How To Unlock iPhone On Chromebook?

Only a few other ugly experiences can equal the frustration that comes when you get locked out of your iPhone and at the same time not have the requirements for unlocking it, except for your Chromebook. 

With no offense meant at all, the Chromebook is considered by many a toy, probably because it’s the most preferred learning tool used widely by schools. But that’s not true, the Chromebook can be more only if you know your way around it. And that includes getting past the locked screen of your disabled iPhone.

In this article, you’ll learn how to unlock iPhone on Chromebook, you don’t have to go spend a fortune buying a Mac or Windows device. You just make do with what you have.

How To Unlock iPhone On Chromebook?

Truly, the only way Apple advises to unlock an iPhone is with the Finder or iTunes application on the Mac and Windows respectively. The reason is not far-fetched; only a MacOS device can support the Finder app, same thing goes with the PC, only the Windows operating system that it runs can support an iTunes application.

Considering both operating systems that have been aforementioned, you’ll make a good judge if your judgement places the Chromebook lower than the Mac and Windows. By the way, the Chromebook is Google’s product running the Chrome OS, preferred by many for its ease of use and simplistic layout. 

It doesn’t do much other than surf the web and use Google’s web applications, although recent update to the Chrome OS now allow the Chromebook install android applications, and that’s really great! This is the advantage we’ll be utilizing to unlock your iPhone using the Chromebook. 

I’ll be showing in this article a prime way to do this on the Chromebook. Three things you have to make sure of for the method I’m about to share include;

• You must have adequate space, a lot of space. No size is too big, but just so you know how much we need here, say about 4GB of free space. 
• Your Chromebook must not run lower than 2GB of RAM. You don’t want a lagging Chromebook.
• Your Chromebook must be enabled to download and run android application on it. 

If you have satisfied all of these requirements, there’s nothing us holding us back anymore, lets Rock n’ Roll.

Install iTunes using the WINE app

Since iTunes work on Windows and not on Chrome OS, why not make it work on the Chromebook? That’s where the WINE app comes in. WINE is most commonly referred to as a Windows emulator application, that is, it can  make your Chromebook mimic the way a Windows computer would operate. 

With that brief background, I’m pretty sure you already have a clue of where we’re headed with this. Did I mention that Chromebook also can run Linux? Sorry if I didn’t, because the journey ahead may have little code bumps along, but rest assured, if you follow the steps you’ll surely get to your iPhone Home screen successfully.

The stages from start to finish is a five part process, make sure not to skip any procedure.

STAGE 1: Activate Linux on your Chromebook

It’s important to have Linux running on your Chromebook to ensure that iTunes will be finally downloaded. Linux is the root language that will be used to get the WINE app installed on your Chromebook. 

If you’ve had it enabled in the past, you can skip this step, if you haven’t follow the below guide to enable Linux on your Chromebook;

• Hover your icon over the small section at the right of your Chromebook screen. Click on the time to reveal a window of other options.
• Click on the settings icon
• Search Linux using the search box at the top, tap on the result that appears
• Click on Turn ON

Completing this process will install Linux on your Chromebook and the terminal window will be launched on the device.

STAGE 2: WINE App Installation

Now to the WINE app installation proper, this is where it begins to get a little bumpy. You’ll have to run the below commands one at a time and as instructed in the Terminal window just launched.

• Run the Command – ‘sudo apt-get update’. This will get all system packages updated. When the process gets completed, you should be notified with a Done message.
• Next run the command ‘sudo apt-get install Wine’

STAGE 3: 32-Bit App Support Activation

Next is to make the WINE app that has just been installed compatible with your Chromebook. The app runs on 32-bit. Run the following codes in the Terminal window one at a time;

1. sudo dpkg–add-architecture
2. sudo apt update
3. sudo apt-get install wine32

At the completion of these commands, the WINE app should be fully setup on your Chromebook.

STAGE 4:  iTunes.exe File Download

Specifically, your Chromebook cannot run any 64-bit application, this is why you’d have to go for 32-bit iTunes. It’s available on Apple website, use the link to download.

