Quick Navigation
Summary:
Don't worry if your iPad is disabled. Passver iPhone Unlocker can offer the simplest solution to help you out. Compatible with iPadOS 17, it can one-click enable iPad without the technical skills required.
Problems like "My iPad is disabled unexpectedly? What can I do?" are common in Apple Communities. In fact, they are easy to resolve. And your iPad has already offered you a reminder of "iPad is disabled. Connect to iTunes". However, this method will come with the risk of data loss. Hence, to help you enable iPad more securely, this post has compiled 5 proven solutions on how to fix disabled iPad with or without iTunes. Now, scroll down, and let's explore them together!
Why is My iPad Disabled?
It is the same as why your iPhone is disabled, iPad disabled is because you or your naughty children entered the wrong passcode too many times. To protect your privacy, iPadOS will disable the iPad to prevent someone else from breaking into it.
Usually, when you enter the incorrect password 1-5 times, you can proceed to unlock your iPad. But if you enter the password incorrectly six times in a row, the time interval before your next attempt will be longer as follows:
- Incorrect passcode 6 times: iPad is Disabled. Retry after 1 minutes.
- Incorrect passcode 7 times: iPad is Disabled. Retry after 5 minutes.
- Incorrect passcode 8 times: iPad is Disabled. Retry after 15 minutes.
- Incorrect passcode 9 times: iPad is Disabled. Retry after 60 minutes.
- Incorrect passcode 10 times: iPad is Disabled. Connect to iTunes.
Also, in iPadOS 15.2 and later versions, the prompt "iPad is Disabled" has been replaced with "iPad is Unavailable," and the time intervals for incorrect password attempts have been extended as well.
- Incorrect passcode 7 times: iPad is Unavailable. Retry after 1 hour.
- Incorrect passcode 8 times: iPad is Unavailable. Retry after 3 hours.
- Incorrect passcode 9 times: iPad is Unavailable. Retry after 8 hours.
- Incorrect passcode 10 times: iPad is Unavailable.
However, whether your iPad shows "iPad is Disabled" or "iPad is Unavailable," you can unlock your iPad with iTunes or turn to the following 4 other methods for help. Just read further and get them to try.
Method 1. How to Fix Disabled iPad with iTunes (2 Options)
While fixing a disabled iPad with iTunes will result in data loss, this method is quite effective. But it is important to note that iTunes comes with iPad Restore and Recovery Mode two options based on whether your iPad has been synced with the computer before. You can choose the appropriate option and follow the steps below to attempt to get your iPad out of disabled mode.
Tips:
- For Macs running macOS Catalina or later, Finder is workable and the steps are similar to iTunes.
- To prevent data loss on your iPad, skip directly to Method 5
Restore a Disabled iPad if You've Synced with iTunes
If you have synced your iPad with iTunes before, you can prepare a Windows computer and a USB cable to enable your iPad as the step below does.
Step 1. Connect the disabled iPad to your computer via a USB cable.
Step 2. Launch iTunes, click the "Device" icon, and go to "Summary".
Step 3. Under your iPad mode, locate "restore ipad" and click it.
Step 4. It will take several minutes. Then you can enter and set your iPad without a passcode.
Put iPad into Recovery Mode and Unlock it with iTunes
It is possible that when you connect your iPad to a computer, it shows "iTunes could not connect to this iPad because it is locked with a passcode." That's because your iPad hasn't been synced with iTunes. In this case, you need to enter the screen passcode to connect to iTunes. However, since the iPad is disabled, you need to put the disabled iPad in recovery mode first to fix it. Try the steps below:
Step 1. Connect your disabled iPad to the computer. Then keep holding the following buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
- For iPad without a Home button: Press and quickly release the volume down button and do the same to the volume up button then. At last, press and hold the top button.
- For iPad with a Home button: Press and hold both the Home and the top (or side) buttons simultaneously.
Step 2. Locate the iPad icon in the top left corner of the iTunes interface.
Step 3. Select "Restore iPad" to get your iPad out of disabled mode with all data erased.
Note:
This process will take around 15 minutes. If it exceeds this timeframe, your iPad will automatically exit recovery mode, and you'll need to repeat the steps to connect it to iTunes in recovery mode.
Method 2. How to Fix Disabled iPad by Erasing iPhone (2 Options)
If the prompt on your iPad is "iPad is Unavailable" rather than "iPad is Disabled," you can now access the second method to enable the iPad without computer and iTunes. The screen "iPad is Unavailable" has been introduced since iPadOS 15.2, and it comes with an option called "Erase iPad." This feature can allow you to directly reset your iPad and fix the disabled mode. Moreover, it has received new updates on the latest iPadOS 17.
Unlock Disabled iPad with iPadOS 15.2 or Later
For devices running iPadOS 15.2 but not yet upgraded to iPadOS 17, you can find the "Erase iPad" feature at the bottom of the screen. It will request your Apple ID and password for authentication and help you reset the iPad without iTunes. Here is how it works.
Step 1. Make sure your iPad screen is showing "iPad is Unavailable".
Step 2. Click the "Erase iPad" option and verify the device information.
Step 3. Confirm "Erase iPad" again and enter the Apple ID and password to reset iPad.
Unlock Disabled iPad with iPadOS 17
With the release of iPadOS 17, the "Erase iPad" option has been updated to "Forget Passcode." In contrast to the former, this feature not only can reset the device to get out of disabled mode but can also help reset a new yet forgotten passcode using the old screen passcode within 72 hours. To try it, you can follow the steps below.
Step 1. Enter the incorrect passcode until the "iPad is Unavailable" screen appears.
