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Setting "iPad Case Lock/Unlock" missing despite using Smart Case

Who else has a new iPad Air 2020 and cannot find the setting "Lock/Unlock" in the menu "Display and Brightness"? I am using a third-party smart case but to no avail. Is this an issue with this new iPad or is the case defect? I noticed with my older iPad that the case does not have to be mounted for the setting to appear as it is present even when the case is removed.

Posted on Oct 29, 2020 11:05 PM

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Posted on Nov 2, 2020 8:02 AM

I’ve got the same problem. The lock/unlock choice is missing on my new iPad Air 2020. This is what the screen looks like.

16 replies

Oct 31, 2020 11:19 AM in response to auspower65

Yes, I have the Lock / Unlock option showing under Auto-Lock on my iPad Air 4. Apparently it doesn’t do anything because my smart case doesn’t turn the screen off. So I don’t know if it’s a problem with that option on the iPad or the case. Since some people are reporting that they don’t have the Lock / Unlock showing, I think it might be an iPad problem and the iPad isn’t checking the switch. I’m on iPadOS version 14.1 . I also sent an email to the case maker telling them the case doesn’t do the auto sleep/wake even though it says so on the box. I’ll see what they say.

Nov 3, 2020 1:53 PM in response to auspower65

I had the exact same issue. The case I was using was a Speck Folio case - advertised to be appropriate for the IPad Pro 11 as well as the IPad Air 4th generation. In that Speck case my IPad Air was not exhibiting the sleep/wake function when I closed/opened that case, and - just as you saw - the Lock/Unlock setting wasn't in the Settings under Display and Brightness. I called Apple Support, did a complete restoration of the IPad to factory settings, but nothing worked.


Then I bought an Apple Smart Folio case designed for the IPad Air 4th generation. I placed the IPad in that case and - not only did the IPad sleep/wake when the case was opened and closed, but the Lock/Unlock setting was now right there under Display and Brightness.


So it looks like the case needs to be appropriate to the Air 4th generation - and the IPad needs to be in that case - before that Lock/Unlock setting will appear.



Oct 31, 2020 12:48 PM in response to dave1707

Thank you for your valuable feedback which I appreciate. Yes, I suspect that the problem is with the lastest iPadOS version, 14.1. I rang up Apple Support the other night and after they detected the serial number was told to wait a few minutes. They directed me to activat the setting but alas, it still wasn't visible. They then claimed that the case most likely wasn't compatible (it states in the ad that it is) and to buy an official Apple Folio Case. I think that this won't solve the problem. Because I set up this iPad

as "new" I didn't restore it from another one of mine.



Oct 31, 2020 3:31 PM in response to auspower65

My old iPad was 14.1, but I don’t know what the new one was. As soon as I turned it on, it went thru the setup and asked if I wanted to copy from the old iPad. So I’m not sure what the new iPad was to start. I’m assuming it was also 14.1 because I don’t think the setup would copy the OS from the old one. I think that iPad backups only copy user data and settings otherwise people would be able to restore their iPad to older OS.

Oct 31, 2020 4:50 PM in response to dave1707

I probably should have mentioned this earlier. My iPad Pro 1 is on iPadOS 14.1 and it shows the Lock/Unlock option and the smart case works. My iPad Air 3 is on iPadOS 14.1 and it shows the Lock/Unlock and the smart case works. My iPad Air 4 is on 14.1 and shows the Lock/Unlock, but the smart case doesn’t work. All 3 cases are different third party.

Nov 2, 2020 2:27 PM in response to auspower65

auspower65; I’m not sure who your question was for, but all of my iPad cases were from different third party makers. I mentioned this in the other discussion about the lock/unlock problem, that I got an email response from the maker of my iPad Air 4 case. I emailed them saying that even though I had the lock/unlock turned on, their case wasn’t doing the lock/unlock. They said there was an error on their packaging and even though it said it worked with the lock/unlock, that was a mistake and it didn’t. They said to return the case to the store if I wanted to. So I guess with the correct case, the lock/unlock should work. I’m not about to pay 70+ dollars for an Apple case though. I have my auto lock set to 2 minutes, so it only stays on an extra 2 minutes when I close the case. When I open it, I tap the screen 2 times and swipe up to turn it on.


Nov 3, 2020 8:20 AM in response to dave1707

@dave1707: My question was intended for anyone with the same problem as mine. It is interesting to see that in your case it is slightly different. Got a reply yesterday from someone else stating that he/she has exactly the same problem as I. Have been attempting to contact the online retailer to ask them if they'll either replace the case or refund my money. Until now I have not been successful.

Nov 7, 2020 2:19 PM in response to auspower65

I’m pretty sure I found out what the problem is. Apple has put a second switch on the iPad Air four. The second switch is on the bottom left side about an inch from the corner so if you put a piece of magnetic tape on the bottom left corner. It would turn on and off when you open and close it. I guess this is apples way of making you by their case or a licensed case.

Setting "iPad Case Lock/Unlock" missing despite using Smart Case

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