• On the site, tap on the Download button
• Choose any location of choice in your storage to house the file.
• After download has completed, rename the file. Any name is suitable so long as you can recall it. For this guide I’ll be using iTunesInstallation.exe
• Next is to move the file to the Linux file directory

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STAGE 5: iTunes Installation

This final process takes anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes for the installation to be completed and will happen in the Linux Terminal window. Follow the rest of the guide carefully;

1. In the Terminal window, run the command ‘WINEARCH=win32 first and then run a second command ‘WINEPREFIX=/home/username/.wine32/wineiTuneInstallation.exe.
2. The directory ‘username’ that has been used in the command above is the actual name of your Chromebook. If you have changed it to something else, you may have to revert it to the original name. Notice also that I’m using the renamed iTunes.exe file. Do the same on your end. 
3. After running the commands in step 1, the iTunes installation window will appear. Click on Next
4. Click on Install
5. A prompt notifying that AutoRun is turned off may appear, click on Yes
6. The installation will commence, it may take a little time. 
7. When it has completed, click on Finish.

With iTunes now on your Chromebook, that’s part of one of two done successfully. The  next part is the easiest, that is unlocking your iPhone using iTunes on your Chromebook

Unlocking iPhone Using iTunes

Since you have never connected your iPhone to iTunes on your Chromebook, the process will be slightly different than the traditional way on Mac or Windows. The only change is that you’d have to boot your iPhone into Recovery Mode, otherwise iTunes will not be able to detect your device. There’s really nothing to worry about though, follow the guide below to unlock your iPhone;

• Depending on your iPhone model, the procedure to boot into Recovery Mode will vary; for iPhone 8 and later, press and hold down Volume up and Volume down buttons, together with the Power button.
• Hold them only to release when the Power off slider appears. Drag the slider to Power off.
• Connect your device to Chromebook, again press and hold the Power button until your iPhone boots into the recovery mode screen.

• Launch iTunes and connect iPhone to your  Chromebook using a USB-C cable
• Click on the Summary option located at the left of the screen
• From the window that appears on your Chromebook screen, click on Restore
• Your iPhone will now begin removing your Passcode security. The unlocking time takes only about a few minutes to complete.

And that’s all about it. The only downside is that you may have all your data and settings completely wiped as they have not been backed up. However, if you have any back up of your iPhone stored anywhere, you can set your iPhone to be restored from them.

 

Can You Unlock An iPhone With Chromebook?

Yes, it’s possible to unlock an iPhone using the Chromebook. Although the process takes a long time to complete unlike the way its done on Mac or Windows, and even come with requirements that are heavy, it’d still be worth it.

At least if you do not have an expensive Mac, you should have a cheap Chromebook. Other than let your iPhone remain unlocked for not having a Mac or Window, you can easily unlock it using the Chromebook.

The key processes to do this are as stated below;

1. Get a Windows Emulator, there are not many of them now that are still great, but the WINE app is  one of a kind
2. Install iTunes
3. Complete the unlock process on your Chromebook
                                                                                                                     

Why Can’t I Unlock An iPhone With Chromebook?

Finder is to MacOS and iTunes is to Windows. Chrome OS does not meet the requirement to bear anyone of those applications standing alone except for the intervention of a Windows Emulator like the Wine app. 

From the first place, the Chromebook was never intended to do any hard stuff, you outrightly can point this out from the choice of home screen that is no different from a Google’s new tab display. No one had ever thought that the Chromebook will run android apps someday, but its currently doing so. That I think gives us a clue that Google has some plans still in works for her Chromebook.

Conclusion

iPhone disabling or locking can happen to anyone, so why should it only be the Mac and Windows users that can unlock their iPhone? Well, that has already changed for the good. Although there are several procedures to follow but it achieves pretty same result as on MacOS or Windows. If you’re still in doubt, use the above guide on how to unlock iPhone on Chromebook the easiest way.