In a remarkable story that has captured the attention of tech enthusiasts worldwide, a vintage iPhone 4S was recently unlocked after being locked for over 80,000 hours — a span of nearly 10 years. The dramatic tale highlights both the quirks of old Apple security systems and the power of perseverance in preserving memories.
A young woman from Jiangsu, China, shared her journey on social media, explaining how her iPhone 4S, locked since 2015, finally became accessible after a decade-long wait. “It displayed a message saying it would unlock in 80,000 hours,” she shared, explaining her shock at realizing this would translate into a wait of approximately ten years. Faced with the impossibility of unlocking it at the time, she simply set the phone aside and moved on, only revisiting it years later.
A 10-Year Wait for Precious Memories
Her motivation for not resetting or wiping the phone was deeply personal. Stored on the device was a video of her beloved cat, which had since passed away. “I couldn’t bear to lose that data,” she explained. Although it would have been possible to bypass the lock screen by restoring the phone to factory settings, doing so would have erased all data stored on the device — something she was unwilling to risk.
When she finally remembered the locked phone earlier this year, she charged it up, only to find that the countdown still had 288 minutes remaining. With anticipation building, she shared her experience on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, and documented the final four hours. When the timer finally ran out, she was able to successfully unlock the phone using the passcode she had miraculously remembered. The joy was evident in her post, where she shared footage of the vintage iPhone 4S back in use, complete with the nostalgic sounds of its outdated iOS 6 software and a glimpse into the old app layout.
How Does This Happen?
iPhones have a built-in security feature that locks the device after multiple failed passcode attempts. The more incorrect entries, the longer the wait time before another attempt can be made. This feature, designed to protect personal data, can result in exceedingly long lock times if the wrong passcode is entered repeatedly. Although Apple’s current system limits lockout times to eight hours under iOS 18, older models like the iPhone 4S had different parameters, which explains the extended 80,000-hour lock(iPhone Wired).
Cases like this, while rare, are not unprecedented. Some iPhones, after numerous failed attempts, display messages indicating lockout periods lasting years or even decades. There have been reports of iPhones locked for 45 to 50 years, though these are usually extreme cases resulting from software bugs or repeated passcode failures. For those who cannot wait, the only solution is to restore the phone using iTunes, which results in complete data loss unless a backup is available.
Nostalgia Meets Technology
For many, the story of this long-locked iPhone evokes nostalgia for older technology and a reminder of how much has changed over the last decade. The iPhone 4S, released in 2011, was hailed for its sleek design, Retina display, and the introduction of Siri. Now, it stands as a relic of the past, with the software and hardware of the time looking increasingly dated compared to today’s advancements.
However, the emotional attachment people have to their devices — and the memories they hold — remains as strong as ever. This woman’s decision to wait a decade to recover her lost data speaks to the sentimental value that many people place on their digital archives.
Lessons for iPhone Users Today
This story also serves as a cautionary tale for current iPhone users. With the increasing use of biometric authentication methods like Face ID and Touch ID, passcodes can easily be forgotten. It’s a good reminder to regularly back up devices to iCloud or a computer to avoid losing cherished data.
Additionally, for those still using older iPhones, it’s essential to keep security features in mind. Apple has made significant improvements to both security and data recovery options in the years since the iPhone 4S. With iCloud backups and enhanced passcode recovery options, users today have more tools at their disposal to prevent such long lockouts.
Conclusion: A Happy Ending
For the owner of the vintage iPhone 4S, the long wait has ended with a happy outcome. She was able to recover the precious video of her deceased cat and share the quirky story of her locked iPhone with the world. Her experience has become a viral sensation, highlighting not only the resilience of old Apple hardware but also the importance of patience and memory in the digital age.
