Can I recover data from an iPad that shows "Unavailable"?

Unless you are able to restart your iPad to a running state - and successfully enter your Passcode - you'll not be able to recover any data from your iPad.

iPadOS uses an encrypted filesystem. Successful entry of your iPad Passcode unlocks the Secure Enclave (this being your iPad's security chip) within which the only copy of the encryption keys - that are required to access and decrypt your data - are stored.

If the incorrect passcode is entered too many times, the iPad will be disabled and indicate that it is unavailable - at which point the secure enclave is automatically wiped along with all encryption keys stored within it. By design, once the iPad is disabled, all local data is permanently beyond reach and cannot be recovered - even of the Passcode is known.

Sorry, but unless you have a pre-existing backup of your locally stored data, anything stored on iPad has been lost.

It’s too late now.

Backups must occur BEFORE a disaster.

BUT …

Why do you think that your data isn’t backed-up?

Automatic iCloud backups and iCloud sync’ing of key apps are both default iOS settings.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

It is a forgotten Passcode that prompts that message you see there. You are not able to use the Apple Account Password to recover the Passcode, as one protects your device and the other protects your Apple Account and are not related to each other. The solution is to erase your device to set up a different Passcode. Sorry, there is no other way, the data on the iPad is encrypted using the Passcode so without knowing that key to decrypt there is nothing recoverable on the device. It is not possible to backup up the data now.

If you see an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support

There is a limit on how many attempts can be made on the Passcode before it is locked. If there was not, eventually your device would be able to be compromised.

TrippleEspresso wrote:

In my case (I don't know if this is unusual) I get the "iPad unavailable" screen but no further chances to enter the password.

If there are no further chances to enter the passcode; that is, the iPad isn't even offering to let you make another try after a delay – you have reached the point at which there is no way back in but to wipe the iPad.

If you see an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support

iPad Unavailable & No Erase iPad Option - Apple Community

It seems strange to me that there is no way for someone who knows the password to the device to return to a screen allowing them to do that, and I can't see the advantage in prohibiting further attempts.

Passcodes and passwords - Apple Support

"On iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, to further discourage brute-force passcode attacks, there are escalating time delays after the entry of an invalid passcode, password, or PIN (depending on the device and the state the device is in)"

It's probably hard to make brute-force passcode attacks on a device where you only enter passcodes on a touch screen (not over a network link – where it could be another computer running through passcodes at high speed). But still, that is the reason behind the escalating delays, the option to have the device wipe itself after the last bad login attempt, and the necessity to reset & wipe it after that attempt even if it has not already wiped itself.

TrippleEspresso wrote:

I've got the well-known 'iPad unavailable" problem which usually results from too many incorrect password entries.

In my case, however, I know the password – is there any way I can back the data up or otherwise gain access to it?

I know I can put the iPad into 'recovery mode' but this only allows me to either restore the device, thus deleting all my data, or update the software which still doesn't solve the problem (I've tried). Any help would be gratefully accepted – I'm tearing my hair out here!

Note: my primary goal is to save my data – I don't really care about accessing the device.

Sorry those data should've been backed up on a regular basis not in time of crisis.

Continue with restoring the ipad to factory settings, if you sync to your mail or cloud, sign back in and enable the data.

Thank you.

Your follow-on posts greatly clarified your situation.

Best of luck going forward.