Level 1

111 points

How to unlock disabled iPad without restoring/resetting...?

Hello... :'(

My iPad has been disabled as I forgot the password and entered it wrong many times. I did some research and everyone said the only official way to unlock it is to restore or factory reset it. But I really need the information such as my camera roll. The thing is, why cant I unlock it using my apple id? All the apps and data on my ipad has been used and downloaded with my apple id. When I sign into my icloud, I can see my ipad as "offline". I can either erase my ipad, or activate the lost mode and the alarm. I thought maybe there must be a way to unlock my ipad since I have the apple id used to register it...? PLEASE... I really need my info so pls can anyone hep me? :'(((

iPad

Posted on Feb 8, 2014 10:31 AM

Top-ranking reply

Texas Mac Man

Level 8

47,205 points

Posted on Feb 8, 2014 12:45 PM

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.html

iOS: Device disabled after entering wrong passcode

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

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

http://tinyurl.com/7ndy8tb

How to Reset a Forgotten Password for an iOS Device

http://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.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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36 replies

Oct 17, 2017 3:05 PM in response to 2random4me

This is the stupidest security function ever. I support Apple very much but sorry this is ******** and I’m ****** off. UNLOCK WITH APPLE ID. I can’t prove an ownership of my iOS device when 6x wrong password?? I know back up back up... What if let’s say Im on vacation where internet ***** and my child disable iPad or iPhone with 100gb of videos on it. MacOS will ask my Apple ID and unlocks no matter what. Can someone explain to me, would it be less secure if there’s an opportunity to unlock iOS device with Apple ID password or some other ownership proving procedure. This happend to of my good customers, and she never gonna erase her iPad with tones of notes in it. Already bought a new one so she can work. Thanks

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,789 points

Feb 8, 2014 11:11 AM in response to DeletedUser

DeletedUser wrote:

Connect your iPad to your computer and transfer your stuff that way.

Won't work without the password.

Nov 21, 2015 1:24 AM in response to Polished2Perfection

Hey, I'm having difficulties understanding the procedure you recommended. Can you please re-explain in detail?

Nov 25, 2016 4:58 PM in response to 2random4me

bigrumph

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2016 2:41 PM in response to 2random4me

how to unlock disabled iPad without restoring/ resetting

Jun 14, 2017 6:41 PM in response to 2random4me

hello, my name is tracy i need help to

unlock my ipad

Aug 26, 2017 1:25 PM in response to 2random4me

i have the same problem

Nov 4, 2017 9:57 PM in response to Texas Mac Man

Does this work for Iphone too?

Nov 21, 2015 2:06 AM in response to Thomas Nathinge

For some reason, I can't post a new discussion. Hope it's okay if I post it here.
Hi, I have an iPad 4th generation and 2 days ago, it began having these touch screen problems. It first began as ghost touches on the top left corner of the screen, and then the touch screen stopped working completely. Later on, the touch screen began working, everywhere but the center of the screen (where the passcode is entered). I figured that if I applied pressure at certain parts of the screen, a few numbers would be entered. All in all, my iPad is disabled now and I have to connect to iTunes. Except, when I do connect to iTunes, it says it needs the password. I don't know what to do. Please help? Both with the touch screen and the disabling.
Thank you 🙂

Feb 22, 2016 8:19 PM in response to SengLoke

First, Apple is not here, this is a user to user technical support forum. Secondly, keeping data on your device without backing it up is asking for problems. What if the device is stolen? What if it is dropped in a lake or run over? You would be in exactly the same boat.

You can always look into a 3rd party recovery service, but the way that a forgotten passcode and a disabled device is managed is not going to change. Many people have the option set up to actually erase the device if the passcode is attempted more than 10 times. This is just how it works.

Setting up automatic backups to iCloud is easy and requires little or no effort on the part of the device owner. Automatic import of your photos or use of the iCloud Photo Library also provide you with alternative and effortless ways to keep your data safe.

And if you have issues with syncing with iCloud, then iTunes has always been a a resource not only to back up your device, but, to keep all of your purchases safe. If you have purchased media and you do not keep a copy of it in your iTunes library, then if that media is pulled from the iTunes store, you will lose it.

If your data is valuable to you, then keeping on a small, portable, electronic device with no backup is going to end in problems one way or the other.

Best of luck,

Dec 9, 2016 9:18 PM in response to Marina Mata

If you restore as new, then yes - it deletes everything.

If you restore from an iTunes or iCloud backup, and you are not using iCloud Photo Library, then it restores your Camera Roll.

Once you sign into iCloud, all of your iCloud-sync'd data is restored: Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Reminders, iCloud Drive files and folders, and, if you are using iCloud Photo Library, then your photos that are in the library.

Cheers,

Dec 19, 2016 6:25 PM in response to 2random4me

i am going through the same predicament however if i am able to find some sort of solution i will make sure i reply? however from looking at the age of this request i begin to wonder whether you have found a solution to your issue and what was it ?

Dec 16, 2016 5:35 PM in response to bigrumph

You can't. You must erase your device using one of the methods provided here: If you see the Connect to iTunes, or you forgot your passcode, or your device is disabled - Apple Support

Best of luck,

Nov 4, 2017 10:06 PM in response to shadowcreek

Why not try it? You have nothing to lose. And from the instructions provided, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't.

Be aware, however, that the response you are asking about was posted almost 4 years ago. No way to know if you still would be able to do it with any iOS device.

You are sure that you don't have a backup in iCloud?

Cheers,

Feb 8, 2014 10:55 AM in response to 2random4me

Connect your iPad to your computer and transfer your stuff that way.

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How to unlock disabled iPad without restoring/resetting...?