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How to reset unavailable iPad - with or without a computer
Locked out with an 'iPad Unavailable' screen? Learn 5 proven ways to factory reset your iPad and unlock the passcode with or without a computer or Apple ID password.
Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker is a great alternative to factory reset the iPad when it says iPad Unavailable or Security Lockout, or when you forgot the passcode, in a way to remove the lock screen and recover instant access.
It doesn't have to be complicated to factory restore your unavailable iPad without the passcode.
Apple's security system will trigger by giving you an iPad Unavailable screen after you or someone enter the passcode incorrectly too many times. To protect your privacy, Apple requires a full factory reset to remove the lock screen when you forgot the iPad passcode.
In case your iPad screen displays iPad Unavailable with a timer or the tablet is permanently locked down with no timer after 10 failed passcode attempts, here're a few effective tricks on how to reset an unavailable iPad and get into the device again — whether you have a computer, remember your Apple Account credentials, have iCloud Find My enabled, or need a quick passcode unlocking tool.
This guide for resetting an iPad that's unavailable applies for all iPad models (including iPad Air, Pro, and mini) and all iPadOS versions.
Quick Answer: Which method should you use?
1. Forgot Passcode? option on the Lock Screen - No computer, For iPadOS 15.2 or later
Use your Apple Account and password to reset iPad and erase the Unavailable screen if forgotten the passcode - without cable connection.
2. Recovery Mode - PC or Mac with iTunes or Finder installed, All iPadOS versions
Use a computer to put the unavailable iPad into recovery mode, followed by restoring and erasing the whole device via iTunes or Finder.
3. Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker software - PC or Mac, All iPadOS versions
An all-in-one tool to unlock iPad if it says iPad Unavailable, Security Lockout, or you forgot the passcode - through a factory reset even without knowing Apple ID & password.
4. iCloud Find My - With or without a computer, All iPadOS versions
By logging into iCloud Find My website, you're able to remotely reset your unavailable iPad and permanently delete all data for a fresh setup - as long as Find My feature was enabled.
5. Passcode Reset - No computer or data loss, For iPadOS 17 or newer
If you recently changed the passcode and forgot it, the previous passcode remains active for 72 hours and can be used to reset the passcode for the unavailable iPad without erasing data.
iPad Unavailable. What does it mean?
As a solid security feature introduced in iPadOS 15.2 or later, iPad Unavailable message appears when the wrong passcode has been entered multiple times.
After you input the passcode wrong 5 times in a row, iPad will temporarily lock you out for 1 minute. If you completely forget the passcode and continue to enter the incorrect one when you try again, you have to wait anywhere from 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 3 hours, to 8 hours.
10 failed attempts will lead to a permanent lockout, and the device shows iPad Unavailable no timer - no passcode entry is accepted.
What to do if your iPad is unavailable?
If you remember the correct passcode, iPad Unavailable error should be fixed without doing a reset. Otherwise, the only way is to factory reset your iPad to be able to use it again. The process involves wiping all of content and settings including the passcode and returning iPad to its original factory settings, so you can set it up again.
As for data loss? If you have backed up your iPad, you can restore the previous backup to get back your stuff.
Below are five wired and wireless solutions guiding you to reset an iPad when unavailable without passcode. This works whether you truly forgot the iPad password or bought a second-hand phone that was still locked from the last user.
Way 1- Reset iPad Unavailable with Apple ID directly on the lock screen
To erase an unavailable iPad without a computer, the most convenient method is to utilize the on-screen Forgot Passcode (iPadOS 17 or later) or Erase iPad (iPadOS 15.2 to 16) option. This requires your iPad to be connected to Wi-Fi or cellular network and assumes you know your Apple ID credentials.
Apple makes the reset for an unavailable iPad a seamless process, and here's the detailed guide on factory resetting iPad using Forgot Passcode option in iPadOS 17 and later, and the steps are exactly the same when using Erase iPad option in iPadOS 15.2-16.
1. On the iPad Unavailable screen that shows up after you try entering the incorrect passcode repeatedly, tap Forgot Passcode? option at the bottom.
2. Tap Start iPad Reset button.
3. Enter your Apple Account password to log out of your account.
4. To confirm you really want to erase your iPad's lock screen, choose Erase iPad.
Once the factory reset begins, all your data is gone forever, and you are starting from scratch. There is no way to undo the reset, but you're able to get into your unavailable iPad - no passcode is required. You're good to restore the device from a backup or configure it as new.
Way 2- Unlock unavailable iPad without passcode or Apple ID
If you run into an awkward situation where iPad is unavailable and has no Forgot Passcode option provided for a direct reset due to the permanent lockout with 10 failed passcode guesses or outdated iPadOS version or whatever, it could be tricky but hope is not lost.
Specialized desktop software like Appgeeker iPhone Unlocker comes in handy to help factory reset your unavailable iPad (or iPhone), remove the passcode and unlock the screen without Apple ID. No matter which iPad model or iPadOS version you have, the tool can effortlessly wipe and reset any locked iPad when it's displaying iPad Unavailable or Security Lockout.
In the event that you have forgotten your device passcode, simply follow this step-by-step guide to reset the unavailable iPad and get past the lock screen:
Step 1- After download and installation, launch iPhone Unlocker on your PC or Mac.
Step 2- On the interface, click Unlock iOS Screen module to begin.
Step 3- Connect your unavailable iPad to computer via a lightning cable.
Step 4- When connected successfully, check the information of your iPad.
