iPad Unavailable No Forgot Passcode Option? 5 Fixes!

It’s disappointing when you forget your iPad screen passcode. However, it can be worse if your iPad says “iPad Unavailable,” but there is no “Forgot Passcode” option. This issue has surged recently among iPad users who are running iPadOS 17 and above.

If you’ve encountered the same dilemma, find the solutions in this article. Before learning the proven methods, we’ll explore the possible causes behind the issue.

Why Does Your iPad Not Give You the Forgot Password Option?

You should have some prerequisites if you want to see the “Forgot Passcode” option. Those are also the reasons why the “Forgot Passcode” option is missing when your iPad is unavailable.

• You can only see the “Forgot Passcode” option on iPadOS 17 and later.
• The “Forgot Passcode” relies on the network connection. If your iPad doesn’t connect to the network, it won’t show the option.
• Before your iPad is locked, you should have enabled the “Find My” feature.
• MDM restricts the "Forgot Passcode" feature.

How to Fix the "iPad Unavailable No Forgot Passcode Option" Error

In a nutshell, you can see the “Forgot Passcode” option when your iPad is unavailable under the following circumstances: your iPad is running iPadOS 17 or later; your iPad is connected to WiFi or cellular network; you’ve enabled the “Find My” feature before it gets locked. If you’ve met these requirements, you can tap on the “Forgot Passcode” option, sign in with your Apple ID, and reset your device without data loss. If not, you need to take other measures to unlock your iPad.

1. Wait for the Countdown Timer

If there is a countdown timer, wait for a few minutes until the timer disappears. When the timer expires, you can try to enter the screen passcode again. This works if you still remember your screen passcode.

Then you may wonder how long you have to wait when your iPad is unavailable. The specific duration depends on how many incorrect attempts at the passcode you’ve entered.

• The 4th Incorrect Attempt: iPad Unavailable, try again in 1 minute.
• The 5th Incorrect Attempt: iPad Unavailable, try again in 5 minutes.
• The 6th Incorrect Attempt: iPad Unavailable, try again in 15 minutes.
• The 7th Incorrect Attempt: iPad Unavailable, try again in 1 hour.
• The 8th Incorrect Attempt: iPad Unavailable, try again in 3 hours.
• The 9th Incorrect Attempt: your iPad is unavailable, and try again in 8 hours.

If the timer on the “iPad Unavailable” screen isn’t counting down, or you still can’t remember the screen passcode, proceed with one of the following unlocking methods.

2. Use an iPhone Unlocker

If you’re facing an iPad or iPhone unlocking issue, you’re highly recommended to use an iPhone unlocking tool. Popular solutions like BuhoUnlocker allow you to get rid of the screen passcode when traditional methods fail to work. With it, you can bypass various screen passcodes such as Face ID, Touch ID, numeric passcode, and alphanumeric passcode.

No matter if you’re stuck on an unresponsive Touch ID or your iPad is disabled, you can use BuhoUnlocker to unlock your device. By putting your iDevices into recovery mode and downloading the firmware package, BuhoUnlocker unlocks your iPhone and iPad in minutes. Despite unlocking the screen passcode, BuhoUnlocker also helps you remove Apple ID, remove Screen Passcode, and bypass the MDM profile.

Here's how it works:

Step 2. Connect your iPad to the computer and choose the Unlock Screen Passcode option from the home screen.

Step 5. Tap on the “Unlock Now” button to initiate the process.

3. Connect Your iPad to iTunes or Finder

You can also restore your iPad to factory settings by connecting it to iTunes or Finder. This is also a common way of bypassing the screen passcode.

When you connect your iPad or iPhone to a computer, you can force your device into recovery mode. When your device is in this mode, it can reset and erase all data and settings. Then your device will start like a fresh new one. As this method will erase all data on your iPad, make sure you’ve set up a backup of your data in advance.

Here is how to unlock your disabled iPad with iTunes or Finder:

1. Connect your iPad to a computer with iTunes for Windows or Finder for macOS 10.15 or later.
2. Turn off your iPad and boot it into recovery mode by pressing a combination of buttons:
   • For iPads without a Home button: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Top button until the recovery mode screen appears.
   • For iPads with a Home button: Press and hold both the Home button and Top (or Side) button until the recovery mode screen appears.

     

3. In the interface of iTunes or Finder, click on the Restore button. This will erase all data and restore your iPad to factory settings.

   

4. Erase iPad with iCloud Find My Feature

If you don’t expect to connect your iPad to the computer, you can also use iCloud’s “Find My” feature on another device to unlock your iPad remotely.

It leverages Apple’s cloud-based infrastructure to send a command to your iPad, enabling you to manage your device and regain access to it. However, the prerequisite is that you have turned on the “Find My” feature before it becomes locked, and your iPad has a network connection. Besides, it’s noted that this method will delete all data and settings.

1. Visit the iCloud website on another device.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID and password associated with your iPad.
3. Click Find My, then choose your iPad from the list of devices and click the “Erase This Device” option.

5. Contact Apple Support

If your iPad is still locked after you’ve tried the solutions mentioned above, contact Apple Support. They can help you unlock your iDevices in certain conditions. Tell them your situation, provide the ownership of your device, and ask them to guide you through the process of remotely erasing your iPad. They may provide further assistance according to your specific situation. However, you should bear in mind that other methods can also cause data loss.

Conclusion

It’s frustrating to find no “Forgot Passcode” option when your iPad is unavailable. Wait for a few minutes until the countdown timer disappears, and then try to enter the passcode again.

However, if you can’t remember the passcode, try an unlocking tool (for example, BuhoUnlocker), restore the iPad via iTunes/Finder, or use iCloud’s Find My to remove the lock. If those fail, contact Apple Support.