Need quick access to your iPad when you forgot the passcode? Learn how to unlock your iPad passcode when locked with Apple's routes and third-party solution to regain control of it.
Your coffee is brewed. You lie on the chair. You go to unlock your iPad, but it refuses — all you see is a black screen asking you to try again. If you enter the wrong passcode repeatedly, you may get a message like "iPad is disabled" or "iPad unavailable."
Things get tricky when you have forgotten the iPad passcode. The device triggers security lockout state automatically when it detects unusual passcode attempts. Unfortunately, to unlock an iPad passcode that you really forget, you have to erase the iPad and restore it to its factory settings.
The ways of unlocking iPad passcode you forget will differ based on which model you're using and what version of iPadOS is running; in this post, we'll cover all Apple routes for iPads with or without Face ID. With this caveat in mind, here are options to unlock iPad and reset passcode if you're locked. For those looking for a quick way to unlock the unavailable iPad, check Higospot iPhone Unlocker, which can help users reset both iPhones and iPads easily, regardless of the situation.
Table of Contents
Mo matter what model and iPadOS version of iPad you have, you can follow Apple's official recovery process via a Mac/PC (Recovery Mode) to unlock an iPad without passcode, since that's the most universally applicable method.
Goal: To unlock iPad passcode, you need to erase and restore the iPad so you can set it up again.
1. Confirm you have a compatible Mac/PC, internet, and correct cable: 2 minutes.
2. Install/update iTunes/Apple Devices app on your Windows. For Mac computer, use Finder app: 5-10 minutes.
3. Power off iPad (method depends on model): 1 minute.
4. Enter Recovery Mode (button sequence varies by model): 2-5 minutes.
iPad with Face ID: Connect the device into your computer. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Top button.
iPad with Home button: Connect the device into your computer. Press and hold both the Top and Home buttons.
5. When computer detects iPad in Recovery Mode, release the button(s): 1 minute.
6. Open iTunes or Finder app on your computer: 1 minute.
7. Choose "Restore" in Finder/iTunes when prompted: 1 minute.
8. Wait for it to download iPadOS firmware: 15–60 minutes (depends on internet speed).
9. Erase and reinstall iPadOS: 5 - 10 minutes. Related: How to recover deleted photos on iPhone
10. iPad restarts to Setup Assistant: 1-2 minutes.
11. Sign in with Apple ID to clear Activation Lock: 2-5 minutes.
12. Restore from backup or set up as new: 10-20 minutes.
To avoid interruptions while unlocking your iPad and passcode, it's advisable that you charge your iPad and computer beforehand.
If you have trouble of entering recovery mode to unlock the iPad password you forgot, then you may consider a more efficient way. That's where the dedicated iPad unlocking app comes in play.
We prefer to use Higospot iPhone Unlocker. Don't let the name fool you, it's a universal tool to unlock screen locks for both iPad and iPhone models. You just install it on your computer, connect the iPad (or iPhone if locked), select "Wipe Passcode," then follow the onscreen wizard to unlock the device. The app also includes other features to enhance your experience of using Apple devices, such as the ability to remove Apple ID without password, get rid of remote management lock, remove SIM lock, reset Screen Time passcode, and more.
Goal: Erase the iPad completely to unlock the passcode.
1. Confirm you have a compatible Mac/PC, internet, and correct cable: 2 minutes.
2. Download and install the iPhone Unlocker on your computer: 3-5 minutes.
3. Launch the app, and select "Wipe Passcode" on the screen: 1 minute.
4. Connect your iPad to computer: 1 minute.
5. Confirm your model information: 1 minute.
6. Click the "Start" button and download firmware for your model: 5-10 minutes.
7. Reading the warning message and begin unlocking the iPad and password: 5-10 minutes.
During the process, you can monitor it by progress bar.
After the iPad is unlocked, follow the setup assistant to set your iPad up again: 5-10 minutes.
iPad with iPadOS 15.2+ software comes with an on-device to option to simplify the unlocking process if you forget iPad passcode.
Goal: Erase and restore the iPad to reset the forgotten passcode so you can regain access.
1. Confirm you have Find My enabled beforehand, and the iPad has active cellular or Wi-Fi connection: 1-2 minutes.
2. You know your Apple Account and password. If forgot, go to iforgot.apple.com to reset it: 1-5 minutes.
3. Keep entering random passcodes to iPad more than 5 times: 1-2 minutes.
4. When you see iPad unavailable screen, tap Forgot Passcode option in the bottom: 1 minute.
5. Tap Start iPad Reset to go on: 1 minute.
6. Enter your Apple Account password when prompted. If you forgot it, reset it on Apple webpage: 1-5 minutes.
7. Wait for the iPad resets itself to factory defaults: 10-15 minutes.
8. After resetting and unlocking the iPad passcode, set up the iPad again: 5-10 minutes.
Here's a step‑by‑step, remote‑only method to unlock an iPad passcode using Apple's official tools — specifically Find My iPad via iCloud.
Goal: Erase your iPad remotely to reset the passcode. (Apple account is required)
1. Prepare Your Apple ID Credentials: 1-5 minutes.
Make sure you have the Apple ID email and password for the locked iPad. If you've forgotten them, recover them first at Apple's iForgot site.
2. Access iCloud from Another Device: 1-2 minutes.
On any computer, tablet, or phone, open a browser and go to iCloud.com. Sign in with the same Apple ID.
3. Open Find My iPad: 2-3 minutes.
Once signed in, click Find iPhone (this also covers iPads). Wait for the map to load and show your devices associated with the same Apple account.
4. Select the locked iPad you need to unlock passcode.
From the All Devices menu at the top, choose your iPad. Ensure it shows as Online — if it's offline, the erase will start next time it connects to the internet.
5. Erase the iPad: 10-20 minutes.
Click Erase This Device. For security, Apple will ask you to re‑enter your Apple ID password.
If the iPad is online, the erase starts immediately. If it's offline, the erase command is queued and will run when it reconnects.
6. Set Up the iPad: 10-15 minutes.
Once erased, the iPad restarts to the Hello screen. Follow the setup prompts to clear Activation Lock and restore from an iCloud or computer backup, or set up as new.
Related： What does support.apple.com/passcode mean.
Note: This process erases everything. Always restore from a backup if you want your data back.
FAQs - Unlock iPad Passcode
