If you enter your password incorrectly several times, Apple will suspect that someone is trying to hack your account and lock your Apple ID. While this is a security measure by Apple, you may expect that they will help you unlock your iPad in return.
So, can Apple help me unlock my iPad? Apple will not unlock your iPad but will restore your device to factory settings, enabling you to gain access to it as if it were new. This restoration would erase your data, leading to data loss, if you did not previously back up your data. Among the ways you can unlock your iPad should Apple disable it include using iTunes, iCloud, or in Recovery Mode.
Losing your passcode can paralyze you, but this does not mean that it is irreversible. Entering the wrong passcode on your iPad will cause the ‘iPad is Disabled’ message to populate on your device screen. This will disable your iPad and requires unlocking for continued use. Read on to know whether you should navigate this or consult Apple for support.
Unfortunately, Apple will not help you unlock your iPad. Instead, they will erase your device data, enabling you to use it again. Among the tools you can equally use to unlock your device include iCloud, Recovery Mode, iTunes, or Finder. After erasing your device and successfully getting out of the disabled mode, you can proceed to restore your device if you have a backup for your data.
Before I dive deep into how to unlock your iPad, it is worth understanding why your iPad is disabled in the first place. After six wrong passcode attempts, Apple will disable your device temporarily. You can attempt your passcode up to five times. The sixth will disable it for a minute, while the seventh will lock you out. Beyond ten, you will receive the iPad disabled message.
As stated earlier, you can restore your device using the iTunes or Finder, iCloud, and Recovery Mode methods. If you backed up your data before it locked, you could use iTunes to unlock it. iCloud is effective if you enable the Find My iPhone option and remember your Apple credentials. At the same time, you will use the Recovery Mode if you have never synced your iPad with iTunes or set the Find My iPhone in iCloud.
How Do You Unlock an iPad If You Forgot the Passcode?
iPads have security features that you can use to lock and keep your data safe. At times, you may forget your passcode, and while attempting to remember, key in the wrong password multiple times and lock your iPad.
If you forget your passcode, you can unlock your iPad in recovery mode. This process will delete your settings and data, including your passwords, enabling you to access your iPad again. After erasing your iPad, you can restore data from your backup. However, if you do not have a backup, you can set up your iPad as a new device by downloading existing data from iCloud.
Unlocking your iPad in recovery mode requires you to have a PC or Mac. If using a PC, ensure you install iTunes and Windows 8 or later. You will also require a cable that comes with your iPad or a compatible cable to connect it to your PC. If you lack access to a PC or Mac, visit your nearest Apple Store for assistance.
The Recovery Mode will work if you never synced your device with iTunes or set up the Find My iPhone in iCloud. This process entails forcing your device into Recovery Mode to factory reset. To do this, unplug your iPad from your PC and turn it off.
The steps you follow to turn off your iPad will vary depending on your iPad model. Hence, if your iPad has a Home button, hold down the side or top button and Home button simultaneously until the Apple logo pops on your screen and your device enters the Recovery Mode.
If your iPad has a Face ID, press and release the Volume Up then volume down buttons. Next, hold the Top button until your device restarts and your iPad goes into recovery mode. When this happens, find your iPad in iTunes and click on it. You will receive a prompt asking if you want to restore or update your device, and you should select Restore.
Your iPad may take longer to download its iOS, but if it exceeds fifteen minutes and exits the recovery mode screen, allow the download to complete, force restart, and enter the recovery mode again. After restoring your device, it will start up as a new iPad. Thus, follow the setup process and select the recent backup from iTunes or iCloud.
To unlock your iPad with iTunes, you will need a trusted PC with which you connected your iPad. This way, you can restore your data after the factory reset. However, you may need to know your password for this access, making this method suitable if someone else’s attempts disabled your iPad.
Plug your iPad into your PC through your USB cord to unlock your iPad. Next, open iTunes, and it will sync your iPad. However, if it does not, click Backup now and when the backup is complete, select Restore then Restore from iTunes Backup. From here, select your recent backup, and your iTunes will restore.
If you enabled Find My iPhone, a factory reset is possible by accessing iCloud using a different device. A factory reset will erase your data and is an issue if you do not have a backup. To unlock your disabled iPad on iCloud, navigate to icloud.com using another device and log in to iCloud using your Apple credentials.
Next, Find your iPad and select the Erase iPad option to wipe it and its password. You should connect your iPad to a network for this to work. Erasing your iPad will reset it to its factory defaults, and you can set it up afresh or restore the backup if you had one.
