Factory Reset a Locked iPad: Full Guide

To factory reset a locked iPad, erase it through recovery mode on a computer or through Find My on another device. Erasing removes the forgotten passcode and all data, but it does not remove Activation Lock or the Apple Account previously linked to the iPad.

If a backup exists, you can restore it during setup. Without a backup, information stored only on the locked iPad cannot be recovered after the erase.

Why is the iPad locked?

A forgotten passcode and Activation Lock are different problems.

• A passcode lock prevents access to the iPad. A factory reset removes the passcode by erasing the device.
• Activation Lock connects the iPad to the owner's Apple Account through Find My. It remains active after a factory reset and requires that account's credentials during setup.

If the setup screen requests an Apple Account belonging to someone else, resetting the iPad again will not remove that request. The previous owner must remove the iPad from the account, or the current owner must work with Apple using acceptable proof of purchase.

What do you need before resetting a locked iPad?

• A Mac with Finder, or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app or an available version of iTunes.
• A compatible cable that can transfer data, not merely charge the iPad.
• Enough battery power to keep the iPad running during recovery and installation.
• The Apple Account email address or phone number and password previously used on the iPad, if Find My was enabled.
• A recent backup, if you plan to restore your apps and data afterward.

A factory reset is destructive. If the passcode cannot be remembered and no backup exists, there is no supported way to preserve data stored only on the locked device.

How do you factory reset a locked iPad using recovery mode?

Recovery mode lets Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes erase an iPad that cannot be unlocked. Keep holding the specified button until the recovery screen appears; release it only after seeing a cable-and-computer image.

1. Turn off the iPad. If it has no Home button, hold the top button and either volume button until the power slider appears. If it has a Home button, hold the top or side button until the slider appears.
2. Connect the cable to the computer, but leave the iPad end disconnected for the moment.
3. For an iPad without a Home button, hold the top button while connecting the cable to the iPad. Continue holding the top button through the Apple logo until the recovery screen appears.
4. For an iPad with a Home button, hold the Home button while connecting the cable to the iPad. Continue holding Home until the recovery screen appears.
5. Open Finder on a Mac, or Apple Devices or iTunes on a Windows PC. Select the iPad when it appears.
6. Choose Restore when offered Restore or Update. The computer will download the required software, erase the iPad, and reinstall iPadOS.
7. Keep the iPad connected until the process finishes. When the Hello screen appears, disconnect it and begin setup.

If the download takes long enough that the iPad leaves recovery mode, allow the download to finish. Then turn off the iPad and repeat the recovery-mode button sequence.

How do you erase a locked iPad using Find My?

Find My can remotely erase a locked iPad if Find My was enabled for that iPad and you can sign in to the associated Apple Account.

1. On another Apple device signed in to the same account, open the Find My app and select Devices. Alternatively, open {site}, sign in, and locate the Find Devices option.
2. Select the locked iPad from the device list.
3. Choose Erase This Device or Erase iPad, then follow the confirmation prompts.
4. If the iPad is online, the erase begins after confirmation. If it is offline, the erase request remains pending until the iPad connects.
5. After the erase, start setup and enter the Apple Account credentials associated with Activation Lock.

Do not remove the iPad from the account if you are erasing your own device and intend to keep using it. Removing it is relevant when an owner is transferring the iPad to another person.

Why does the iPad ask for an Apple Account after the reset?

Activation Lock is an anti-theft feature enabled with Find My. A factory reset deletes the passcode and local data, but it does not prove that the person resetting the iPad owns it.

During setup, enter the Apple Account email address or phone number and password previously associated with the iPad. If the iPad belonged to someone else, ask that person to remove the device from the account through Find My. The previous owner does not need to disclose a password to you.

What can you do if you cannot get past Activation Lock?

There is no legitimate button sequence, recovery-mode procedure, or DFU restore that bypasses Activation Lock. Avoid third-party services claiming they can remove another owner's account.

1. Use Apple's official account-recovery process if the Apple Account is yours but you forgot the password or cannot receive a verification code.
2. If the iPad came from another person, ask the previous owner to remove it from the owner's Find My device list.
3. If you are the documented owner and cannot recover the account, contact official Apple Support. Have the original proof of purchase showing the device and its identifying information ready for review.

Apple decides whether submitted documentation is sufficient. A receipt or possession of the device does not guarantee that Activation Lock will be removed.

What should you do if recovery mode does not work?

• If the computer does not detect the iPad, try another data-capable cable, another USB port, and a direct connection instead of a hub. Restart both devices and update Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes where possible.
• If the iPad returns to the lock screen, repeat the model-specific button sequence and keep holding the required button past the Apple logo.
• If the iPad is stuck in a recovery loop, let the software download finish, restart the computer, and attempt Restore again. A failed cable connection can interrupt installation.
• If ordinary recovery repeatedly fails, DFU mode may provide a deeper firmware restore. DFU mode leaves the screen black and uses model-specific timed button presses, so follow Apple's instructions for the exact iPad model or ask Apple Support for guided help.
• If the computer reports a persistent hardware or restore error, record the exact message and error number before contacting official Apple Support.

DFU mode still erases the iPad and does not remove Activation Lock. After any successful restore, the original Apple Account may still be required.