Before we discuss fixes to the "my iPhone is disabled and won't connect to iTunes" problem, we first need to understand what causes it. When you enter the wrong passcode several times on your iPhone, it becomes disabled on the tenth attempt. Once disabled, the system will recommend you toconnect to iTunes when your iPhone is disabled, so that you can restore it.

However, in most cases, iTunes will ask for your iPhone passcode before connecting. If you still don't remember the passcode, iTunes will deny you access hence the "won't connect to iTunes" error, and you can'tget into the locked iPhone. Once in such a situation, you may wonder what to do next! That shouldn't worry you any further since this section will discuss four possible fixes to the problem. These include:

Before we discuss each fix, here's a table that you can refer to, which includes each fix's effectiveness and corresponding difficulty:

Fixes Effectiveness Difficulty
✔iTunes High efficiency but with data loss Moderate
✔Find My App Remote initiation to help find accessories Easy
✔Erase iPhone Quick but all data lost! Easy
✔Finder Quick but the operation process is invisible Moderate
EaseUS MobiUnlock No limit to versions of the devices and with full tutorial Easy
✔iCloud Back up automatically but with limited storage space Moderate

Fix 1. Put the Disabled iPhone on Recovery Mode, then Restore via iTunes

因为iTunes未能识别你的残疾iPhone, you can save the situation by entering Recovery Mode. With the recovery mode screen on, iTunes will, by no doubt, detect your device hence allowing you to perform a system restore by erasing all the data and settings. Below are the steps to apply this fix:

Step 1. Turn off your disabled iPhone.

Step 2. Using a USB cable, connect the disabled iPhone to a computer. Ensure the computer has the latest iTunes version and a stable internet connection.

Step 3. Depending on the model of your iPhone, press the following buttons.

iPhone 8 and Later Versions

● Press and release theVolume Upbutton quickly.

● Do the same with theVolume Downbutton.

● Next, press theSidebutton, and hold until you see the recovery mode screen.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

● Press theTop/SideandVolume Downbuttons until you see the recovery mode screen.

iPhone 6 and Earlier Versions

● Press thePowerand首页buttons.

● Hold these buttons until you see Apple's white logo.

● When your device enters recovery mode, release the buttons.

Step 4. After you enter the recovery mode, iTunes can now detect your iPhone, and a message will appear on the screen of your computer. Click the "Restore" option, then press "Restore and Update."

Step 5. Next, follow the instructions on your screen for the restoration process to start.

Step 6. Wait a few minutes, and after the process is complete, you can access your iPhone. Set it up as a new device, or use your latest backup to recover your previous setup.

click on Restore option

If you're still confused about this fix, then refer toApple's tutorialwithin a few minutes.

Fix 2. Bypass Disabled iPhone Using Find My App

Find My app is another way to unlock your iPhone. It entails using another iOS device, i.e., iPad or iPhone. This method does not require visiting iCloud or opening a browser on your computer. Below are the steps for this method:

Step 1. Using a different iOS device, launch the Find My app.

Step 2. Enter the Apple credentials of your disabled iPhone.

Step 3. Click "Devices," then select your disabled iPhone.

Step 4. Next, click "Erase iPhone" at the bottom of the iPhone icon.

Step 5. A pop-up will appear. Click "Erase iPhone," then click "Erase."

Step 6. Enter Apple credentials, and the erasing process will start.

enter Apple credentials of your iPhone

If you find that yourFind My App not working, you must first fix this issue at once!

Fix 3. Unlock Disabled iPhone Using Erase iPhone

If you're wonderinghow to wipe an iPhone without passcode, then Erase iPhone could give you a hand! It is a feature on the lock screen of iPhone 15.2 or later versions. If you enter the wrong passcode seven times on this your device, you can use "Erase iPhone" to bypass the security lock. The detailed steps are as follows.

Step 1. Enter the wrong passcode seven times on your iPhone to access the "Erase iPhone" feature. After seven wrong entries, you will see the message "iPhone Unavailable. Try Again in 15 Minutes." "Erase iPhone" will also appear on the screen

Step 2. Next, click "Erase iPhone" and "Erase iPhone" again to confirm the erasing process.

Step 3. For the erasing process to start, you must key in your Apple credentials. This will clear all your data in your iPhone and reset it to factory settings.

click on Erase iPhone button

Fix 4. Use Finder to Unlock the Disabled iPhone

When iTunes fails to detect your disabled iPhone, Finder becomes a great alternative since they work similarly. Finder will allow you to restore your iPhone by erasing all data and settings. Finder only runs on macOS Catalina or later. Follow the steps below to use it:

Step 1. Using a USB cable, connect your disabled iPhone to a Mac, then open Finder.

