How to Reset an iPad Password When Locked Out

To reset an iPad after you forgot the iPad passcode, you normally must erase the device and set it up again. You can erase the locked iPad through Find My or restore it in recovery mode with a Mac or Windows PC.

If you recently changed the passcode, you may have one non-destructive option. On iPadOS 17 or later, Passcode Reset lets you use the previous passcode for up to 72 hours after a change: tap Forgot Passcode?, choose Enter Previous Passcode, and follow the prompts.

What should you know before resetting a locked iPad?

Resetting removes the forgotten passcode by erasing the iPad. It also deletes locally stored photos, files, apps, messages, settings, and other data. An iCloud or computer backup is the only way to restore information that was not stored elsewhere.

Before you reset the iPad:

• Make sure you know the Apple Account email address or phone number and password associated with the iPad.
• Check whether an iCloud backup or a backup on your computer is available.
• If the screen shows a waiting period and you believe you know the correct code, wait until the timer ends instead of making more guesses.
• If the screen is frozen rather than rejecting the passcode, restart the iPad first. A restart does not remove a forgotten code, but it can fix an unresponsive screen.

If you forgot an iPad code completely and Passcode Reset is unavailable, there is no supported way to unlock the iPad while preserving unbacked-up local data.

How do you reset an iPad without the passcode?

There are two main answers to “How do I reset my iPad?” when the passcode is unknown:

• Find My: Choose this method if Find My was enabled, the iPad appears in your Apple Account, and you can sign in from another device or a browser. The locked iPad must connect to the internet before the erase can complete.
• A computer: Choose this method if Find My is unavailable or the iPad is offline. You need a suitable cable, an internet-connected Mac or Windows PC, and access to Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes as appropriate for the computer.

Both methods erase the device. A reset iPad without a password is not the same as changing the passcode in Settings, because Settings requires the current passcode.

How can you reset an iPad with Find My?

Find My can erase a locked iPad over the air if Find My was turned on before the lockout. To reset an iPad without the password from another device:

1. On another Apple device, open Find My and select Devices. In a browser, open iCloud.com, sign in, and choose Find Devices.
2. Select the locked iPad from the device list. Confirm that you selected the correct device.
3. Choose Erase This Device or Erase iPad, then continue through the confirmation prompts.
4. Enter the Apple Account password if requested.
5. Leave the iPad powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service. If it is offline, the erase remains pending and starts when the iPad next connects.
6. When the Hello screen appears, begin setup and sign in with the Apple Account previously linked to the iPad.

This is the simplest way to reset an iPad without a passcode when you still control the associated Apple Account.

How do you reset a locked iPad with a Mac or Windows PC?

Recovery mode lets a computer erase and reinstall the iPad software. On a recent Mac, use Finder. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app; iTunes may apply on older supported computer setups.

1. Disconnect the iPad from the computer and turn it off. Without a Home button, hold the top button and either volume button until the power slider appears. With a Home button, hold the top button until the slider appears.
2. Connect the powered-off iPad to the computer with a compatible cable.
3. For an iPad without a Home button, quickly press and release the volume button closest to the top button, quickly press and release the other volume button, then hold the top button.
4. For an iPad with a Home button, hold the Home button and the top or side button together.
5. Keep holding the required button or buttons past the Apple logo. Release them only when the recovery-mode image of a computer and cable appears.
6. Locate the iPad in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes. When offered Restore or Update, choose Restore.
7. Wait while the computer downloads the software and restores the iPad. If the iPad leaves recovery mode before the download finishes, let the download complete, turn off the iPad, and repeat the recovery-mode steps.

What should you do after resetting the iPad?

After the reset, follow the setup prompts and connect the iPad to Wi-Fi. Sign in with the Apple Account that was previously associated with the device.

• Choose an iCloud backup during setup if one is available.
• To use a computer backup, connect the iPad to that computer and select the appropriate restore-backup option.
• Create a new passcode that you can remember without making it easy for someone else to guess.
• After setup, check the Apple Account settings and confirm that Find My iPad is enabled.

Some apps, photos, and other content may continue downloading after the main restore finishes.

What does “iPad Disabled” or Activation Lock mean?

An “iPad Disabled,” “iPad Unavailable,” or Security Lockout message appears after repeated incorrect passcode attempts. A temporary timer means you must wait before another attempt; continued incorrect entries can lead to a longer lockout or require an erase.

Activation Lock is a Find My security feature that links the iPad to an Apple Account. Erasing the iPad does not automatically remove that protection. During setup, you may need the Apple Account and password previously used on the device.

If you cannot satisfy Activation Lock, Apple may require proof-of-purchase documentation before considering a support request. A recovery-mode restore cannot bypass Activation Lock.

When should you contact Apple Support about a locked iPad?

Contact Apple Support when the iPad will not enter recovery mode, the computer never recognizes it, the restore repeatedly fails, or Activation Lock remains after you enter the account information you believe is correct.

You should also seek official help if you cannot identify the original Apple Account, cannot reset its password, or need to submit proof of ownership for an Activation Lock request. Open {site} and choose the support option for iPad, forgotten passcodes, Apple Account access, or Activation Lock. Apple Support can explain the available account-recovery or ownership-review steps, but it cannot restore data that was erased without a backup.