iPhone Unavailable Try Again error? All proven fixes here!
Stuck on "iPhone Unavailable Try Again" screen and can't remember the passcode? This guide explains what it means and how to fix it — letting you regain instant access safely.
Jasmin Woods Updated on Jul 25, 2025 5:00 PM
The "iPhone Unavailable try again in X minute(s)" message is a security lockout feature on iOS 15.2 or later, protecting your device and data from unauthorized access. It appears after too many incorrect passcode attempts, temporarily locking your iPhone for a set period — starting from 1 minute and potentially extending up to 8 hours.
Normally, you can try entering your passcode again once the countdown timer ends. However, after 10 failed passcode attempts, your iPhone becomes permanently unavailable, and the "try again" option disappears. At that point, the only way to regain iPhone access is to perform a factory reset, which will completely erase all current data and settings.
iPhone says Unavailable try again when multiple incorrect passcodes are entered. Check these fixes to unlock it easily.
In this guide, we'll explain what the "iPhone Unavailable try again" message means, why it happens, and walk you through step-by-step methods to unlock an unavailable iPhone, even if you've forgotten the passcode.
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Whether you forgot your passcode or purchased a locked iPhone, iPhone Unlocker offers the ability to help you bypass the "iPhone Unavailable" screen and unlock your iPhone without passcode in just a few simple steps.
What does "iPhone Unavailable try again" message mean?
If you see the "iPhone Unavailable, try again" screen, it's likely because an incorrect passcode has been entered repeatedly in a row. This often happens if you forgot the iPhone passcode or if you're trying to access a previously owned device without the correct unlock code.
This message indicates that your iPhone is temporarily locked. A countdown timer will appear, which ranges from 1 minute to 8 hours, showing the lockout duration before you can try again to unlock this iPhone.
What happens if iPhone says "Unavailable try again"?
If you can't remember your passcode and the Face ID/Touch ID is not working, your iPhone will increase the lockout time after each incorrect attempt. Eventually, it will display a permanent "iPhone Unavailable" screen with no try again option. See how many attempts to unlock iPhone:
- 4 failed attempts — iPhone Unavailable try again in 1 minute
- 5 failed attempts — iPhone Unavailable try again in 5 minutes
- 6 failed attempts — iPhone Unavailable try again in 15 minutes
- 7 failed attempts — iPhone Unavailable try again in 1 hour
- 8 failed attempts — iPhone Unavailable try again in 3 hours
- 9 failed attempts — iPhone Unavailable try again in 8 hours
After 10 failed passcode attempts, it will be a permanent iPhone Unavailable screen with no try-again option. In that case, performing a factory reset is your last chance to get into the locked iPhone without passcode. The process will erase all data on the device. When regaining access, you may restore your phone from a previous iCloud backup or iTunes/Finder backup if possible.
How to fix "iPhone Unavailable try again" screen
Thankfully, there are still possible ways to fix the iPhone Unavailable issue when it asks you to try again in X minute(s) or even hour(s). The method depends on your iOS version and whether you have access to a computer.
Wait for the timer to try again
If you think you might remember the correct passcode to unlock your iPhone, wait for the timer to expire and then try entering it again carefully.
Important:
- Entering the wrong passcode for the 10th time— after seeing the "iPhone Unavailable try again in 8 hours" screen — will result in a permanent lockout. The "Try again in [time]" message will no longer appear.
Erase iPhone with Apple ID on iOS 15.2 or later
In most cases, you'll see an "Erase iPhone" option (on iOS 15.2 to iOS 16) or "Forgot Passcode?" option (on iOS 17 or later) in the bottom-right corner of the "iPhone Unavailable try again" screen. This allows you to erase the iPhone directly from the lock screen using your Apple ID password, regaining access without needing a computer.
This method only works when Find My iPhone feature is previously enabled. Here's what to do when the unavailable iPhone is still have an active Wi-Fi or cellular network:
- Activate Forgot Passcode? (or Erase iPhone) option by repeatedly entering a wrong passcode for more than 5 times.