Then hit Start Now button. The software is downloading the firmware mostly matched your iPad. This is the necessary part of process before wiping your iPad without the passcode and its Unavailable alert.
Step 5- After download, Unlock Confirmation window opens. Click OK button and then the Confirm button to initiate the iPad reset, wiping the device clean.
Wait for a few minutes to let your iPad remove the forgotten passcode, bypass the unavailable screen without needing iTunes or Apple ID, and start fresh.
When done, you can now unlock your iPad without passcode. Set up the device like when you first purchased it, and if there's a backup available, restore your data and settings.
Note: If Find My was previously turned on, you'll be asked for the associated Apple Account and password to regain full device access. Don't Miss: How to unlock iPad without Apple ID
Video Guide:
Way 3- Restore unavailable iPad in recovery mode via PC or Mac
Another USB-based option to wipe an unavailable iPad due to too many incorrect passcode guesses is by means of putting it into Recovery Mode and restoring it via iTunes (on Windows or older macOS), Apple Devices app (on Windows 11 & 10) or Finder (on macOS Catalina and newer).
The process may seem complicated, but if you follow the steps correctly, you don't need to worry about how to use recovery mode to fix iPad Unavailable with a computer.
1. Turn off your iPad completely. Be sure that your device is not connected to the computer.
2. Plug your iPad into your Windows PC or Mac with a lightning cable.
3. Boot iPad into recovery mode, whose screen shows an image of a computer and a cable. Depending on which model you have, the button press should vary.
For iPad without Home button: Quickly press and release Volume Up button. Quickly press and release Volume Down button. Then press the Top (Power) button. Do not release the Top (Power) button until you see the recovery mode screen.
For iPad with Home button: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons at the same time. Do not release the buttons until recovery mode screen appears.
4. Once your iPad is in recovery mode, open Finder, iTunes or Apple Devices app on your computer.
5. A dialog box pops up, giving you the ability to update or restore your iPad. Choose Restore to enforce a factory data reset and bypass iPad lock screen.
6. Your computer is now downloading the software for your device, and then start resetting iPad unavailable to factory settings without a passcode. At this point, all the content and settings have been wiped away.
Note: If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your tablet gets out of recovery mode, let the download finish, then turn off your iPad and repeat the resetting process.
Get into your locked iPad and follow the setup wizard to restore a previous backup or start it afresh, and create a new passcode.
Way 4- Erase the unavailable iPad remotely via iCloud Find My
If Find My has been activated before iPad became unavailable or locked, as well as the tablet is signed into your Apple Account, is turned on and connected to Wi-Fi, Apple's iCloud Find My website offers a remote wipe option, allowing you restore and erase your iPad passcode using Apple ID from another smartphone, tablet or a computer.
To factory reset the unavailable iPad when the wrong passcode is entered again and again or the iPad passcode is not working at all, do the following:
Log in with your Apple Account and passcode linked to your iPad that's unavailable.
Choose [your iPad] from the All Devices panel.
Click Erase This Device.
Click Next when "Erase iPad" dialog box pops up.
Enter your Apple Account password again to authenticate your identity and confirm the reset.
A remote signal will command your iPad to wipe itself clean and reboot.
Tip: If you get a pre-owned iPad without knowing the Apple credentials, iCloud's remote reset may not work. You'll need to try Appgeeker iPad Unlocker program or Recovery Mode mention above, in effort to unlock iPad Unavailable if the lock screen passcode was forgotten.
Way 5- Reset iPad passcode without erasing data
This is only helpful if your iPad has been updated iOS 17 or higher, and you are locked out because you changed your passcode in the past 72 hours and forgot the new one.
When you do not remember the device's new passcode, the security system will give you Passcode Reset feature, with which to unlock your unavailable iPad using the previous passcode without needing to reset the entire tablet or losing any data.
Detailed instructions to reset forgotten passcode and remove iPad Unavailable without a factory restore.
1- On the iPad lock screen, enter incorrect passcodes until the "iPad Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" screen appears
2- Tap the Forgot Passcode? option in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
3- On the Reset Passcode screen, tap Enter Previous Passcode.
4- Type in the old passcode that you were using before the recent change.
5- Once verified, your iPad will unlock instantly without erasing any data. You will be prompted to create another new passcode immediately.
FAQs about iPad unavailable reset
Q1. How to fix iPad Unavailable?
The iPad Unavailable screen is a security measure that locks down the device after five failed passcode attempts. The official solution to fix iPad Unavailable is to perform a factory reset, which erases all data and settings including the passcode, and restores iPad to a fresh new state.
Q2. Can I reset an unavailable iPad without losing data?
No. There is no tool or method that can bypass an "iPad Unavailable" screen without erasing the device's content. However, once the iPad is reset, you can completely restore your data during setup using an iCloud or iTunes backup.
Q3. Why does my iPad say "iPad Unavailable" with no timer?
If the screen says "iPad Unavailable" or "Security Lockout" without a countdown timer (such as try again in 15 minutes), it means the device has registered more than 10 consecutive incorrect passcode attempts. The device is permanently locked out until it undergoes a physical or cloud-based factory reset.
Q4. Can I factory reset my iPad without passcode or computer if it says iPad Unavailable?
When you forgot the iPad passcode and locked by the iPad Unavailable screen, the Forgot Passcode option or Erase iPad option is offered to reset the iPad and remove the passcode without a computer.
For a wireless iPad reset to work, Apple Account password and network connection are needed.
