iPad Air: Forgotten passcode, Touch ID locked

Using TouchID is not a replacement for the device Passcode. TouchID (or FaceID for devices that support it) augments the device Passcode in providing fast biometric authentication of the user. As documented by Apple in its Security Guide, for devices with TouchID or FaceID enabled, your device Passcode will always be required in the following circumstances…

A passcode or password is also required if the device is in any of the following states:

• The device has just been turned on or restarted

• The user has logged out of their Mac account (or hasn’t yet logged in).

• The user hasn’t unlocked their device for more than 48 hours.

• The user hasn’t used their passcode or password to unlock their device for 156 hours (six and a half days), and the user hasn’t used a biometric to unlock their device in

4 hours.

• The device has received a remote lock command

• The user exited power off / Emergency SOS by pressing and holding either volume button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously for 2 seconds and then pressing Cancel.

• There were five unsuccessful biometric match attempts (though for usability, the device might offer entering a passcode or password instead of using biometrics after a smaller number of failures).

When Face ID with a mask is enabled on an iPhone, it’s available for the next 6.5 hours after one of the following user actions:

• Successful Face ID match attempt (with or without a mask)

• Device passcode validation

• Device unlock with Apple Watch

Any of these actions extends the period by an additional 6.5 hours when performed.

Six digit passcodes became default many years ago. It is perhaps likely that at the time you did in fact set a six digit passcode - and by your own admission of having not used it for some years, may have forgotten both setting a six-digit code, and the passcode itself. Either way, nothing changes the steps required to recover access to - and use of - your iPad. Use of a computer may now be required to recover access to your iPad.

Be aware that an iPad will be disabled or indicate that it is unavailable if an incorrect Passcode is entered too many times.

A forgotten or unknown iPhone/iPad passcode cannot be recovered - and neither can it be reset or modified from another device. If you see a waiting period you can wait and try again to input the correct Passcode; otherwise, the iPad must be restored.

You may find this support page to be helpful:

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

iPadOS 17 or later with a forgotten Passcode

If you have changed your passcode in iOS/iPadOS 17 and later - and have since forgotten the new Passcode - you may be able to recover access using your previous Passcode. Passcode Reset gives you 72 hours to use your old Passcode to access your device; when you access your device in this way, you must change your passcode again immediately:

Temporarily use your old passcode when you forget your new passcode on iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

If you cannot use the new Passcode Reset feature, you must use another method.

iOS/iPadOS 15.2 or later with a forgotten Passcode

Apple has introduced a procedure with which to reset an iPad or iPhone with a forgotten Passcode - allowing you to use your AppleID and associated Password to reset your device.

How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support

You will be able to restore data from a pre-existing iCloud backup without the use of a computer, but will require a PC/Mac to restore data from an iTunes backup.

iPadOS 15.1 and earlier - and all devices that are Disabled



If your iPhone/iPad indicates that it is disabled/unavailable/locked-out, or you have forgotten your iPad passcode, you have no alternative other than to follow this process:

If you’ve forgotten the passcode on your iPad, or your iPad is disabled – Apple Support

You’ll need access to either a Windows PC (with iTunes for Windows installed -or more recent Apple Device App) or a Mac computer (with iTunes or Finder - as appropriate for the installed version of macOS).

Download and use iTunes for Windows – Apple Support

Update to the latest version of iTunes – Apple Support

Apple Devices App (Windows PC):

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9np83lwlpz9k?hl=en-ms&gl=MS

Use of a PC or Mac is unavoidable. If you don’t have access to a suitable computer of your own, that of a helpful friend or family member will suffice. Alternatively, the technicians at the Genius Bar of your local Apple Store will be delighted to assist:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Thank you for reaching out. 🤗

To unlock an iPad after forgetting the passcode, you need to erase it and restore it.

Use Apple’s official guide: How to reset your iPad and your passcode using your Mac or PC for step‑by‑step instructions.

Learn how to restore your iPad from a backup for step‑by‑step instructions.

Contact Information:

• United States: 1-800-APLCARE.
• Contact Support.

Additional Support:

• iPad Support.
• iPad User Guide.

Good luck! 👋🏼😉

Smiliñ 😎 Brian

Steve_in_San_Diego wrote:

All these kind people explaining how to reset my iPad. I already knew that. But I do not want to reset it.

I understand the need for secuirty. I do not understand the need for Apple to brick a device for loss of a pin code. I can recover a credit card or almost anything else without having to lose my credit history or bank accounts. This would be easy to fix using my Apple account password and ID verify on other Apple devices owned.

Not allowing that is an unnecessary way of almost forcing bricking of a working device, iCloud backup notwithstanding. Sounds like a marketing decision - not an engineering decision.

Whether you wish to reset the iPad or not, if the Passcode is unknown or has been forgotten, your only available option is to reset the iPad. To reiterate, a forgotten or unknown iPhone/iPad passcode cannot be recovered - and neither can it be reset or modified from another device.

Your iPad uses an encrypted filesystem, the only copy of the encryption keys required to access any data is securely stored within the iPad's security chip. Your device passcode unlocks the security chip - which in turn releases the encryption keys necessary to decrypt and access the encrypted filesystem. If you don't have the Passcode, you can't unlock the security chip - and therefore all locally stored data remains beyond reach of everyone.

By design, not even Apple can circumvent this security measure.

A four-digit PIN is not changed to a six-digit PIN (passcode) just on it's own and out of the blue with an update. Someone needed to have changed it.

Disregarding that, the passcode is the lowest-level security access to the iPad. Touch ID access is secondary to the PIN and is a "convenience" to the user. If you don't know the PIN, you will need to follow the instructions below:

How to reset your iPad and your passcode using your Mac or PC

The escalating delay is intended to prevent a brute-force attack. After ten wrong passcodes, the iPad will be disabled - at which point a crypto-erase occurs automatically. After the cryptographic keys are erased, all locally stored data is permanently beyond reach.

Passcode entry delay schedule

• 1–3 incorrect attempts: No time delay.
• 4th incorrect attempt: 1-minute lockout delay.
• 5th incorrect attempt: 5-minute lockout delay.
• 6th incorrect attempt: 15-minute lockout delay.
• 7th incorrect attempt: 1-hour lockout delay.
• 8th incorrect attempt: 3-hour lockout delay.
• 9th incorrect attempt: 8-hour lockout delay.
• 10 or more incorrect attempts: The iPad becomes completely unavailable/disabled and must be reset/restored

Continued...

While recovering access to your iPad, you may encounter an Activation Lock.

Activation Lock

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 Apple Account (previously known as an 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 (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 introduced a 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.

Apple Account (AppleID)

You may also need your Apple Account (AppleID) and associated password. If these have also been forgotten, they can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

More information about recovery of your AppleID and associated Password:

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Bottom line is that if you use a passcode, it's your responsibility to remember it in some way (written down, in a password storage app, etc).

You also have the option of NOT using a passcode at all if you choose.

Apple touts the security of one's data on a device as the utmost of importance. In some ways, it may be overkill but that's the cost of security.