Can’t erase iPhone 7Plus

[overlyunderme]

Trying to get my old 7Plus ready for resale/trade-in and I can’t erase it due to not being able to sync with Apple servers since it won’t update the time automatically. it just sits there and spins and spins until it finally gives up and the time and date are completely incorrect. I’ve already removed the phone from My Devices on iCloud, but it still wants to sync up with the server and won’t go any further. Also tried doing it connected to iTunes, but it gets pretty far in the process then says that the phone is disco (it isn’t).

 

[Lucas284]

Have you tried connecting it to iTunes in recovery mode and installing a downloaded IPSW file from there?

 

[overlyunderme]

Not sure I know how to do that. Any pointers?

 

[Lucas284]

Not sure I know how to do that. Any pointers?

I’ll provide you some steps once I get home.

 

[Lucas284]

Not sure I know how to do that. Any pointers?

So basically make sure you have turned off Find My iPhone first.

Download the latest iOS for your iPhone on https://www.ipsw.me/

Recovery mode: https://ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+boot+into+Recovery+Mode+on+the+iPhone+7+Plus/97568

When iTunes shows “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.” Left-click on Restore and select the downloaded iOS.

Then you’re good to go.

 

[overlyunderme]

Well, that didn't work. Basically since the time zone won't set automatically, it won't connect to Apple servers. In order to do a restore through iTunes, you have to be able to turn off Find My. In order to turn off Find My, you have to have time zone set automatically. It's a Catch-22 that it can't get out of.

 

[Lucas284]

I can’t come up with other options other than let your 7+ set up its time automatically while charging (set screenlock to Never) until you wake up. Maybe it will work eventually. Do you have location services on? And how’s your internet connection?

 

[aakshey]

There are two settings that need to be enabled for Time to set automatically. One in General and the other in Location Services.

 

[overlyunderme]

Yes, Location Services > Setting Time Zone is enabled.

 

[BrettDS]

This is definitely a weird issue and I’m not quite sure I totally understand, but I’ve got a couple of suggestions for you.

In order of easiest to most difficult,

- Try to manually set the time, date, and time zone. (Settings|General|Date & Time, then turn off “Set Automatcally)

At one point you state “The time and date are completely incorrect”. I don’t know for sure how the apple services are set up, but normally for things that need to sync like that a little leeway is allowed as there can be short delays as data travels over the network. If the time and date are way off then it definitely won’t work, but If you can manually set the time and date, ideally to within a few seconds of the correct time, then it may work.

- Try to reset all settings (Settings|General|Reset|Reset All Settings)

Despite the name, this will reset most of your settings back to the factory defaults (Some things, such as having Find My turned on will remain). But if the issue is some weird corrupt setting that’s preventing it from automatically updating the time then this might fix the issue and allow it to set the time automatically.

- Finally, if both of the above fail, put the phone in DFU mode and connect it to iTunes to reinstall iOS

This is similar to what you did above when you put the phone into recovery mode, but DFU mode will allow it to be restored without doing any checks on the phone or turning off Find My. This means that the phone will still be activation locked, so before you sell it you’ll want to go through the activation process where it will ask for your AppleID and password to turn off activation lock.

Good luck