iPad is Disabled Connect to iTunes? 7 Ways to Unlock It

User Concern

“My son entered the wrong password  too many times and now the iPad is locked, it shows only a message...iPad is disabled connect to iTunes. I'm connected now to iTunes and the iPad is connected to the computer but don't know what to do next...”

iPad will disable itself when entered the wrong passcode too many times  to prevent any unauthorized access. If you entered the wrong passcodes for 6 times, you will get the message saying "iPad is disabled. Try again". If you still entered the incorrect passwords for more times, the error message of "iPad is disabled connect to iTunes" will come up.

What to do if your iPad has been accidentally disabled by a child or friend? Don't worry, there are steps you can take to restore or reset the device. In this article, we'll explain why your iPad is disabled and show you how to fix the issue with ease.

Why Is Your iPad Disabled?

As we mentioned above, you'll end up with a disabled iPad if you enter the incorrect passcode too many times. Here' how the error messages tie into the number of wrong passcode attempts:

• 6 incorrect attempts: iPad is disabled. Try again in 1 minute.
• 7 incorrect attempts: iPad is disabled. Try again in 5 minutes.
• 8 incorrect attempts: iPad is disabled. Try again in 15 minutes.
• 9 incorrect attempts: iPad is disabled. Try again in 60 minutes.
• 10 incorrect attempts: iPad is disabled. Connect to iTunes.

Once your iPad has been disabled, you will have to connect the device to iTunes and restore it, which deletes your data and settings including the passcode. Below, we will show you a couple ways to unlock and fix disabled iPad.

Way 1: Unlock Disabled iPad with iTunes or Finder

If you have synced your iPad with iTunes or Finder previously, you can connect your disabled iPad to iTunes/Finder to restore the device. Doing this will erase the iPad, but you can recover your data if you've made backup. Here's how to do it:

1. Connect your iPad to your computer with a USB cable. Open iTunes or Finder and it will start syncing the device.
2. Once the backup and sync is complete, click on "Restore iPad" to restore the device.

The restore process will take a few minutes. After that, you can choose to restore your iPad from a backup or set it up as a new device.

Way 2: Unlock Disabled iPad in Recovery Mode

Putting your iPad into recovery mode is a well-trodden technique to wipe all the data and settings on the device, including the screen password. It is worth to  try if you have never synced iPad with iTunes or Find My iPad is disabled. Follow the steps below to unlock disabled iPad in recovery mode:

Step 1: Launch iTunes if you are using a Windows computer or Finder if you are using a Mac.

Step 2: Then put your iPad in recovery mode using the buttons.

• For iPad with Face ID, keep holding the Top button and Volume Down button to turn off the device. Connect the device to computer while pressing the Top button until the recovery mode screen appears.
• For iPad with Home button or Touch ID, turn off the iPad and connect the device to computer while holding the Top button. Keep holding the button until you see the recovery mode screen.

Step 3: iTunes/Finder will detect your iPad being in Recovery mode and provide you with the options to Restore or Update.

Step 4: Choose "Restore" and iTunes or Finder will download software for your iPad and install it. Wait for the restore process to complete, then you can set up and use your iPad.

Pros:

• If you have a backup for your iPad, you can retrieve the device data or fix most iPad issues by restoring the backup.

Cons:

• You must own a computer to perform this method. Or, this method will not be feasible for you.
• If unfortunately, you didn’t back up the iPad with computer, you will lost all the device data after the process.
• The steps are not that eay to follow. If the process to download the new software takes up to 15 minutes, the iPad will exit Recovery mode automatically. You will have to repeat the steps in step 2 to put the device in recovery mode again.

Way 3: Unlock a Disabled iPad without iTunes or iCloud

Indeed, here is the most reliable way that I highly recommend to you to fix "iPad is disabled connect to iTunes" without iTunes or passcode. Generally, it is more efficient to fix this kind of iPad issues with a 3rd-party tool.

FoneGeek iPhone Passcode Unlocker provides easy and fast way to unlock disabled iPad without the assistance of iTunes. And its user-friendly interface will not require you to have professional skills to operate. Following are the main features of this iPhone unlocking tool:

• This software can unlock disabld or locked iPhone/iPad/iPod touch without passcode or iTunes.
• It can help to remove Apple ID/iCloud account from iPhone or iPad without password.
• Supports to remove all kinds of screen locks, including 4-digit/6-digit passcode, Touch ID and Face ID.
• The unlocking process is very easy and smooth. You will not have any problems when using this program.
• Works well with all models of iPad and iPhone, including iPad Pro, iPad Air 4/3/2, iPad mini 4/3/2, iPhone 15/14, etc and iOS 17/16.
• It is highly recommended by iLounge, JustWebWorld, iGeekPhone and many other media sites.

