How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours with or without Data Loss

“Hi there,

I forgot the screen passcode to my iPhone and decided to try out some unlock codes to see if it would work out. Unfortunately, my device got disabled after multiple attempts and now I’m being asked to wait 8 hours before trying again. Please, how do I fix it because I can’t wait that long?”

Having to wait 8 hours before trying your screen passcode again is a very long time, especially when you have something crucial to complete on your device. If this is a problem you are dealing with on your iPhone and need to fix it, then this post is what you need. Here, we will cover how to resolve “iPhone unavailable, try again in 8 hours”. Continue reading!

Part 1. When Does Your iPhone Show Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours

You will encounter the error “iPhone unavailable, try again in 8 hours” on your iPhone when you input the wrong screen passcode approximately 9 times consecutively and this is common with iOS devices running on iOS 15.2 or later versions.

Part 2. How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours without Data Loss

When you encounter the “iPhone Unavailable” message with a timer, such as “Try Again in 8 Hours,” it’s important to address the issue carefully. Below are two approaches you can follow:

Way 1: Use Passcode Reset in iOS 17 or Later

If your device runs iOS 17 or iPadOS 17, Apple’s Passcode Reset feature offers a quick and secure way to unlock your device without waiting for the lockout period. It’s especially useful when you need to know how to reset iPhone passcode after recently changing it.

In iOS 17 or later, after changing your passcode, you have a 72-hour window to use your old passcode for unlocking. This feature benefits users who may forget their new passcode and wonder how to make the code screen come up on a locked iPhone after unsuccessful attempts.

Step 1. Trigger the Forgot Passcode Option:

• Enter the wrong passcode five times on the iPhone password screen to see the “iPhone Unavailable” message.
• Tap Forgot Passcode? when it appears at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2. Enter Your Old Passcode:

• Select Enter Previous Passcode to proceed.
• Type in your old passcode to regain access.

Step 3. Set a New Passcode:

• Follow the on-screen instructions to reset and secure your iPhone.

By following this, you can resolve common issues like “forgot my iPhone password” while preserving data.

Manually Expire Your Old Passcode

If you’re concerned about security and want to revoke access via the old passcode:

1. Open Settings and navigate to Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.
2. Enter your current passcode.
3. Tap Expire Previous Passcode Now to immediately disable the old passcode.

Way 2. Wait for the Lockout Period

The simplest solution involves waiting for the timer displayed on the iPhone password screen. During this time, you can:

Recall Your Passcode: Reflect on recent changes. If you’ve documented it, look in your notes or password manager. This approach is straightforward and ensures no data loss.

Avoid Multiple Attempts: Repeatedly entering the wrong passcode may result in further delays or trigger the “iPad unavailable message” on other Apple devices.

Once the 8-hour timer expires, enter the correct passcode to regain access.

Part 3. How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours [Data Loss]

Unable to remember the correct passcode or don’t want to wait 8 hours instead? Then one of the following solutions should help you bypass your screen passcode and reclaim full control of your device. Check and use any one that suits you:

Way 1. Erase iPhone on Lock Screen

When to Use: If your iPhone displays the “iPhone Unavailable, Try Again in 8 Hours” message with the Erase iPhone option in the bottom-right corner, you can use this method. This option clears all custom data and configurations, including the passcode. It works only on iOS 15.2 or later.

How to Use

• Once your iPhone shows the “iPhone Unavailable, Try Again in 8 Hours screen”, click on Erase iPhone at the lower right corner.
• Next, your iPhone will display a piece of information describing the aftermath of your action. Click Erase iPhone to proceed.
• Type the password of the Apple ID shown on your screen and wait for your phone to erase.

For eSIM Users on iOS 17 or Later:

• You’ll have the option to Keep eSIM and Erase Data or Delete eSIM and Erase Data during the reset process.
• After the device restarts, you can restore your data from a backup and retain or set up your eSIM.

For eSIM Users on iOS 16 or Earlier:

Before erasing your iPhone, contact your carrier to obtain a new QR code for reactivating your eSIM.

Way 2. Remove Screen Lock from iPhone

You should consider removing the screen lock established on your iPhone when Erase iPhone option doesn’t show on unavailable screen, you use a secondhand device with unknown unlocking details or your broken iPhone screen can’t accept your passcode, etc. To do this, you need a professional iOS unlock tool like Passixer iPhone Unlocker. With the software, you can remove all kinds of screen locks including passcode and Face/Touch ID from any iPhone model effectively without having to provide your Apple ID details or previous screen passcode. Aside from unlocking the screen passcode, Passixer is also useful for the removal of Apple ID, MDM profile, and Screen Time Passcode.

Key Features

• Bypass 4/6 numeric passcode, custom passcode and Face/Touch ID on your iDevice without hassles.
• Bypass iCloud Activation Lock from iPhone or iPad with no Apple credentials.
• Remove forgotten iTunes backup password so that you can back up your iPhone with iTunes again.
• Fully suitable with all iOS/iPadOS versions and models.

Steps to Remove Screen Lock from iPhone with Passixer

Download and install Passixer on your PC/Mac, then apply the stepwise guide below to remove screen lock from your iPhone:

Step 1: Locate the Wipe Passcode button displayed on the software main interface on your computer screen.

On the new screen that follows, click Start and move to the next stage of the guide.

Step 2: After that, connect the iPhone to your computer with the help of a USB cable. When Passixer detects your device, the software will quickly scan and suggest suitable firmware to get rid of the screen lock. Download the firmware by tapping on the Start button.

Step 3: Once the firmware is fully downloaded, move on by clicking Next. Type 0000 in the field provided on the subsequent interface and click Unlock to confirm your unlocking operation. Passixer on receiving your request will commence the screen unlock removal on the iPhone.