- Tap on Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPhone when it appears in the lower-right corner.
- On the next screen, tap Start iPhone Reset to proceed.
- When required, enter your Apple ID password correctly to sign out of your Apple Account linked to this device.
- Confirm the Erase option and wait for the erasing process to complete.
- If you have an eSIM, you're provided with the option to keep or delete eSIM card while erasing all other data.
Once done, your iPhone will be reset to factory settings — both the unavailable screen and passcode are removed. When Hello screen appears, set up your iPhone again or restore it from an earlier iCloud backup or iTunes backup.
Warning: On the 10th failed attempt (after "Try again in 8 hours" screen), you'll see iPhone Unavailable with no Forgot Passcode or Erase iPhone option, leading to a permanent lockout.
Unlock iPhone Unavailable without passcode via iPhone Unlocker
If your iPhone is locked with the "iPhone Unavailable try again" message due to a forgotten passcode, don't worry — Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker has you covered. This reliable tool allows you to easily unlock your iPhone without needing a passcode or Apple ID, even if the Erase iPhone or Forgot Passcode options aren't available.
Compatible with all iPhone models and iOS versions, this user-friendly tool is designed for users of all experience levels. Its intuitive interface guides you step by step, helping you bypass "iPhone Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" screen and remove a forgotten passcode in just a few clicks.
Steps to unlock an iPhone that's saying "Unavailable try again" when you forgot the passcode:
Step 1. Launch iPhone Unlocker on a computer.
Install and open Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker on your Windows PC or Mac, then navigate to Wipe Passcode and click Start button to begin.
Step 2. Connect the unavailable iPhone.
Connect your locked iPhone using a USB cable. If the device information doesn't appear, check the link and follow the onscreen prompts to enable iOS Recovery Mode.
Once connected successfully, confirm the details of your device and hit the Start button.
Step 3. Download firmware package for iOS unlocking.
An appropriate iOS firmware will be downloaded to your device for removing the iPhone Unavailable screen and the forgotten passcode.
Step 4. Unlock unavailable iPhone and reset it.
When prompted, enter "0000" and click the Unlock button. This will fully reset your iPhone, letting you unlock it and get full access back.
When it shows 100%, you can disconnect your unlocked iPhone and set it up again. If available, restore your data from a recent backup either in iCloud or on a computer.
In addition to removing an unavailable passcode, it also supports the removal of Apple ID, Touch ID, Face ID, Screen Time lock, MDM, and even the SIM locks.
Restore via iTunes/Finder when iPhone says Unavailable try again
When you're stuck on iPhone Unavailable screen and the Erase or Forgot Passcode option is not available, restoring iPhone through iTunes or Finder can help you perform a full reset to regain access. This method requires a physical connection with your computer and involves putting the unavailable iPhone into its Recovery Mode.
The steps may vary slightly, based on the specific model you're using. Here's how to restore iPhone that says Unavailable try again using iTunes or Finder:
1. Power off your iPhone completely. If the device is connected with your computer, unplug it first.
2. Enter iPhone Recovery Mode. Plug a USB cable to your computer, then link it to your iPhone while keep holding the right button at the same time:
- For iPhone 8 and later or SE 2nd and 3rd generations — press and hold the Side button.
- For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus — long-press the Volume down button.
- For iPhone 6s and earlier or iPhone SE 1st generation — keep holding the Home button.
Do not release the button until you see an image of a computer and a cable.
3. Open iTunes, Finder, or Apple Devices on your computer.
- For Windows and macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, open the latest version of iTunes; you can also use the Apple Devices app for Windows 10 & 11.
- For macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, launch the native Finder app.
4. When your iPhone is recognized, a selection box of Restore or Update should pop up.
5. Select Restore and confirm it. This will perform a factory reset and erase all data on the device, removing the iPhone Unavailable try again black screen permanently.
