iOS 18/17/16 Locked out of iPhone after Update? 5 Ways to Fix It

Way 1: Try Default Passcode First

You have to enter passcode and Face ID is not working after you update your iPhone and it restarts. It happens that the update changes your iPhone passcode to the default ones such as 123456, 1234, 0000. It is a small trick that yet has not been officially verified. Anyway, you can also try these different passcodes. Some of the users proved this method workable, and maybe you can also close this problem.

Way 2: Force Restart Your iPhone

If your iPhone does not accept the correct passcode after update, there might have small glitches. In this case, try to force restart your iPhone to see if the iPhone locked after update problem can be solved. After your iPhone restarts, it will come back to normal and you can lock it as usual.

• On iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/XS/XR/X/8/SE: Press and quickly release the Volume Up and Down button in succession, then long hold the side button utill it reboots and shows Apple logo.
• On iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button together. Release both keys when Apple logo appears.

• On iPhone 6/6s/5 and earlier, press and hold the Power button and Home button.

  

Way 3: Restore Your Device with iTunes

Making an up-to-date backup is always recommended, which can help save a lot of trouble. iTunes is used to back up iPhone data a lot of times, but you are also able to restore locked iPhone with iTunes if iPhone won't unlock after iOS 17/18 update.

• Connect your iPhone with iTunes and press certain keys to enter Recovery Mode screen.
• iTunes will detect your iPhone in Recovery Mode and ask you to restore the device.

• Once the device is restored successfully, your iPhone will be initialized with Hello Screen.
• Set up your iPhone. After that, choose Restore from iCloud/iTunes backup if there is. Or you can only choose to set up as new iPhone.

Way 4: Erase iPhone on the Lock Screen (iOS 15.2 or Later)

iPhone locked after update? If you’re using the iOS 15.2 or later iOS 16/17/18, then you can directly erase the device and set it up again. You need to make sure you’ve signed in your Apple ID on the device and the device must have a network connection.

• Enter the password several times, your iPhone will say “Try again in ... minutes” with the "Forgot Passcode" or “Erase iPhone” option on the lower right.

• Tap on it and read the notes, then tap Erase iPhone and you’ll need to enter your Apple ID password.

  
• Wait for several minutes. After the process completes, your iPhone will be locked and you can set up your device again.

If your iPhone and iPad is below iOS 15.2, but you have enabled Find My, then erase iPhone with iCloud Find My while facing iPhone won't unlock issue.

Way 5: Unlock Locked iPhone using 4uKey

For problems like iPhone won't unlock after update even if it's correct, or iPhone asking for passcode that I never set, another solution is to use iPhone passcode unlock software. As a recommendation, you may take Tenorshare 4uKey into consideration, which can unlock iPhone screen without Face ID or passcode in a few minutes.

Now I will show you how to use 4uKey to solve iPhone passcode required after iOS 17/18 update.

• Connect your iPhone with 4uKey after installation and click Start to move on.

  

• Next, read the notes and click Next to proceed.

  

• Download latest iOS firmware package online, which may take a few minutes.

  

• When the firmware is downloaded, click Start to Remove to remove passcode.

  

• When you see your iPhone restarts, 4uKey have successfully removed the passcode, and you can use the device as a new one now.

  

Summary

Now you won't have any problems if you are locked out of iPhone after update. Try any of the ways described above, and after that, you can set up a new passcode freely. Whenever you forget the passcode and your iPhone won't unlock , use Tenorshare 4uKey to help you out, even it is the latest iPhone 16. Please rate the article and share it if it's helpful.

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Tenorshare 4uKey - Best iPhone Unlocker

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• Unlock iPhone/iPad without passcode or Apple ID, remove iCloud Activation lock, and bypass MDM.
• Remove Screen Time passcode and view stored passwords like Apple ID and WiFi.