Step 2. Tap the "Forgot Passcode" option at the bottom. Then confirm to reset the device.
Step 3. Enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID on your device.
Step 4. Hit "Erase iPad" to remove all data and settings, including the passcode. Then you can set up your iPad once it restarts.
Tip on Reset Passcode on iPadOS 17
- When "iPad is Unavailable" shows, tap "Forgot Passcode";
- Tap Try Passcode Reset;
- Enter the old passcode and follow the onscreen guides to set a new passcode.
Method 3. How to Fix Disabled iPad without iTunes via iCloud
If your iPad is signed in to iCloud, and the Find My iPad feature was turned on before it is disabled, you can use iCloud to unlock your disabled iPad without iTunes. This method doesn't have technical requirements, but it will also lead to the risk of iPad data loss. If this doesn't bother you, just prepare a smartphone or computer to have a try.
Step 1. Go to www.iCloud.com via a browser and enter your Apple ID and Password.
Step 2. Go to Find Devices and select All Devices in iCloud.
Step 3. Find your iPad and click Erase iPad.
Step 4. Set up your iPad again.
Method 4. How to Fix Disabled iPad by Force Restart (with Correct Passcode)
The methods mentioned above will unlock your disabled iPad with data removal. You can restore the data and settings with backups. However, without a prior backup, data recovery may not be possible. In this case, a hard reset is an alternative way, which can help you enable the iPad without data loss. Now, follow the instructions below to perform a hard reset on your iPad.
Step 1. Force restart your iPad.
- iPad with the Home button: Press the Home button and your Lock button. Then, hold them till the iPad turns off and turns back on.
- iPad without the Home button: Press the volume up and down buttons. Then long-press the Top button.
Step 2. Once you see the blank screen on the iPad, release all the buttons.
Step 3. Press the Power button until you see the Apple logo on your screen. It will reset to "iPad is disabled. Try again in 60 minutes." Wait for 60 minutes and make sure this time your password is correct. Otherwise, it will be disabled again.
Method 5. Fix Disabled iPad Without iTunes or iCloud (Ultimate Way)
In addition to iTunes or iCloud, you can also turn to Passver iPhone Unlocker for help. Working on all iPad models, it can unlock disabled iPad without technical skills. Moreover, be it a digit passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID, this full-fledged program can handle them in one go. Better yet, Passver iPhone Unlocker ensures a high success rate with support ranging from iPadOS 8 to iPadOS 17. Plus, you can keep all data and settings on your iPad safe if you don't enable the Find My feature.
⭐Sparkling Features of Passver iPhone Unlocker
- Support a wide range of iPad, iPhone, and iPod.
- Unlock an iPad without a password for any reason.
- Regain access to a disabled, used, broken, or unresponsive iPad.
- Remove the Apple ID if you forget the password.
- Bypass iCloud Activation Lock on iPad with ease.
- Delete and manage the Screen Time passcode.
- Include MDM supervision and iTunes backup encryption bypass.
Now follow the steps below to unlock your disabled iPad without data loss. You can view the video tutorial below first:
Step 1. Install Passver iPhone Unlocker
Download and install Passver iPhone Unlocker by tapping the button below.
Step 2. Connect iPad to Passvers
Launch Passver iPhone Unlocker and go to the "Wipe Passcode" section. Then connect your iPad to it with a USB cable. The iPad unlocker will detect your device type and model automatically.
Step 3. Download Firmware Package
Make sure the device information is correct and click Start. After that, the software will begin downloading a suitable firmware package for your iPad.
Step 4. Unlock Disabled iPad Successfully
Enter "0000" on the popup interface to confirm the unlocking. Wait for a while, you can successfully fix your disabled iPad and enter it as usual.
Note:
- Your iPad will be updated to the latest system version;
- Your iPad will not erase data and settings if Find My is off.
Comparison Table: 5 Ways to Fix Disabled iPad
It's topsy-turvy to pick up a preferred method from all the choices, so why not take a break and check out this comparison table for an overall idea? Then, the well-informed choice may come out of the shadow.
| iTunes | Built-in Erase Feature | iCloud | Hard Reset | Passver iPhone Unlocker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enable Find My Feature | × | × | √ | × | × |
| Correct Passcode | √ | × | √ | √ | × |
| Apple ID & Password | √ | √ | √ | × | × |
| Wipe out All Content | √ | √ | √ | × | √ |
| Reset All Settings | √ | √ | √ | × | √ |
| Easy to Follow | Normal | Easy | Easy | Normal | Easiest |
Tips: How to Avoid iPad Being Disabled Next Time
Most of the time, your iPad is disabled with unexpected taps by kiddos. Therefore, you can consider the following tips to avoid being locked out of a disabled screen again. Now, let's grasp the ideas.
- Remove Face ID or Touch ID if someone is using your iPad.
- Set the passcode to none if kids are having fun with iPad.
- Set the Auto-Lock to never if you have to use iPad for a long time.
- Turn off the Raise to Wake in Display & Brightness.
- Toggle off the Tap to Wake feature in Accessibility > Touch.
- Make a regular backup for your iPad using iCloud or iTunes.
- Set a Screen Time Passcode to control daily usage.
Conclusion
It's really a big headache when iPad is disabled. Although several workable official methods can be the solutions to how to unlock disabled iPad. But they are all at risk of messy steps and data and settings loss. However, looking at Passver iPhone Unlocker, this versatile tool can safeguard iPad data while making sure you can enable your iPad with ease. Even better, its full-service solutions to all models of iOS devices will prove beneficial for you in the long run. So just download it and have a try!