iPad Disabled? How to Unlock It with and without iTunes 2025

Your iPad might get disabled due to accidental pocket touches, a child entering the wrong passcode, or even your own mistakes, like forgetting your screen passcode.

If your iPad is unfortunately disabled and you don’t know what to do, this guide will walk you through how to unlock it with or without iTunes.

Why Is Your iPad Disabled?

Your iPad becomes disabled after multiple incorrect passcode attempts. The more wrong attempts you make, the longer you’ll have to wait.

After 10 failed attempts, you’ll be permanently locked out of your iPad.

Here are the incorrect attempt counts and corresponding wait times:

• For iOS 15.2 or earlier:

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

• For iOS 15.2 and later:

• 7 incorrect attempts: iPad Unavailable. Try again in 1 hour.
• 8 incorrect attempts: iPad Unavailable. Try again in 3 hours.
• 9 incorrect attempts: iPad Unavailable. Try again in 8 hours.
• 10 incorrect attempts: iPad Unavailable.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad with iTunes

The first method is to follow the on-screen instructions and connect to iTunes. This works well if you’re familiar with iTunes. You’ll need:

1. A USB cable
2. A computer
3. A cellular or Wi-Fi network

Unlocking with iTunes can happen in two ways—standard mode and recovery mode.

If your iPad has previously synced with your computer, you can unlock it in standard mode.

If not, you’ll need to enter recovery mode.

Restore iPad with iTunes in Standard Mode

★★★★

If your iPad has been trusted and synced before, you won’t need the screen passcode to connect to iTunes. You can also back up your iPad before restoring it.

Here's how:

1. Connect your disabled iPad to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
3. Click your iPad icon (top-left on Windows/sidebar on Mac).
4. Click Restore iPad and wait for the process to finish.
   

   

5. When complete, set up your iPad.

Restore iPad with iTunes in Recovery Mode

★★★★

If your iPad has never synced with your computer, you’ll need to use recovery mode to unlock it via iTunes.

Here’s how:

1. Connect your iPad to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Put your iPad into Recovery Mode.

• For iPads with a Home button:

Press and hold the Home and Power buttons. Release them when you see the “Connect to iTunes” screen.

• For iPads with Face ID:

Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Power button until the “Connect to iTunes” screen appears.

3. iTunes will detect that your iPad is in recovery mode. Click Restore.
   

   

4. Wait for the restore process to finish, then set up your iPad.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad without iTunes via BuhoUnlocker

★★★★☆

Want to unlock a disabled iPad without iTunes—or if iTunes just isn’t working?
You can use professional iPad unlocker software that works just as well.

BuhoUnlocker is one of the best iTunes alternatives for unlocking a disabled iPad. It’s a powerful iOS unlocking tool that has successfully helped many users unlock both iPads and iPhones.

Steps to unlock your disabled iPad with BuhoUnlocker:

1. Download and install BuhoUnlocker on your Mac or PC.
2. Launch it and click Unlock Screen Passcode.
   

   

3. Click Unlock Now.
   

   

4. Connect your iPad and put it into recovery mode.
   

   

5. Download the latest firmware, click Unlock Now, and wait for the process to complete.
   

   

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad without a Computer

★★★★☆

No computer? No problem!

If your iPad is running iPadOS 15.2 or later, you’ll see an Erase iPad option on the screen after 7 incorrect passcode attempts.

However, this method requires Find My to be enabled and an active internet connection. You’ll also need to sign in with your Apple ID.

Tap Erase iPad on your screen and follow the instructions to enter your Apple ID. Then tap Erase iPad again and set it up as new.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad Using Another iOS Device

★★★★

You can also unlock your iPad using the Find My feature on another iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
If you don’t have another device, you can borrow one from a friend or family member.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Find My app on another iOS device.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID, or tap Me > Help a Friend > Sign In > Use a Different Apple ID, then sign in.
3. Tap your iPad and choose Erase iPad.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad via iCloud

★★★★☆

Using iCloud is another reliable way to unlock a disabled iPad.
Go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple ID, select your disabled iPad, and click Erase iPad. This will reset it remotely.

How to Unlock a Disabled iPad without Losing Data

★★★☆

If your iPad is running iPadOS 8.0 to 10.1, there’s a clever trick to bypass the passcode using Siri—and it won’t erase your data.

Try this:

1. Press and hold the Home button to activate Siri.
2. Ask Siri to open an app.
3. Ask Siri to close the app, and your iPad should return to the Home Screen.

Conclusion

We understand how stressful it feels when your iPad is locked and you urgently need access.
Hopefully, this guide helps you successfully unlock your disabled iPad.

Once unlocked, set an easy-to-remember passcode or write it down somewhere safe to avoid getting locked out again.

Now, go ahead and try the methods above to unlock your disabled iPad!