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What Disables an iPad and How to Fix It?

By Author Turner Tomlinson

Posted on Last updated:

The iPad does it’s best to protect your data, and sometimes this means it acts a bit cautious when you try to sign in. If you’ve tried to sign in too many times and your iPad decides it’s fully not letting you try anymore, with a countdown timer, the iPad is totally disabled until the timer stops. Or is it?

If you iPad is disabled from too many incorrect password attempts, you have a few options. If you remember the passcode, wait out the timer. If you’ve forgotten the passcode, the only solution is to restore the iPad through iTunes, on a computer, or through iCloud.

There are multiple ways to regain access to your disabled iPad. Restoring your backed-up data is also possible once you reset your iPad ⁠— meaning no losing important data. So, let’s find out how to reset the iPad in various ways and restore the backup in it!

Why Does My iPad Say It’s “Disabled?”

Ipad on the table

Being locked out of your own device is nothing but frustrating. Unfortunately, that’s what happens automatically when you enter a wrong passcode several times on your iPad. 

Passcodes keep your personal and sensitive information safe on your iPad. Forgetting the passcode is no less than a nightmare because you no longer have access to the iPad and the data inside it.

When your iPad says “Disabled” on the lock screen and you are no longer allowed to enter a passcode, it’s because of entering wrong passwords multiple times. In this scenario, if you are unable to remember your passcode, you will have to reset the iPad. This might mean losing your data if it was not previously backed up on iCloud.

How Do I Fix a Disabled iPad?

What are the main ways you can fix an iPad when you have this issue? There are a few options, but neither of them is ideal:

Just Wait

It’s not uncommon for kids to use our device and enter wrong passcodes not knowing what will happen. This leads to a disabled iPad. In this case, if you still remember the passcode of your iPad, you can easily get its access back by simply waiting.

A disabled iPad usually gives you a time frame (depending upon how many times you disabled it in one go). After a given period, you can enter your passcode again and use your iPad as normal.  

Restore iPad Through iTunes

If you don’t remember the passcode of your iPad, the only solution is to restore it. Remember that restoring an iPad erases all the data and there’s no way you can back it up now.

This is why it’s always better to keep your important data backed up in iCloud or any third-party app or device in case you encounter such a situation. 

Now, forgetting passcodes is a common thing when you have to remember them for different social media accounts, emails, and devices. 

But that doesn’t mean you don’t keep a passcode on your iPad, especially if you have sensitive data in it. A passcode is important for data protection, just like a defender series case for iPad (on Amazon).

In case of forgetting the iPad passcode, here’s how you can perform a factory reset through iTunes:

  1. Turn off the iPad by holding the top button on iPads with a home button and by holding the power and volume up button on iPads without a home button. 
  2. Slide the power slider that appears on the screen to shut it down.
  3. Connect the iPad to the computer using its charging cable.
  4. Bring the iPad into recovery mode by pressing the home button (for iPads with a home button) or the top button (for iPads without a home button).
  5. Keep holding the button until a black screen appears on the iPad with a connector cable image. 
  6. Open Finder on Mac or iTunes on a PC.
  7. Select the iPad icon on Finder or iTunes. 
  8. Select “Restore” from the menu appearing under the iPad device. 
  9. Select “Restore From Backup” if you have a backup in your iCloud otherwise select “Restore as New Device”.
  10. Disconnect the iPad and turn it on again. Set up the iPad and create a new passcode.

Reset iPad Using iCloud

If you don’t have iTunes, you can fix a disabled iPad through iCloud by resetting it. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Open icloud.com on any device.
  2. Log in to your iCloud account (the same on your iPad) by entering your email and password. You might need a verification code if you are using your iCloud account for the first time on the device.
  3. Select “Find iPhone” from the apps available on the screen.
  4. Enter your iCloud password again and sign in.
  5. Select “All devices” above the map and select “iPad.”
  6. Select “Erase iPad” and confirm the erase.
  7. Restart your iPad and enter your iCloud ID and password.
  8. If you have an iCloud backup, restore it on the iPad and set it up.

How Do I Restore My iCloud Backup?

Woman using tablet find information

You are lucky if you have a backup of your important data. You never know when you need to reset your device and lose all your data. That’s why it is important to always have a backup. 

Here’s how you can restore your iCloud backup on your iPad after resetting it:

Through iCloud

  1. After resetting the iPad through iCloud, restart the iPad.
  2. Click on “Restore Backup from iCloud”.

Through iTunes

  1. After resetting the iPad through iTunes, keep the iPad connected to iTunes and restart it.
  2. iTunes will ask you whether you want to restore your backup or set up the device as new.
  3. Select “Restore Backup from iTunes”. 

Final Thoughts

Now you know what a disabled iPad means, you can easily fix it or prevent it from happening. Having a backup of essential information comes in handy in situations where you have to restore your device.

If you remember the passcode of your iPad, you can save yourself from losing all your iPad data. If not, the only way out is to reset the iPad.