrect passcode and either you forgot iPhone passcode or someone else has entered the wrong passcode too many times.

As iPhone has a robust security measure to prevent brute-force attempts to bypass the passcode. For safety, the iPhone has locked down itself from a possible hacking attempt and protect it’s owners data.

Apple has taken the security measures more securely that if a phone thief has your iPhone, then they can try to unlock your iPhone using the software.

So, iOS deliberately make it harder for them to input lost of incorrect passcodes. Up to five attempts, you can carry on as usual but as you reach six to nine iOS will increase time every time to make it harder to
guess the passcode.

Here is the number of wrong guesses with error messages and time delays:

6 incorrect guesses: iPhone is disabled. Try again in 1 minute
7 incorrect guesses: iPhone is disabled. Try again in 5 minutes
8 incorrect guesses: iPhone is disabled. Try again in 15 minutes
9 incorrect guesses: iPhone is disabled. Try again in 60 minutes

But once you get to 10th incorrect passcode guess, iOS won’t allow any more guesses and show you the message:

Error message: 10 incorrect guesses: iPhone is disabled. Connect to iTunes
So, if you don’t want to see these error messages in future be more careful when you enter your passcode or use the Touch ID and stop using a passcode at all or it would be better to not forgot iPhone passcode.

Alert: Once the countdown is activated on your iPhone, it can not be turned off.

iPhone also has an optional setting to Erase Data on the 10th wrong passcode. If you have useful data in your iPhone and you can not allow falling into the wrong hands then change the setting to erase data by following steps:

  1. Just Go into Settings
  2. Tap on Touch ID & Passcode; It will ask for the passcode.
  3. Enter the passcode, and at the bottom, you will see a toggle next to Erase Data.

Waiting- If you have entered the wrong passcode up to 9 times

You’ll notice on your iPhone screen that ‘try again in X minutes‘ counts down so you can see how long there’s left to wait. You need to wait only. You can also make an emergency call in the countdown.

How to fix ‘iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes’.

If you have reached your incorrect passcode guesses limit, we are sorry to inform you that you can not unlock your iPhone your without wipe the iPhone.

If you have the backup of your iPhone data, you will be able to restore the data from your last backup via iTunes or iCloud.

Restoring via iTunes if much easier so let’s see How to fix iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes

  1. Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac, and you usually use to sync with.
  2. Now open iTunes in your Computer and Wait for iTunes to sync your device and let it make a backup.
  3. Once your iPhone is synced with your system and created a backup, Click on Restore iPhone [your device].
  4. Now follow all the steps prompts on screen and when you will get the setup screen – as if you are setting up a new device.
  5. Select the Restore from iTunes backup.
  6. At last, select your device in iTunes and select the most recent or relevant backup for restoring your iPhone.

If you are the first timer and have not sync your iPhone earlier with your computer and you are doing it for the first time of you don’t have access to the computer, you usually use to sync your iPhone with then you are out of luck.

If you are out of luck in the above method, then try to wipe your iPhone via Recovery Mode. Here’s how it’s done.

How to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode

  1. Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac and Launch iTunes.
  2. How to Initiate Recovery Mode in your iPhone.
    1. For iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus:
      1. Press and quickly release the Volume up button.
      2. Press and quickly release the Volume down button.
      3. Press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
    2. For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus:
      1. Press and hold both the Side and Volume down buttons at the same time.
      2. Keep holding them until you see the recovery mode screen.
    3. For iPhone 6S and iPad or iPod touch:
      1. Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or side) buttons at the same time.
      2. Keep holding them until you see the recovery mode screen.
  3. Once you see the Restore or Update screen, pick Restore.
  4. Now, wait for iTunes to download a new operating system for your iPh1. If it takes more than 15 minutes and your iPhone restart, repeat step 1 and 2.
  5. You’ll get the setup screen – as if you are setting up a new device.
Connecting to iTunes doesn’t fix the problem

If you didn’t get through your problem, i.e. How to fix iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes.

If you have tried How to fix iPhone is disabled connect to iTunes and Recovery Mode and did not get the success, Try How to fix iPhone is disabled connect with iCloud.

How to Restore your iPhone with iCloud

Restoring your iPhone via iCloud is little more complicated than the above steps. You can only use this if you have set up Find My iPhone and your iPhone is disabled with a data connection.

  1. Open your favourite browser and open iCloud.com
  2. Now click on Find iPhone and login in the same iCloud account by entering the password of your apple account on iCloud.
  3. After waiting some time, a Map will appear showing the location of your iPhone.
  4. Click on All Devices at the Top.
  5. Select your iPhone and click on Erase iPhone data.
  6. You’ll get the setup screen – as if you are setting up a new device.
iPhone is Enabled

If you have successfully able to set up your iPhone and running, then you are done with enabling your iPh1. In this post, you have learned the basic reasons why your iPhone get disabled and how to fix it. If you still facing any problem in your iPhone is a disabled error. Let us know in the comments, and we will try to solve it for you for free.

Thanks for reading.