Now following the step-by-step guide to unlock disabled iPad with FoneGeek iPhone Passcode Unlocker:

Step 1. You need to have this program installed on your computer. Then run it and opt for "Unlock Screen Passcode" feature.

Step 2. Get the disabled iPad connected with your computer and follow the on-screen instructions to put the device into Recovery/DFU mode.

Step 3. When the iPad is recognized, all available iOS firmware package will be loaded on the interface. Choose the matching one and then click on "Download".

Step 4. When the download completes, click on "Start Unlock" to begin the unlocking process. Your iPad will restart and the screen password will also be removed.

Way 4: Unlock Disabled iPad with iCloud Find My

If you're unable to access iTunes/Finder, or your iPad is lost or stolen, you can erase your iPad using iCloud. To do this, you should have previously enabled Find My on the iPad. Note this will erase all the data on the iPad, but you can restore your data if you have made backup before.

1. Go to iCloud.com/find on your browser and login in with your Apple ID and password.
2. After signing in, click on "Find My iPad" and choose your iPad from the "All Devices" list.
3. Now click on "Erase iPad" and then click "Erase" again to confirm, all the iPad information including password will be wiped completely.
4. Your iPad will reboot and you can now access to the device and set it up.

Pros:

• You can use this method even though there is no computer in hand.
• It is one of the Apple's official method to unlock disabled iPad and the whole process is very simple.

Cons:

• Unless you have a backup, you will lose all the data on your iPad.
• The device needs to be connected to the internet for this method to work.
• This method only works if you have enabled Find My on the iPad.

Way 5: Unlock Disabled iPad Using Hard Reset

Hard resettig the iPad will resolve most problems coming large or small. And according to the users from Apple Community, this way could be helpful to fix the iPad disabled problem with ease. To hard reset your iPad, ensure the device isn't connected to a computer and then follow the steps below:

• For iPad with Face ID: Press and hold the Top button and either the Volume Up button or Volume Down button until the power off slider appears. Drag the slide to turn off your iPad. Then press and hold the Top button to turn your iPad back on.

• For iPad with Home Button: Press and hold the Top button until the power off slide appears. Drag the slide to turn off your iPad. Then keep holding the Top button to turn on your iPad.

Pros:

• There is no need to use a computer to perform this method.
• Quick and easy to perfrom.

Cons:

• No one can guarantee that it always works.

Way 6: Erase iPad Using the Security Lockout

If your iPad is running iPadOS 15.2 or later, there is a chance that you can use the Security Lockout feature to erase all the data on the device and therefore unlock it. Follow these steps to use this method;

Step 1: Enter the wrong passcode several times until you see the “Try Again Later” prompt. You should also see the “Erase iPad” option at the bottom of the screen.

Step 2: Tap on “Erase iPad” twice to confirm that this is what you want to do.

Step 3: When prompted, enter the Apple ID and password for the device and then tap “Erase iPad” again for the process to begin.

Step 4: When the process is complete, your device will restart and you can set it up again. You should also be able to restore any data from an iCloud backup.

Pros:

• It  is very similar to the iCloud method, but Find My doesn’t need to be enabled on the iPad, and you won’t need to connect the device to the computer at any stage.

Cons:

• Your iPad will however need to be connected to the internet for this method to work and you will need to enter your Apple ID and password.
• This feature is also only available for iPad  running iPadOS 15. 2 or later.

Way 7: Contact Apple to Unlock Disabled iPad

It is also advisedly to contact Apple Store for technique support if the above solutions don't work. But you'd better make sure whether your iPad is under guarantee or not. If it is under guarantee, the Apple tech support will help you unlock disabled iPad for free. Or it could be costly.

The Bottom Line

This article details the 7 methods that you can use to fix an iPad that is disabled after entering the wrong password too many times. But these are not the only solutions out there for this particular problem.

After trying most of them, I’ve found that FoneGeek iPhone Passcode Unlocker is one of the best ways to unlock a disabled iPad. Just download the software and follow the instructions and you should have a working iPad in just a few minutes.