How to Unlock a Disabled iPad
If you enter the wrong passcode when trying to unlock your iPad too many times in a row, your iPad may become disabled. Sometimes, the screen will show that your iPad is disabled. In other cases, it may ask you to try again in five minutes or tell you that your iPad is disabled for many days or years (that’s not true; it just means that you should wait a minute) or to connect to your computer. Apple disables your iPad because the passcode is a security measure. If you enter the wrong passcode too many times, your iPad assumes that you must not be the owner and that this is an attempt to break into it. Temporarily disabling the iPad stops that. If you still know the correct passcode and just entered the wrong thing, the problem is easy to solve: Wait a few minutes. Once the disabled message disappears from the screen, try unlocking it again and, if you use the correct passcode, it will work, and you’ll be back to using your iPad.
How to Unlock an iPad Without the Passcode
The more significant challenge is unlocking an iPad when you either don’t know the passcode or have forgotten it. In that case, there’s bad news: your only option is to put your iPad into Recovery Mode, totally erase the data from your iPad, and set it up fresh. Hopefully, you have a recent backup of your data and can restore that onto your iPad. Here’s how to factory reset an iPad without the passcode:
iPads with Face ID: Press and hold the Top button and either volume button.iPads without Face ID: Press and hold the Top button.
The Slide to Power Off slider appears; let go of the buttons and move the slider.
iPads with Face ID: Using a cable, connect your iPad to your computer while holding down the Top button. iPads without Face ID: Using a cable, connect your iPad to your computer while holding down the Home button.
However, If you see the Recovery Mode screen—an icon of a computer with a cable pointing it—you’re ready to proceed. (see image above)
macOS Catalina (10.15) or higher: Open a new Finder window and click your iPad in the left sidebar. macOS 10.14 or earlier, or Windows: Open iTunes and click the iPad icon at the top left corner.
