The FBI may have found a method to unlock the iPhone of one of the shooters in the attack in San Bernardino last December without Apple's help.
According to a Department of Justice spokesperson, an outside party showed the FBI a possible method to unlock the phone this past weekend, and authorities need time to test the method to make sure it doesn't erase the phone's data.
The government and Apple have been locked in a battle over whether or not Apple should be forced to unlock the phone of Syed Farook.
Investigators have said that the iPhone used by Farook might contain clues that could lead to other potential terrorists, but Apple has said that creating the software to unlock the phone could compromise the privacy of its customers.
Federal officials asked to cancel a hearing over the government's demand to have Apple unlock the iPhone while they explore the newly presented option.
14 people were killed in the attack in San Bernardino on December 2, 2015.
The Justice Department said it will test the new method to make sure it does not destroy data while unlocking the phone.
If the method is successful, the department said it will be able to continue its investigation into the terror attack.