Lastly, when all the above options fail, you can consider Siri, a useful voice command tool to recognize your voice and bypass the passcode. Among the things you can do is ask Siri to open a non-existent app on your device. Issuing this command will cause Siri to explain that the app does not exist on your device. Siri will then bring up the Apple Store icon, and you can open the World clock and view alarm ringtones.
In order to visit the iTunes store, tap buy more tunes then the Home button. You can also ask Siri to populate the Cellular data, and you can turn it off, access your settings and change your password.
With the above set, try an iTunes backup. To do this, connect your PC, open iTunes, select your iPad in iTunes and click Backup Now. Your iPad should unlock as soon as the backup begins, and you can cancel the backup and change your password.
Can the Apple Store Unlock My Passcode?
Locking your passcode can be frustrating, especially if you want to access urgent information. What’s worse, you may not have a Mac or PC in your home to enable you to navigate the unlocking. As such, your next step would be visiting an Apple Store for assistance. Read on to know whether the Apple Store will help you unlock your passcode and the cost implications.
Apple will reset your device, enabling you to access it as if it were new at no charge but they will not unlock your passcode. As part of their policies, they will not interfere with the data on the Apple device, which is what unlocking would do.
Before rushing to the Apple Store to seek help on this, you should realize that your iPad and its data are two different things. Only you can open this data by providing your login, and not even Apple has access to this data.
This also explains why you do not inherit the data in a device when you inherit a device. Hence, if you visit an Apple Store and want them to unlock your passcode, the most they will do is delete your data and restore it afterward if you have a backup. However, they will ask you to produce proof of purchase before serving you.
Since Apple will not unlock your iPad, you can navigate using iTunes. You will put your iPad into DFU mode and restore it. In case of a forgotten password, it is advisable to use the computer you last synced your iPad with. This way, you can set your passcode and resync data from the device.
Restoring your iPad from a different computer will enable you to unlock your iPad, but you will not recover your data. Alternatively, you can use iCloud or third-party software to unlock your iPad. Either way, you should note that there is no way you can unlock your iPad without losing data unless you have a backup.
Restoring your iPad to its original settings remains the most effective way to unlock your device without a passcode. According to Apple, you can restore your iPad by connecting it to your PC, selecting the iPad in the iTunes sidebar, check for updates under which you will see if there is any newer version of your iPadOS. From here, click Restore and follow on-screen prompts to complete this process. After restoration, either set up your device as a new iPad or restore your data from backup.
How Do I Force My iPad To Unlock?
Entering the wrong password several times on your iPad will cause Apple to disable it. If you know your passcode and just keyed it wrongly, this is an easy problem, as you will wait for a few minutes for the disabled message to disappear from your screen and try again. Once you enter the correct passcode, you should resume using your iPad normally. Unfortunately, if you cannot remember your password, the only option is to force your iPad to unlock, and I will show you how to navigate this.
Forcing your iPad to unlock will entail putting it into the Recovery Mode. This mode will erase all your data, but you are safe if you have a backup, as you can restore it to your device. To factory reset your iPad, start disconnecting it from your Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection. Next, turn off your iPad, and depending on the model you are using, you will use different buttons to achieve this. Afterward, connect your iPad to your PC, and it will boot normally and populate the Recovery Mode screen.
Open iTunes on your Mac or PC, select the iPad icon and click Restore. The latter action will erase your iPad and restore it to default settings. Finally, you can go through the setup steps or Restore information from your Backup.
Apart from the Recovery Mode, you can also utilize third-party software solutions to bypass your password. However, while this may work, you should employ due diligence, as these pose malware and virus risks.
An example of a third-party program you can use is the LockWiper. To reset your iPad with this program, you will install it and connect your iPad to your PC using the USB port. You will then receive prompts that you should follow and put your device in a recognizable model.
With the confirmation of your device details, the firmware will update, and the unlocking process will start. For this system, you will use 000000 as your password and once done, backup from iTunes and continue using your device normally.
Wrap Up
Several wrong password attempts signify the possibility of hacker attacks on your iPad. Apple will respond to this signal by disabling your iPad, preventing your access. You can do so in the Recovery Mode or utilize the iCloud or iTunes feature to regain access.
iTunes is effective if you backed up your device, while iCloud will work if you enable the Find My iPhone feature. If you have never synced your device with iTunes or set the Find My iPhone, use the Recovery Mode.
In each of the above methods, you will factory reset your iPad, losing all your contacts, settings and photos. As such, it is advisable to back up your data, after which you can restore and continue use. Lastly, you should note that Apple will not charge you to unlock your iPad as they do not have access to your data. The only loss you will incur is data, but this is avoidable with a backup.
