Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I don't understand why you have to wipe the iPad to get it unlocked. My 8 year old son locked it and I have work docs on there. If I can prove who I am and I can open my email account, the device is linked to, can I get it unlocked or retrieve the data?
iPad
There is no other way to unlock it other than restoring it which erases the device. Apple can't restore it for you. Of course you can try all four digit combinations until you come across the one your son used or your can ask your son to unlock it for you.
You have learned the hard way that it is probably not a good idea to let a child play with a device which contains important information.
patienceisavirtue wrote:
I have work docs on there.
I'm guessing these documents are important to you and/or your company. So either you and/or your company has them backed up, right? Then you can always restore the backup of these documents once the iPad is unlocked.
Once the iPad has locked because of incorrect Passcode entries you have no choice. You need to restore the iPad. This does erase all data but you can recover this from a recent backup that you made either through iCloud or iTunes. If you do not backup your iPad once you restore it begin a regular back up routine.
Forgot passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled - Apple Support
This is considered a security feature, it makes it so if your iPad is stolen there is no backdoor into your data other then the passcode
if your data is super important you could send it to a data recovery lab and pay them at least several hundred dollars to direct the device and try and read the data directly from the memory.
How do I unlock my iPad without losing my data?
