Viral Video Claiming iPhone Passcode 'Glitch' is False - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Viral Video Claiming iPhone Passcode 'Glitch' is False

by

iPhone-PasscodeA video that has gone viral which claims to reveal a glitch allowing anyone to unlock a passcode-protected iPhone has been exposed as false.

The YouTube clip, called "iPhone Unlock Without Passcode Glitch", depicts a user gaining access to a Touch ID-equipped device by first asking Siri what time it is.

When the spoken request brings up the time, the user taps on the clock face to reveal the World Clock screen and then selects the Timer icon at the bottom of the screen. He subsequently taps on the 'When Time Ends' option and presses the section that says 'Buy More Tones'.

Upon doing so, the Apple Store opens and the user presses the home button, which unlocks the phone without the user having typed in the passcode.

The video has been viewed over 420,000 times, with some iPhone owners thanking the video's creator for discovering the issue. However, repeated attempts by MacRumors have demonstrated that the method depicted does not allow "anyone" to access a passcode-protected iPhone.

Watch on YouTube

Savvy users will have noted that the method only works because the user activates Siri by pressing the home button with a finger that has clearly already been registered with the Touch ID feature's fingerprint scanner. The same process undertaken using a fingerprint that isn't registered on your iPhone makes subsequent taps to "Buy More Tones" fail to open the iTunes Store.

So if you see anyone sharing the video, you can do them a favor by explaining that the video is misleading, and their phone's data remains safe and secure.

Top Rated Comments

138 months ago
Most of those views probably came from the FBI refreshing the video again and again to try the trick one more time.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
138 months ago
Don't rely on a friend's report. Try it yourself. You will not be able to "unlock" a phone if your finger is not registered.

I think this misperception exists because the finger recognition has gotten so fast that people don't even realize it's happening.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
camsoft Avatar
138 months ago
I'm not sure it's fake at all more that it's misleading. I think the author of this video is probably unaware that by activating Siri that have inadvertently unlocked the phone using the TouchID service.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gasu E. Avatar
138 months ago
My friend did it on another friends phone. Worked straight away and he would not have had his print registered to his phone..
Did your friend's friend do this while making over $89/hour while working over the Internet at home?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
138 months ago
My friend did it on another friends phone. Worked straight away and he would not have had his print registered to his phone..
If you set the "Require Passcode" setting to anything other than "Immediately" then you can make this trick work. But it just means you could have unlocked your phone by swiping if you were inside the time limit.
[doublepost=1457354038][/doublepost]
I'm not sure it's fake at all more that it's misleading. I think the author of this video is probably unaware that by activating Siri that have inadvertently unlocked the phone using the TouchID service.
Probably came from Walt from the verge. That bloke is clueless
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaveMcM76 Avatar
138 months ago
Just tried this on my 6s (iOS 9.3b5) and this "issue" only occurs when I launch Siri with a TouchID registered finger, thus unlocking the phone in the background in the process of launching Siri...

If I launch Siri using Hey Siri, with a non registered finger or from the remote button on my headphones then the "Buy More Tones" option on the timer settings is present but not selectable and doesn't open the app store when I tap it... pressing the home button takes me back to the lock screen every time...
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:36 am PDT by
Apple's long-rumored smart home hub will have an iMac G4-style design and a host of unique features, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The smart home hub is said to feature a square 6-inch display, with variants that can be placed on a countertop or mounted on a wall. It features a single FaceTime camera on the front, with microphones and speakers in its connected base. Gurman described the...
HomePod minis on gradient feature 1 1

Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:04 am PDT by
Apple plans to introduce a series of new smart home products on Tuesday, October 13, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple reportedly plans to debut its long-awaited smart home hub device, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV on the date. The new HomePod mini and Apple TV are set to retain their existing designs, but tout faster chips to support Siri AI. The new HomePod mini will...
iphone duo colors

Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo

Thursday October 1, 2026 1:37 pm PDT by
Apple on Instagram today shared a curated gallery of six photos shot on the iPhone Duo. The photos were shot by American photographers Jake Michaels and Jason Nocito, as part of a project commissioned by Apple. iPhone Duo is equipped with four cameras:A rear 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera A rear 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera A front 12-megapixel Center Stage camera in the outer display A...
Latest Stories
AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'Update Immediately'
AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'Update Immediately'
9 hours ago
New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay
New 'AirFly Drive' Accessory Turns Wired CarPlay Into Wireless CarPlay
14 hours ago
Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo
Apple Shares Photos Shot on iPhone Duo
16 hours ago
Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer'
Apple Says iPhone Duo Has Replaceable 'Cover Layer'
17 hours ago
Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'
Apple's Smart Home Camera Will Apparently Have 'No Video Recording'
19 hours ago
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
Apple TV Just Updated Its Selection of 'Bonus' Movies
20 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
iPhone 18 Pro Colors Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Choose?
20 hours ago
Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon
Early Prime Big Deal Days: Best Discounts on Accessories, TVs, and More at Amazon
21 hours ago
MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November
MacBook Pro With OLED Touch Screen Rumored to Launch in October or November
22 hours ago
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors
23 hours ago
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
iPhone 18 Pro Aperture Control Goes Fully Manual in Halide 3.2
1 day ago
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
Apple Stores Receive 'Do Not Open' Boxes Ahead of Smart Home Products Launch
1 day ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Jump in China Ahead of iPhone Duo Launch
1 day ago
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
Apple TV Still Down for Some Users Following Apple Services Outage
1 day ago
Microsoft 365 Work Accounts May Stop Syncing in Apple Mail
Microsoft 365 Work Accounts May Stop Syncing in Apple Mail
50 minutes ago
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
Apple's Smart Home Hub: Everything We Know So Far
2 days ago
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
Apple's Home Hub Borrows From the iPhone Duo's StandBy Mode
2 days ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Three New Features
2 days ago
Apple Event on October 13?
Apple Event on October 13?
2 days ago
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
Apple Watch SE 3 vs. Series 12 Buyer's Guide: Which Should You Buy?
2 days ago
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
iPad Mini 8 to Offer These 10 New Features
2 days ago
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
DoorDash Unveils AI Food Ordering Through Apple's Messages App
2 days ago
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
Amazon Takes Up to $150 Off Select M5 MacBook Air Models
2 days ago
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
Apple Still Plans to Release a New Full-Sized HomePod
2 days ago
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
Apple Working to Expand HomeKit
2 days ago
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
Apple Smart Home Hub to Feature iMac G4-Style Design
2 days ago
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
Three New Apple Smart Home Products Coming on October 13
2 days ago
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
Apple Pay Now Available in India With Axis Bank Cards
3 days ago
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
OpenAI Launches Always-On 'Dots' Agents to Rival Meta's Muse
3 days ago
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
AirPods 5 Teardown: Batteries Removable, Case Still Tough
3 days ago

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors