Recovery Key

You not having heard of a Recovery Key is perhaps going to be an issue - as in activating the Recovery Key feature for your iPad, you have assumed all responsibility for maintaining access to - and recovery of - your AppleID account. If you are unable to resolve access, you may be permanently locked-out of your account. When this feature was activated, you will have been provided with a 28 character code that must be stored safely:

How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support

Here are the Apple support pages that outline the Activation Lock - and the only mechanisms by which it can be satisfied:

Activation Lock for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Turn off Activation Lock – Apple Support

As you will discover, unless you are the owner of the AppleID that was last used to activate the device, you’ll not be able to defeat or bypass the Activation Lock. With documentary evidence that you are the original owner of the device (such as sales receipt showing the serial number), Apple may be prepared to assist - otherwise they and nobody here will be able to help you.

If you have the necessary documentation, Apple have recently introduced a new portal though which you may be able to request release of an Activation Lock:

How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support & start an Activation Lock support request.

However, in your circumstances, be aware that you may need to create a new AppleID to reuse your iPad.

It is a substitute for being asked for a two factor authentication verification code.

The information below is based on Apple's support article: How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support with quoted excerpts. Each section outlines the different situations and the strategies that may relate to use of a recovery key. If you are not familiar with trusted devices and numbers, see this support article —> Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

- If you still have access to your Apple ID and password but have lost your recovery key:

"You can generate a new recovery key from Settings or System Preferences on a trusted device." Refer to the steps in How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support about how to do this on different types of equipment (Apple equipment only).

- If you have forgotten your Apple ID password, have lost your recovery key, but still have access to a trusted device.

"you can try to regain access using your trusted device protected by a passcode." The process is outlined in this support article: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support This does not involve using a recovery key.

- If you have a forgotten password and you do not have access to a trusted device:

"you can use your recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device to reset your password."

- If you have lost your recovery key and have lost access to both your account and trusted items:

A recovery key is designed as an alternative to Account Recovery ( How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support ) which is where Apple helps you regain access to your account. However, "when you generate a recovery key, you can't use account recovery." You can try to contact Apple (see: Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support ), but to me the previous statement implies that setting up a recovery key excludes Apple from being able to do anything. Apple says: "Using a recovery key is more secure, but it means that you’re responsible for maintaining access to your trusted devices and your recovery key. If you lose both of these items, you could be locked out of your account permanently."