What should I do if my iPhone shows ‘Disabled 21+ million minutes?’

Facing the unusual ‘Disabled 21+ million minutes’ lockout can be incredibly daunting. Here’s how a different approach might sound:

To resolve this, the problem frequently suggests a need for a deeper software fix. Given the complexity, your best option may be contacting Apple Support directly. They have the technical capacity to address sophisticated software anomalies and can guide you through restoring your device, either remotely or by scheduling a visit to a nearby Apple Genius Bar.

That odd error message is definitely annoying and an extreme measure of iPhone’s security protocol. Here’s a more technical approach that could yield results:

1. Check for Hardware Issues: Sometimes, this error could stem from hardware problems such as a damaged screen or internal components. Taking your device to an authorized Apple repair center is advisable.
2. Professional Software Diagnostic: Use tools like Dr.Fone, ReiBoot, or even Apple’s own diagnostic software at the Genius Bar. These tools can often reconfigure or repair the operating system without extensive user intervention.

Encountering the ‘Disabled 21+ million minutes’ error message can feel incredibly frustrating. This issue is commonly related to a problem with your iPhone’s software entering a significantly lower date in its internal clock. Here’s what you can consider doing:

1. Backup Your Data: If possible, make sure any recent data from your iPhone is saved through iCloud or iTunes.
2. DFU Mode Restore:
3. Connect your iPhone to a computer and open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
4. Put your iPhone into DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode by pressing and releasing the volume up button, then the volume down button, and then holding the side button until the screen goes black. Once it’s black, hold down the volume down button while still holding the side button for about 5 seconds, then release the side button but keep holding the volume down button.
5. Follow on-screen instructions to restore your iPhone to factory settings.

Remember, this process will erase all data, so it’s critical to have a backup.

The exact error message you’re seeing is due to an iOS glitch. Here’s a short guide on the potential fix:

1. Force Restart Your iPhone: Quickly press and release the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This might not immediately fix the issue but it can be a good first step.
2. Use Recovery Mode: Connect your iPhone to a computer, open iTunes, and choose ‘Update’ to hopefully resolve the lockout without erasing data. If ‘Update’ doesn’t work, try ‘Restore,’ but this will erase your data, so make sure you have a recent backup.

If these steps don’t work, it’s best to take your iPhone to an Apple Store or contact Apple Support for professional assistance.

When your iPhone displays ‘Disabled 21+ million minutes,’ it’s distressing, but it’s a known bug tied to multiple incorrect passcode entries. I’ve handled this situation personally, and here’s a step-by-step guide that helped me:

1. Sync Your iPhone: Before you proceed, try syncing the iPhone with iTunes (if it’s an available option), as it could mean you won’t lose data.
2. Enter Recovery Mode:
3. For iPhones with Face ID: Quickly press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until you see the recovery-mode screen.
4. For iPhones with Home buttons: Press and hold both the Home and the top (or side) buttons at the same time until you see the recovery-mode screen.

Once in recovery mode, you can choose to update or restore the iPhone. An update might resolve the issue without data loss, while a restore will revert the phone to factory settings, hence erasing all data without a backup.