After the reset, you can choose to set up your iPhone as new or restore it from a previous backup. Note: If the process takes longer than 15 minutes, you may need to re-enter Recovery Mode and start again.
Erase iPhone Unavailable try again screen remotely on iCloud Find My
If Find My iPhone was enabled before the "iPhone Unavailable try again" alert appeared, you can still erase your device remotely using the iCloud Find My website — even if the Erase iPhone or Forgot Passcode options are no longer available on your lock screen.
To use this method, make sure you know your Apple ID and password associated with your unavailable iPhone. Keep in mind that this process will permanently delete all data from the device. If there's a previous backup, you'll be able to restore your data afterward. Steps to fix "iPhone Unavailable try again" via iCloud Find My:
- On any internet-connected device, open a browser and go to icloud.com/find website.
- Sign in with the Apple ID and password that were used to set up your locked iPhone.
- Once in, select All Devices from the left-side menu.
- Pick the unavailable iPhone that you want to unlock.
- Select Erase This Device from the expanded options.
- Go Next and verify your Apple Account credentials to begin.
A full reset will perform on your iPhone when it's online, erasing the Unavailable try again screen along with everything else. After that, you may go through the setups and use it as a new device.
After fixing iPhone Unavailable try again error
Set up or restore your data (if available)
Once your iPhone has been reset, it will restart with the Hello screen. From there, follow the setup instructions. If you have a recent iCloud backup or computer backup, you can choose to restore your data during setup when reaching Transfer Your Apps & Data screen.
Prevent the "iPhone Unavailable" issue
To avoid being locked out again, choose a 4- or 6-digit passcode that you can remember easily. For added convenience and security, consider enabling Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your iPhone when necessary.
Back up iPhone regularly
Creating regular backups can help you recover your data in case you ever need to reset your iPhone again. To prevent data loss if the Unavailable issue reoccurs, you can either set automatic backups in iCloud or manually back up your iPhone with iTunes or Finder using your computer.
FAQs if you see the iPhone Unavailable screen
1. How many passcode attempts trigger the "iPhone Unavailable Try Again" message?
On devices running iOS 15.2 or later, the "iPhone Unavailable, try again in 1 minute" message appears after 4 or 5 incorrect passcode attempts.
With each additional failed attempt, the lockout duration increases — progressing through 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, and up to 8 hours.
After the 9th failed attempt (8-hour lockout), one more incorrect passcode (the 10th) will trigger a permanent lockout with no retry option.
2. How long can my iPhone be unavailable for?
The iPhone Unavailable lockout duration increases with each failed passcode attempts:
- 4 incorrect attempts: try again in 1 minute
- 5 incorrect attempts: try again in 5 minutes
- 6 incorrect attempts: try again in 15 minutes
- 7 incorrect attempts: try again in 1 hour
- 8 incorrect attempts: try again in 3 hours
- 9 incorrect attempts: try again in 8 hours
After an 8-hour lockout, a 10th incorrect attempt results in a permanent "iPhone Unavailable" screen, with no "Try Again" option.
3. How can I unlock my iPhone without the passcode if it says Unavailable Try Again?
If your phone is locked and showing the "iPhone Unavailable, Try Again" message, you can unlock it using one of the following methods:
- Forgot Passcode / Erase iPhone option on iOS 15.2 or later — erase iPhone with Apple ID directly from the Unavailable or Security Lockout screen.
- Recovery Mode using iTunes (on Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and later) — reset locked iPhone to factory settings and erase all data.
- iCloud Find My website — remotely erase iPhone if Find My iPhone is enabled previously.
- Third-party tools — such as Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker, without needing a passcode or Apple ID even if you're permanently locked out.
4. What to do if my iPhone says "iPhone Unavailable" with no try again option?
If your device displays "iPhone Unavailable" without a "Try Again" option, the only way to regain access is to perform a factory reset. This will erase all data on the device, but you can restore from an iCloud backup or computer backup afterward (if available).