Wait a while for the operation to finish. Then you can detach the iPhone from your computer and start using it without “iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours” error.

Way 3. Reset iPhone via Find My

Subjecting your iPhone to factory reset is another approach you can try to fix the underlying issue. This can be completed using the Find My feature on your iCloud profile page or the one that comes with your iDevice which is usually in the app version. We will look at each one of them in the next section of this guide. However, before we delve into the guide, it’s essential that you have the password to the Apple ID connected to the iPhone you want to fix and Find My iPhone is enabled before your iPhone becomes unavailable.

Find My in Site

When to Use: If you have access to a workable computer or Android phone which has a stable network connection to access your iCloud profile page, then this method is a cool one to try out.

How to Use

• • Visit the official website for iCloud using the internet-enabled device you have in your possession and click on Sign In on the main interface that appears.
  • Type your Apple ID and the corresponding password in the field provided and click the appropriate icon to proceed to your profile page. If asked to provide 2FA, check one of the devices that’s linked to your Apple ID to copy and paste the code.
  • Next, locate Find My and click on it when your iCloud profile loads up.

• • Head to where you have All Devices, click on it and a drop-down menu with the list of Apple devices that use your Apple ID will come up. Select the faulty iPhone from the list.

• • On the subsequent screen, click on Erase This Device and input your Apple ID password when the prompt shows on your screen.

After completing the above, your iPhone will be wiped automatically and the issue you are faced with will be cleared.

Find My in App Version

When to Use: In case you have another accessible iPhone or iPad, you can leverage the Find My app to reset your faulty iDevice and thus your iPhone will become available again.

How to Use

• • Make sure your Apple ID is logged in on the other iPhone or iPad you use to restore the unavailable iPhone to factory settings.
  • Launch Find My app and click on the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen displayed.
  • Swipe up and select the iPhone with unavailable screen issues from the list that pops up.
  • Next, click Erase This Device and provide the password to your Apple profile in the field provided. After that, the resetting process will begin.

Way 4. Recover an Unavailable iPhone in Recovery Mode

When to Use: If the Erase iPhone option isn’t available or your iPhone is stuck in the “iPhone Unavailable” state, use Recovery Mode to restore your device. This method works on both macOS and Windows PCs.

On Mac (macOS 10.15 or Later):

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac and open Finder.

2. Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode:

For iPhone 8 or later: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Side button until the Recovery Mode screen appears.

3. In Finder, locate your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar. Click Trust [Your Device] if prompted.

4. When you see the option to Restore or Update, select Restore.

5. If prompted to update first, allow the process to download the required files. If the download takes more than 15 minutes, your iPhone will exit Recovery Mode—repeat the steps above to re-enter it.

6. Once the process is complete, your iPhone will restart with the Hello screen. Disconnect and set up your iPhone.

On Windows PC (via iTunes):

1. Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC and open iTunes.

2. Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode (same steps as above).

3. In iTunes, select your iPhone by clicking its icon at the top.

4. Navigate to Summary in the sidebar and click Restore iPhone.

5. If prompted to update first, let the process complete before restoring. Repeat steps if Recovery Mode exits during the download.

6. After the restoration, your iPhone will display the Hello screen. Disconnect and set up your iPhone.

Part 4. How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours and The Timer Doesn’t Go Down

If you chose to wait for the 8-hour timer to lapse but noticed the countdown isn’t progressing, it might be due to bugs, insufficient RAM, or temporary system glitches. In such cases, try the solutions below to resolve the issue.

Solution 1: Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restarting your iPhone can clear temporary glitches and bugs that prevent the timer from progressing. Follow the appropriate method for your device model:

iPhone 8/X/11 and Later Models

• Locate and hold down the Volume Up button, then release it.
• Do the same thing for the Volume Down button too.
• Now, long press the Side button till your screen displays the Apple logo then you can let go of the button.

 iPhone 7 Series

• Simultaneously press down the Volume Down and Power buttons.
• Keep holding on to both buttons until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 6 Series/5 Series and Earlier Models

• Press the Power and Home buttons together at the same time.
• Continue pressing down the buttons till you find the Apple logo popped up on your screen.

Solution 2: Restart and Wait Without Unlocking

If the countdown stops after trying to restart, then restarting your iPhone, avoid attempting to unlock it or interact with the screen. Simply leave the device untouched and let the timer progress naturally.

 Several users have reported success using this approach, as the timer eventually resumed and the device unlocked without additional issues.

Solution 3: Connect to a Computer

• Use a compatible USB cable to connect your iPhone to a trusted computer (Mac or PC).
• Keep the device connected for a few minutes without interacting with it.
• In some cases, this can reactivate the timer and allow it to resume counting down.

Solution 4: Remove and Reinsert the SIM Card

• Power off your iPhone completely.
• Remove the SIM card tray using a SIM ejector tool or a small paperclip.
• Wait a few moments, then reinsert the SIM card tray.
• Turn your iPhone back on and check if the timer resumes.

Part 5. How to Avoid iPhone Unavailable Try Again in 8 Hours Next Time

To prevent “iPhone unavailable try again in 8 hours” issue from occurring in the future, here are some pro tips to try out:

• Ensure you use a screen passcode that’s easy to remember for you but difficult for intruders to guess.
• Update your iPhone operating system from time to time.
• Do not make multiple wrong entries if you are unsure of your passcode.

Conclusion

Ultimately, resolving “iPhone Unavailable, Try Again in 8 Hours” isn’t a challenge when you have the right guide at hand. With the solutions provided in this post, you can reclaim full control of your locked iPhone without hassles. Choose and use the solution that works best for you while considering the conditions linked to each one of them. Passixer is our most preferred solution from the list. The software offers a simple yet professional way to unlock a disabled iPhone without stressing the user with the provision of the previous passcode or Apple ID.