Unlock iPhone to Use Accessories Full Guide 2025

Have you ever received a message “Unlock iPhone to use accessories”? The message typically appears due to a security feature introduced by Apple known as “USB Restricted Mode”. It is designed to protect your iPhone or iPad from unauthorized access through USB connections.

Sometimes the feature is annoying because you need to enter your password frequently. We will help you disable the feature without affecting the use of the device and provide 6 proven ways to unlock your iPhone if you forget your password.

Why does iPhone keep saying Unlock iPhone to use accessories?

Unlocking phone to use accessories means that you have enabled the USB Restricted Mode on your devices. You need to unlock iPhone with password for using or charging. In the following scenarios, you need to unlock your iPhone with passcode for it to recognize and connect to some accessories.

• USB accessories
• Thunderbolt accessories
• Smart Connector accessories
• Mac or PC

If you’re tired of entering your passcode, we provide a proven way to turn off this feature and how to unlock iPhone if you forget your passcode. Please continue to read and make it.

How to Disable Unlock iPhone to use accessories?

To turn off the Unlock iPhone to use accessories feature, which is related to USB Restricted Mode you need to disable this feature on your iPhone. Here’s how can do it.

Step 1. Go to Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2. Choose Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode > Enter your passcode.

Step 3. Scroll down to Allow Access When Locked and toggle off USB Accessories.

Please contact Apple Support for help if you can’t find restricted mode via Settings.

Bypass Unlock iPhone to use accessories without passcode

If you forget your iPhone passcode and want the Unlock iPhone to use accessories bypass, you can check the 6 ways below and follow the steps to make it. If you don’t remember your Apple ID and password, please check Way 1 directly.  

Way 1. Bypass USB Restricted Mode with 1 click

You can quickly bypass USB Restricted Mode with a safe third-party tool named FoneTool Unlocker without your password and Apple ID.

★Highlights of FoneTool Unlocker:

• Unlock iPhone/iPad screen passcodes with simple clicks.
• Powerful features offer a high success rate.
• Safe and stable process provides your data from leakage.
• Remove Activation Lock without Apple iOS.
• Wide compatibility with the latest iOS devices and versions.

Now you can follow the steps below and bypass Restricted Mode:

Step 1. Install and download FoneTool Unlocker > Connect your iPhone to PC via a USB cable.

Step 2. Go to Remove iOS Screen Passcode > Click Remove Now.

Step 3. Confirm the on-screen instructions > Next and follow the guidance to put iPhone into Recovery Mode first.

Step 4. Select the Firmware File you need > Download.

Step 5. Click Remove Now once the Firmware File is downloaded.

Way 2. Reset iPhone through Lock Screen

Another proven way is resetting your iPhone through Lock Screen. But you need to note whether there is a Forget/Erase iPhone icon on your iPhone.

Before the process, you need to:

• Turn on Fin My.
• Connect iPhone to WiFi.
• Remember Apple ID.

If you can use this way, please follow the steps:

Step 1. Click Forget Password/Erase iPhone option on the iPhone.

Step 2. Check the information and click Start iPhone Restart/Erase iPhone again.

Step 3. Enter your Apple ID and start the reset process.

Limitation:✎...

This way is only provided in iOS 15.2 and later.

Way 3. Unlock USB Restricted Mode via Find My App

If you don’t have a computer and want to unlock USB Restricted Mode with another iPhone. You can try this useful way.  

Step 1. Launch the Find My App on your Apple device > Tap Devices at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2. Find and tap on your locked device in the device list > Erase This iPhone.

Step 3. Click Continue > Enter your trusted phone number > Erase.

Step 4. Enter your Apple ID password and tap on Erase.

Way 4. Get out of USB Restricted Mode via iCloud

iCloud is useful if you have access to the iCloud account associated with your device.

Step 1. Go to iCloud website and log in using your Apple ID associated with your device.

Step 2. Click on Find iPhone to access Find My.

Step 3. Tap on All Devices > Choose the device that you want to unlock.

Step 4. Click on the Erase iPhone/iPad option and confirm again.

Way 5. Restore USB Restricted Mode through iTunes

iTunes is also a proven way to help you unlock USB Restricted Mode. Before the process, ensure you have a computer with iTunes installed.

Step 1. Download the latest iTunes > Connect your device to PC with a USB cable.

Step 2. Launch iTunes and keep holding the Home button until you see the Recovery Mode screen.

Step 3. Your PC will prompt. Click the device icon > Summary > Restored iPhone/iPad.

Limitations:✎...

You will lose all your data.

You can’t bypass iCloud Activation.

Way 6. Unlock USB Restricted Mode on Mac

If you can enter your Mac with a password and log in with the same Apple ID on it, Then you can change your password on Mac and then unlock your iPhone with new password.

Step 1. Click the Apple menu > Select System Settings.

Step 2. Sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 3. Click Sign-In & Security > Change Password.

Step 4. Enter your Mac password and your new password > Reenter your new password to confirm it.

After resetting your password, you can unlock your iPhone now.

How to fix USB Accessories not charging iPhone?

USB accessories not charging iPhone may also prompt Unlock iPhone to use accessories. You can unlock iPhone to use accessories charging without any problems under normal circumstances, but do you know what happens if you can’t charge your iPhone after unlocking it and how to fix it? Please read the table.

Reasons	Solutions
Dirt in the Charging port	Clean it with a small brush
iOS bugs or glitches	Update iPhone to the latest version
Software glitches	Restart your iPhone
The maximum capacity of battery less than 80%	Replace battery
Damaged USB accessories and adapter	Changing USB accessories and adapter

FAQs on unlocking iPhone to use accessories

Q1. How to access USB accessories on iPhone?

You need to unlock your iPhone with your passcode and then you can access USB accessories on iPhone.

Q2. How do I fix my iPhone cannot use accessories?

You can reset all settings and check compatibility to fix it.

Q3. How do I force my iPhone to use Face ID?

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, then turn on the options below Use Face ID For. It is possible that your Face ID is not working.

Q4. How to unlock iPhone without passcode?

You can restore your iPhone to erase the iPhone passcodes using iCloud/iTunes or a safe and efficient third-party tool named FoneTool Unlocker without Apple ID.

Conclusion

Now you know the reasons why your iPhone says Unlock iPhone to use accessories and how to disable it in Settings. If you forget your password and Apple ID, FoneTool Unlocker, a safe third-party tool certified by Apple official is highly recommended to you here.