Ten Years in the Making! iPhone 4S Finally Unlocked, Netizens Reflect: Phone Time Stuck in 2014, Times Have Changed

Ten Years in the Making! iPhone 4S Finally Unlocked, Netizens Reflect: Phone Time Stuck in 2014, Times Have ChangedRecently, a netizen shared their joy on social media after finally unlocking their iPhone 4S after a ten-year wait. This story has sparked discussions among netizens, bringing back memories of Apple's early lock screen mechanisms

Ten Years in the Making! iPhone 4S Finally Unlocked, Netizens Reflect: Phone Time Stuck in 2014, Times Have Changed

Recently, a netizen shared their joy on social media after finally unlocking their iPhone 4S after a ten-year wait. This story has sparked discussions among netizens, bringing back memories of Apple's early lock screen mechanisms.

The story dates back to 2014 when Apple phones had a bug in their lock screen mechanism. If a user entered the wrong password, the phone would be locked, and the lock time would continuously accumulate, potentially reaching ten years. This particular user's iPhone 4S was locked for ten years after they entered the wrong password, and the phone's time remained stuck in 2014.

Over these ten long years, the user experienced countless urges to reset and unlock the phone. However, they persevered, determined to preserve the precious data on the phone, especially a video of their deceased cat. Now, after ten years, they finally reached the day their phone unlocked.

Upon unlocking the phone, a familiar yet alien sight greeted them. The phone's time still displayed 2014, and many apps were stuck in their "younger" versions from that era. For instance, Alipay Wallet, Meituan, and other apps still retained their blue icons. Even the "kuaidi" taxi app, a competitor of Didi back then, could be seen. These glimpses seemed to rewind time, transporting users back to a time filled with memories.

According to Apple customer service, entering the wrong password could indeed lead to a ten-year phone suspension in the past, but the timeframe has been shortened now, preventing users from waiting that long. Even if the phone's suspension time hasn't expired, users can unlock it by wiping the phone data using their Apple ID. However, to preserve data on the phone, users must wait for the suspension time to expire.

It's worth noting that Apple discovered this design flaw several years ago and implemented improvements. If a user repeatedly enters the wrong password, leading to their Apple ID being locked, they can easily regain access by using their account recovery contact and providing the recovery code. By setting up a recovery contact, users can receive a six-digit code from them when their Apple ID account is locked, verify their identity, and reset their Apple ID password.

This incident serves as a reminder to be mindful of security when using electronic devices and to create necessary backups. For those precious memories, we should strive to save them promptly to prevent accidental loss.