Viral Video Claiming iPhone Passcode 'Glitch' is False

Monday March 7, 2016 2:46 AM PST by Tim Hardwick
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.


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.

Tag: Touch ID
46 comments


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amirite
28 months ago
Most of those views probably came from the FBI refreshing the video again and again to try the trick one more time.
Rating: 12 Votes
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Roomers
28 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.
Rating: 7 Votes
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camsoft
28 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.
Rating: 5 Votes
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iLG
28 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.
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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
Rating: 3 Votes
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DaveMcM76
28 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...
Rating: 3 Votes
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Gasu E.
28 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?
Rating: 3 Votes
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LongTimeListener
28 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...


Yeah, I'm getting the same thing. Clicking "Buy More Tones" does nothing. And pressing the home screen at this point returns to the lock screen.
Rating: 2 Votes
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paul4339
28 months ago
Apple has to make a change to Siri.

Siri has to say "here's the time that you requested...and in case you didn't notice, you just unlocked your phone, Bozo."
Rating: 2 Votes
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davidb8
28 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..
Rating: 1 Votes
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kemal
28 months ago
Works here if i use my touch ID finger for siri. Use other finger for siri and no go.
Rating: 1 Votes
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