Top 5 Ways to Factory Reset iPad without iCloud Password

User Concern

I have an iPad used in a school setting. A student no longer at this school signed in with her iCloud account. Now I'm unable to reset this iPad and remove this iCloud account. I cannot sign out of iCloud account without password. Please help me get out of this loop.

The following are some situations where you need to factory reset your iPad:

• You placed an order of a second-hand iPad and finally found that the device was locked with an iCloud account.
• You set up your iPad with your iCloud account a long time ago, and you forgot the iCloud password when you wanted to reset the device.
• You got a new iPad and decided to send the old one to your friend as a gift, but you can’t recall any clues of the iCloud password.
• Your iPad is disabled after entering the wrong password several times, and you need to reset it to the factory resettings.

If you have found yourself in a scenario where you have to factor reset your iPad, don't worry, there are several options to do that. However, things could be difficult if you forget the iCloud password. In this article, we will show you how to factory reset iPad without iCloud password.

Part 1. Factory Reset iPad without iCloud Password

The solutions from this part allow you to reset iPad without iCloud password.

Using Recovery Mode

You can easily factory reset iPad without iCloud password by putting it in recovery mode. This is an effective solution especially if you haven't synced the device with iTunes. But the iPad data will be cleared out during the process. The following should be noted before getting started.

• A computer used to sync with iPad is required.
• iPad should be synced with iTunes before.
• Update iTunes to the latest version.

Step 1: Connect the iPad to the computer using a USB cable and launch iTunes if it doesn't automatically open.

Step 2: Then force restart the iPad by following the steps below.

• For iPad with Face ID/Touch ID: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then do the same with the Volume Down button. Keep pressing the Top button until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPad with Home Button: Press and hold the Top button and the Home button together and release them when you see the Apple logo on the screen.

Step 3: When a message pops up in iTunes indicating that a device in recovery mode has been detected, click "OK". Click on "Restore" and set it up as new once the restore process is complete.

Reset iPad by Removing iCloud Account without Password

If you are unable to access the iPad in any way when the device is locked or disabled, the only viable way to unlock the device would be using an iPhone/iPad Unlocking tool. One of the best is FoneGeek iPhone Passcode Unlocker. This tool is the most ideal solution for resetting a locked iOS device since it will allow you to remove the Apple ID and iCloud account without knowing the password.

Here are the detailed steps to factory reset iPad without iCloud password;

Step 1: Download and install FoneGeek iPhone Passcode Unlocker tool on your computer. Once it is installed successfully, open it and in the main interface, select "Unlock Screen Password" to begin the unlocking process.

Step 2: Now connect the locked/disabled iPad that you want to reset to the computer using USB cable.

Wait for the program to detect the device. If not, you can follow the on-screen instructions to put the iPad into Recovery or DFU mode.

Step 3: Once the device has been detected, click on "Download" and the program will start downloading the matching firmware for the iPad.

Step 4: When the download is complete, click on "Start Unlock" and the program will immediately begin unlocking the device. A progress bar on the screen will help you keep track of the unlocking process.

When it is complete, a pop-up will appear notifying you that the process is complete. You can now check if the device has been unlocked.

Check the Key Features of FoneGeek iPhone Passcode Unlocker:

• It can quickly remove iCloud account from any activated iPad without password.
• Useful for unlocking screen passwords for both iPhone and iPad, including 4-digit/6-digit passcode, Touch ID, Face ID, etc.
• Compatible with all iOS device models as well as all versions of the iOS firmware including iPhone 15/14/13 and iOS 17/16.
• It is very easy to use, with an intuitive interface and a simple click- through process that allows you to unlock the device in just a few minutes.
• This program is highly recommended by D-addicts, GetDroidTips, Twitgoo, iLounge, Knowtechie and many other media sites.

Part 2. Factory Reset iPad with iCloud Password

Reset iPad from Settings

You can easily factory reset iPad without iCloud password via the Settings app. Before looking at the steps, there are a few heads-up you shouldn’t miss;

• After factory resetting your iPad, all the data will be removed permanently. It would be a good choice is you decided to sell your iPad.
• To prevent important data from being erased, you can back up the iPad data with iTunes regularly.

The process to factory reset iPad from Settings is quite easy and works most time. Follow these simple steps to do it;

• Open the Settings app on your iPad and  tap on General > Reset.
• Now tap on "Erase All Contents and Settings" to begin resetting the device to factory settings.
• Choose the "Backup Then Erase" or "Erase Now" options depending on your needs.
• Confirm the action by tapping "Erase iPad" and then tap "Erase".

Once the iPad has been completely erased, the device will restart, allowing you to set it up as a new device.

Factory Reset iPad with iTunes

iTunes’s inbuilt feature allows us to reinstall the iPad’s system and remove all the data and settings.  And the iPad will be reset to factory settings after that. Here's what you need to do;

• Open iTunes and then connect the iPad to the computer using USB cables. If you are using a Mac running on macOS Catalina 10.15, launch Finder.
• Tap on the iPad icon when it appears in iTunes or Finder and click the "Summary/General" tab. Then click on "Restore iPad".

To some extent, iTunes is a reliable tool to factory reset iPad. However, several errors such as "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. You do not have permission" always pop up when using iTunes. And the existing data on the iPad will be overwritten.

Note

When the resetting process is done, the instructions on the iPad screen will prompt you to activate your iPad. The next step is to enter your Apple ID and password. However, your iPad may be stuck if you forgot the Apple ID password. Bypassing the iCloud lock may be necessary.

Contact the Previous Owner to Reset iPad

If you don't have the iCloud password because the iPad is a second-hand device and the owner neglected to give you the password, the easiest way to factory reset the iPad would be to contact the previous owner and ask them to provide the password. You can also ask them to reset the iPad for you remotely. The following are the steps they can take to do that:

• Go to iCloud.com and then use their credentials to sign in to iCloud.
• Click on "Find iPhone" and then click on "All Devices".
• Select the iPad and then click on "Erase iPad" button. Click on "Erase" to confirm the action.

The iPad will be erased and you can now set it up as new using your own Apple ID and password. If the previous owner of the iPad gives you the password, then you can easily reset the device using the settings as described in Part 1 above.

Conclusion

Whether your iPad is locked or unlocked, you can refer to the 5 solutions mentioned above to factory reset iPad without iCloud password. It is worth noting that factory resetting the device using any of the methods will result in data loss.