No matter how many times you entered the correct passcode to the iPhone, it’s just freezing and then return to the lock page asking for the passcode again. We called it – Passcode Loop.
It’s NOT a software problem. We repaired a lot of this problem since the generation of the iPhone 6. Until now, even the iPhone X and newer models are getting this problem.
Continue to read this all to know the reason and how do we fix it.
Passcode Loop Symptoms
Symptom #1:
After entering the passcode, it freezes for about one minute, and then it returns to the locked page. You slide up and try to unlock again, but it asks for the passcode again. No many how many times you repeat the process, you still can’t enter the system.
Symptom #2:
If you already do a force update to the iPhone. Update process is completed without a problem. But it shows “Swipe up to recover” like the photo below.
Symptom #3:
Your iPhone everything is working as normal. But you cannot access the Passcode Page from the Setting page.
It will be freezing there once you clicked it. Same as the photo below.
If you take it to Apple Centre...
I’m sure the Apple Centre tell you to restore the iPhone first no matter what. Everything will be erased. But they might didn’t tell you it will become worse if it doesn’t fix the problem after restored.
After you restored the iPhone, very high chance it will just stuck in Activation page like the screenshot below.
Do not restore the iPhone! It's not a software problem
Inexperience technician they will suggest you to restore the iPhone. We strongly advise you don’t do that.
It’s never a software problem.
It’s a motherboard problem that one of the IC is not working properly. According our repair history, we repaired this problem countless times, none of them is the software problem.
It’s the NFC IC not working properly.
What is NFC?
NFC is Near Field Communication. The iPhone has this function since the iPhone 6.
Those iPhones with NFC function allows us to save our credit card, door access card, and use it as the card to pay to bill or open the door.
You might wonder why no one told you about this function and why they don't use it in your condominium. It's because Malaysia doesn't support it. Especially the one we always use - Touch n Go. I think the main reason is because they don't want to spend a budget to develop a program for iOS and android, it's really a hassle to make it compatible to all the phones. They will have many compatible issues need to solve. But in Japan, China, and USA, they already started using it.
Why NFC problem will cause a passcode loop bug?
Because Apple really put security is highest priority. The NFC is reporting directly to CPU, the communication of CPU and NFC is encrypted.
If the NFC is not responding or somehow it failed to work, the CPU will tell the iOS to protect all the data by not letting anyone access the iOS.
Because there is a way possible to steal your credit card info or the data by hacking your NFC chipset.
So the iOS is kept asking for the passcode and then tries to reboot the NFC circuit. The whole process becomes an infinite passcode loop. Because iOS can’t tell you what’s wrong.
iPhone X has a lot of NFC problem - Passcode Loop
Because of the iPhone X motherboard layout design. It’s a dual-layer board that very easily gets damage when drop.
iPhone XS and 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, they are all using same design. More info about the motherboard design more in this article.
As you can see from the drawing above, the CPU and NFC IC are on different boards.
Both boards are sticking to each other up and down by soldering. But the solder balls that linked them together are very easily damaged.
More than 50 of iPhone X we repaired that was having this problem in 2019.
Is the data can be fully recoverable?
Yes. By repairing this NFC issue, the data is fully recoverable. Data will not be affected as long as you didn’t restore it.
If you already read this article and somehow you are not able to visit our workshop, just make sure you tell them DO NOT RESTORE the iPhone.
When they told you unable to repair it, make sure it still can be turn on with the same condition when you sent in.
Because we still can repair it.
Repair motherboard is an art
Different people sure different skills. Not everyone can draw a Mona Lisa.
Same goes for the repairing iPhone motherboard works. It’s complicated and details.
Advise: Not everyone is capable to repair kind of damage. Be sure send to the real professional to prevent data loss.
Inexperience technician might make it worse.
How to repair it?
Very hard to explain by text. Here is the video of how we repair the iPhone X passcode loop.