Step 2. Next, enter the recovery mode with your iPhone by pressing the required buttons. Finder will recognize your device, and a pop-up will appear on your screen.

Step 3. Click "Restore iPhone" on the pop-up to start the restoration process.

Step 4. After restoration, you can now access and use your iPhone. Log on to iCloud and use your latest backup to set up your device.

click on Restore iPhone button

2 Alternatives: How to Fix iPhone Is Disabled Connect to iTunes

If you've tried out the fixes discussed in the previous section, but your issue persists, we have two other alternatives that you can try out. This includes using a third-party app called EaseUS MobiUnlock or visiting the iCloud website to erase your disabled iPhone. We'll discuss the two alternatives as follows.

Alternative 1. Fix Disabled iPhone with EaseUS MobiUnlock

EaseUS MobiUnlockis the best tool to fix a disabled iPhone. The unlocker bypasses any screen passcode (4-digit, 6-digit, Touch ID, or Face ID) and is compatible with the latest iOS devices. EaseUS MobiUnlock can also remove passcodes without losing data. The unlocker removes Apple ID and iPhone backup encryption and fixes iPhone-disabled issues.

Upon downloading a trial version of this tool, you can start using it based on the following steps.

Step 1.Have your iPhone connected to the computer and run EaseUS MobiUnlock. Select "Unlock Screen Passcode" to proceed.

connect your device to computer

Step 2. After your device is detected, click "Start" to continue.

connect your device to computer

Step 3.Verify your device model and download the suitable firmware for your iPhone. If the firmware package has been downloaded, just select it by clicking on the "Select" button at the bottom of the screen.

Download or select firmware

Step 4.After firmware download, click "Unlock." Enter the needed information in the box and click "Unlock" again to regain access to your locked iPhone without hassle.

Unlock the device

Step 5.Wait for the unlock process to complete. Then, you can set up your iPhone, iPad, iPod.

Wait for the process to complete

Suppose your iPad goes wrong sometime, you can thenreset iPad without passcodeby using this tool efficiently!

Alternative 2. Fix Disabled iPhone with iCloud

iCloud is another method that can unlock your iPhone remotely. It allows you to access your disabled iPhone using the associated iCloud account. Before using this method, you must have enabled the "Find My iPhone" feature on your iPhone, and check whether the iCloud storage space is full, or you need to first manage iCloud storage. The followings are the detailed steps you can follow to fix the disabled one:

Step 1. Using a device that connects to the internet, sign into the iCloud website.

Step 2. Click "Find iPhone," then go to "Devices" at the top of your screen.

Step 3.Next, choose your disabled iPhone on the drop-down list and click "Erase iPhone," then click "Erase" again.

Step 4. Enter Apple credentials to start erasing. This process will completely clear all your data and passwords and return your device to factory settings.

FAQs on My iPhone Is Disabled and Won't Connect to iTunes

Below are some common questions about iPhone is disabled and won't connect to iTunes.

1. How to Unlock Disabled iPhone Without Computer?

If you cannot access a computer, you can still unlock your disabled iPhone with iCloud. Borrow a friend's iPhone or use your iPad to access the iCloud website and follow the steps mentioned in the previous sections of this article.

2. How to Fix iPhone Disabled Connect to iTunes Without Losing Data?

The best way to unlock your iPhone without losing your data is with EaseUS MobiUnlock. This iPhone unlocker can remove a 4 or 6-digit passcode, Touch ID, and Face ID. It can also unlock a permanently disabled iPhone without data loss.

3. How to Fix Disabled iPhone Without iTunes?

Although iTunes can help you unlock your iPhone, the device might not connect with it for various reasons. Alternatives to using iTunes include EaseUS MobiUnlock, iCloud, Finder, and the Find My app. This article has already discussed how to apply these fixes.

The Conclusion

There exist many ways to fix the "my iPhone is disabled and won't connect to iTunes"problem. This article has shown you how to put your disabled iPhone on recovery mode so iTunes can recognize and unlock it. If you can't use iTunes, there are other effective methods like EaseUS MobiUnlock, Find My App, and iCloud.

We recommend EaseUS MobiUnlock as a secure, fast, and reliable method of unlocking the screen lock. Unlocking your disabled iPhone with EaseUS MobiUnlock ensures your data is secure. It's an easy-to-use method, so you don't need technical skills. Make sure you download and install the app today.

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Updated byDaisy

Daisy is the Senior editor of the writing team for EaseUS. She has been working in EaseUS for over ten years, starting from a technical writer to a team leader of the content group. As a professional author for over 10 years, she writes a lot to help people overcome their tech troubles.

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