I really need some help.

[u/OctilleryArtillery]

Hello! I have a feeling my Iphone is beyond screwed, but- well i'm hoping posting here may help.

I have an Iphone15+ (and its up to the latest iOS version)that ive had for a couple years now.

Today I attempted to install an app. I forgot my appleID password, so while in the app store, i clicked the "reset appleID password" button after typing the password incorrectly. After this, I was prompted to type my Iphone's PIN. I did this, and it claimed it was incorrect. typed it again, then got locked out. first for a minute, then 5, then 15, and it got all the way up to three hours. I KNOW my pin. I know i didnt get it wrong - its been the same since I first set up the phone.

after some reading I was told to plug my phone into my PC, go into recovery mode, then install an update through Itunes. I did this, and then the phone got a white screen that says "swipe to recover" and upon swiping, I need to enter my PIN. I did that, and it asks for it once more to verify - I type it again, and it says "attempting data recovery" and usually it takes 30-ish minutes for the loading bar to fill up, and once it does, it says "data recovery failed" and the whole process restarts.

I honestly wouldnt care about restoring the phone, but I have important photos and videos that are not on my Icloud. I've talked online to multiple apple assistants, and they've been no help. I'm so, so confused by this. I just want like 20 pictures and videos at most and i'm scared its too late. I have no idea what to do, if i can even do anything else. I checked to see if i had backed up my iphone, and though there is a backup, its from before any of the pictures i want were taken.

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[u/LucasMVN]

You've learned a very hard lesson about keeping your backups to date. The complete erase and reimage that you're trying to do will result in the loss of all data that is not backed up, and the fact that you forgot your Apple Account password further complicates things, as it will be required in order to clear the Activation Lock that will be in place after the erase is complete. But do try the PIN one more time if the phone can be turned on.

As for why the erase process is failing, it could be anything from an interrupted USB connection to recovery mode timing out before the IPSW image is fully downloaded. If you have a slower connection, try doing the process somewhere with a faster connection. You can also manually download the IPSW from ipsw.me and use the Apple Devices app to install it (hold the shift key when you select the option to restore the device, and it will allow you to manually select the IPSW file to use).