My iPad is disabled, but I know the passcode.. When i connect it to iTunes it says it can't access it because it has a passcode. How can i get rid of the passcode without resetting the iPad? And if there is no way to do so, how do I completely reset it?

My iPad is disabled, but I know the passcode.. When i connect it to iTunes it says it can't access it because it has a passcode. How can i get rid of the passcode without resetting the iPad? And if there is no way to do so, how do I completely reset it?

Posted on Jan 10, 2014 4:47 PM

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4 replies

Jan 10, 2014 4:53 PM in response to eeeeeeelerojgpw

The only way to get rid of the passcode is Settings > General > Passcode Locke Off but will require the passcode to do the off once it has been turned on.


If it is disabled and you cannot get iTunes to recognize the passode you will have to go to restore via recovery mode following the directions in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1212 unless you have iOS 7 installed.

Jan 10, 2014 4:58 PM in response to eeeeeeelerojgpw

eeeeeeelerojgpw wrote:


My iPad is disabled, but I know the passcode.. When i connect it to iTunes it says it can't access it because it has a passcode.


1) Connect to iTunes on the computer you usually Sync with and Restore...


http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414



2) If necessary Place the Device into Recovery mode...


http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4097


Note on Recovery Mode.


You may need to try this More than Once... Be sure to Follow ALL the Steps...


Once you have Recovered your Device...


Re-Sync your Content or Restore from the most Recent Backup...


Restore from Backup > http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766

Jan 10, 2014 5:42 PM in response to eeeeeeelerojgpw

How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/ipad-troubleshooting-repair-faq/ipad- how-to-unlock-open-forgot-code-passcode-password-login.htmlhttp://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ipad/ipad-troubleshooting-repair-faq/ipad- how-to-unlock-open-forgot-code-passcode-password-login.html


iOS: Device disabled after entering wrong passcode

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1212http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1212


How can I unlock my iPad if I forgot the passcode?

http://tinyurl.com/7ndy8tbhttp://tinyurl.com/7ndy8tb


How to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device

http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Forgotten-Password-for-an-iOS-Devicehttp://www.wikihow.com/Reset-a-Forgotten-Password-for-an-iOS-Device


Using iPhone/iPad Recovery Mode

http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/a/Iphone-Recovery-Mode.htmhttp://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/a/Iphone-Recovery-Mode.htm

You may have to do this several times.


Saw this solution on another post about an iPad in a school environment. Might work on your iPad so you won't lose everything.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

‘iPad is disabled’ fix without resetting using iTunes


Today I met my match with an iPad that had a passcode entered too many times, resulting in it displaying the message ‘iPad is disabled – Connect to iTunes’. This was a student iPad and since they use Notability for most of their work there was a chance that her files were not all backed up to the cloud. I really wanted to just re-activate the iPad instead of totally resetting it back to our default image.

I reached out to my PLN on Twitter and had some help from a few people through retweets and a couple of clarification tweets. I love that so many are willing to help out so quickly. Through this I also learned that I look like Lt. Riker from Star Trek (thanks @FillineMachine).

Through some trial and error (and a little sheer luck), I was able to reactivate the iPad without loosing any data. Note, this will only work on the computer it last synced with. Here’s how:

1. Configurator is useless in reactivating a locked iPad. You will only be able to completely reformat the iPad using Configurator. If that’s ok with you, go for it – otherwise don’t waste your time trying to figure it out.

2. Open iTunes with the iPad disconnected.

3. Connect the iPad to the computer and wait for it to show up in the devices section in iTunes.

4. Click on the iPad name when it appears and you will be given the option to restore a backup or setup as a new iPad (since it is locked).

5. Click ‘Setup as new iPad’ and then click restore.

6. The iPad will start backing up before it does the full restore and sync. CANCEL THE BACKUP IMMEDIATELY. You do this by clicking the small x in the status window in iTunes.

7. When the backup cancels, it immediately starts syncing – cancel this as well using the same small x in the iTunes status window.

8. The first stage in the restore process unlocks the iPad, you are basically just canceling out the restore process as soon as it reactivates the iPad.


If done correctly, you will experience no data loss and the result will be a reactivated iPad. I have now tried this with about 5 iPads that were locked identically by students and each time it worked like a charm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Try it and good luck. You have nothing more to lose if it doesn't work for you.


 Cheers, Tom 😉

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My iPad is disabled, but I know the passcode.. When i connect it to iTunes it says it can't access it because it has a passcode. How can i get rid of the passcode without resetting the iPad? And if there is no way to do so, how do I completely reset it?

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