How to Reset an iPad That Is Locked

Why does an iPad say “iPad Is Disabled” or “iPad Unavailable”?

To reset an iPad that is locked, erase it with recovery mode on a computer or remotely through Find My, then set it up again. Erasing removes the forgotten passcode, but it also deletes the data currently stored on the iPad.

An iPad temporarily locks after repeated incorrect passcode attempts. Additional wrong attempts can increase the waiting period or leave the iPad unavailable until it is erased. This is an Apple security feature designed to protect personal information, not a sign that the iPad is malfunctioning.

If you recently changed the passcode, the lock screen may offer an Apple-supported passcode reset option. Follow that prompt if it appears. Otherwise, use one of the erase methods below.

What do you need before resetting a locked iPad?

Before trying to reset an iPad that is locked, gather the Apple Account email address or phone number and password associated with the iPad. Apple previously called this an Apple ID. You will probably need those credentials after the erase because of Activation Lock.

• For recovery mode, use a Mac or Windows PC, a compatible cable, and an internet connection. A Mac uses Finder. A current Windows PC uses the Apple Devices app, while some older systems use iTunes.
• For a remote erase, Find My must already have been enabled on the locked iPad. You also need access to Find My on another Apple device or Find Devices on iCloud.com.
• The iPad must connect to Wi-Fi or cellular data for a remote erase. Wi-Fi alone is enough if the iPad can connect to a known network.
• Have an iCloud or computer backup available if you want to recover data after the reset.

How do you reset a locked iPad using a computer?

Recovery mode lets a computer reinstall iPadOS and erase a passcode that you cannot enter. Keep the iPad connected throughout the restore.

1. Turn off the iPad. If it has no Home button, hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. If it has a Home button, hold the top button until the slider appears.
2. Connect the powered-off iPad to the computer with a cable.
3. On an iPad without a Home button, quickly press and release the volume button closest to the top button, then the other volume button. Hold the top button until the recovery-mode image of a cable and computer appears.
4. On an iPad with a Home button, hold the Home button and the top or side button together. Keep holding until the recovery-mode image appears.
5. Open Finder on a Mac, or Apple Devices or iTunes on a Windows PC. Select the connected iPad.
6. When offered Restore or Update, choose Restore. The computer downloads iPadOS, erases the iPad, and installs the software again.
7. If the download takes long enough for the iPad to leave recovery mode, allow the download to finish. Turn off the iPad and repeat the recovery-mode steps.
8. Wait for the Hello screen before disconnecting the iPad and beginning setup.

How do you reset a locked iPad without a computer?

A locked iPad can be erased remotely only if Find My was enabled before the lockout. The erase request starts immediately when the iPad is online; if it is offline, the request waits until the device reconnects.

1. Open Find My on another Apple device signed in to the same Apple Account, or open Find Devices on iCloud.com and sign in.
2. Select Devices or All Devices, then choose the locked iPad.
3. Select Erase This Device or Erase iPad and confirm the request.
4. Enter the Apple Account password if prompted.
5. Leave the iPad powered on and able to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular data. When the erase finishes, the setup screen appears.

Some locked iPads also show Forgot Passcode? on the lock screen. If that option appears and Find My was previously enabled, the iPad has an active internet connection, and you know the Apple Account password, follow the onscreen reset and erase prompts.

What happens to your data when you reset a locked iPad?

Resetting a locked iPad permanently erases its local content and settings, including the passcode, photos, messages, downloads, and app data stored only on the device. The reset cannot recover information that was never backed up or synced elsewhere.

During setup, an existing iCloud backup can restore eligible apps, settings, and content after you sign in. A backup saved on a Mac or PC can be restored by connecting the iPad to that computer. Synced information may also return after the relevant accounts are added again.

Do not erase the iPad if irreplaceable data is stored only on it and you still have a valid way to remember or recover the passcode. Apple cannot extract local data protected by a forgotten passcode.

How do you set up an iPad after the reset?

After the reset, follow the onscreen language, region, network, and accessibility prompts. Activation Lock is an ownership check that remains associated with an iPad when Find My was enabled, even after the device is erased.

1. Connect the iPad to Wi-Fi or cellular service when prompted.
2. Enter the Apple Account credentials previously associated with the iPad if Activation Lock appears.
3. Choose to restore from an iCloud backup, restore from a Mac or PC, transfer from another device, or set up without restoring a backup.
4. Create a new passcode that you can remember but other people cannot easily guess.
5. Allow time for synced photos, messages, apps, and other content to return after setup.

When should you contact Apple Support about a locked iPad?

Open {site} and use the support options if the computer does not recognize the iPad, recovery mode repeatedly fails, or damaged buttons prevent you from entering recovery mode. Apple can also explain the official account-recovery process if you cannot remember the Apple Account or password.

If Activation Lock shows an account belonging to someone else, contact the previous owner and ask that person to remove the iPad from their account. For a legitimately owned device, Apple may request proof of purchase before considering an Activation Lock support request. There is no supported procedure for bypassing the ownership check.

An iPad owned by an employer or school may be managed by that organization. Contact its administrator rather than repeatedly erasing the device.