How to Unlock Disabled iPad without iTunes (4 Ways)

If you've forgotten your iPad passcode and after several incorrect attempts, you find your device locked on the "iPad is disabled" screen, don't worry. While this security feature is effective at preventing unauthorized access, it can be frustrating when you're locked out of your own iPad.

For those who may not know, iTunes is a reliable tool for unlocking a disabled iPad. But what if connecting to iTunes isn't working, such as when iTunes can't detect your iPad or complete the restoration? In that case, you'll need alternative solutions.

If you're looking for options to unlock your disabled iPad without iTunes, this article is for you.

Why is My iPad Disabled?

Apple devices have built-in security features that lock you out if you enter the wrong passcode multiple times. The more incorrect attempts you make, the longer you'll have to wait before trying again.

On iPads running iOS 15.1 or earlier, the screen will show "iPad is disabled." On iPads running iOS 15.2 or later, the message will say "iPad unavailable."

After 10 incorrect attempts, your iPad will be fully disabled or unavailable, and you won't be able to try entering the passcode again. At this point, the only option is to reset your iPad to factory settings to unlock it.

Here's how the waiting times increase with each wrong attempt on iPads running iOS 15.1 or earlier:

• 1-5 wrong attempts: No alert.
• 6 wrong attempts: "iPad is disabled. Try again in 1 minute."
• 7 wrong attempts: "iPad is disabled. Try again in 5 minutes."
• 8 wrong attempts: "iPad is disabled. Try again in 15 minutes."
• 9 wrong attempts: "iPad is disabled. Try again in 60 minutes."
• 10 wrong attempts: "iPad is disabled. Connect to iTunes."

There are various reasons why your iPad might be disabled. You may have forgotten your newly created passcode and entered the wrong one repeatedly, or perhaps a child or someone else accidentally tried to access your device and made too many incorrect attempts.

Whatever the cause, resolving a disabled iPad requires a quick and effective solution.

Why Unlock Disabled iPad Without iTunes?

While many Macs come with iTunes pre-installed, not everyone prefers using it for various reasons.

One reason could be that syncing your device with iTunes, though not time-consuming, still requires some know-how, and not everyone is familiar with the process.

Another reason could be that many users uninstall iTunes to save storage space, as it is known for using a considerable amount of disk space.

Additionally, iTunes has been known to have bugs that can cause crashes when restoring your iPad, or it may fail to recognize your disabled iPad after multiple attempts, further discouraging users from relying on it.

For these reasons, many users look for alternatives to iTunes when unlocking their disabled iPads.

Unlock a Disabled iPad Using Unlockit iPhone

If iTunes is not a suitable option, an iPad unlocking tool like Unlockit iPhone can be an excellent alternative to help you unlock your disabled iPad. This software is specifically designed to unlock disabled iPhones and iPads quickly and effectively.

Unlockit iPhone can remove all types of screen locks, including 4-digit and 6-digit passcodes, Face ID, and Touch ID. It can also unlock iPads that are disabled, unavailable, or stuck on the security lockout screen. The software is easy to use, compatible with all iPhone and iPad models from iOS 9 to iOS 18, and most importantly, it's safe.

Here's how to unlock a disabled iPad without iTunes using Unlockit iPhone:

Step 1. Download Unlockit iPhone onto your computer.

Step 3. Launch Unlockit iPhone and click on the Unlock Screen Passcode option.

Step 2. Connect your iPad to your computer using a lightning cable. Click "Start."

Step 4. Click Remove to bypass the disabled screen and delete the iPad passcode.

Wait for the process to complete, and your iPad will be unlocked.

Unlock a Disabled iPad Via Find My App

Find My is another effective feature to unlock a disabled iPad. This only works if you've previously enabled Find My on iPad before it is disabled. And, you'll need another iOS or iPadOS device to launch the Find My app, and your Apple ID credentials will be required.

Here's how to unlock your disabled iPad using the Find My app:

Step 1. Download the Find My app to another iPhone or iPad device.

Step 2. Use your Apple ID login credentials when prompted to sign in.

Step 3. Go to the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen and select your disabled iPad.

Step 4. Choose the Erase This Device option.

Step 5. Next, you will be prompted to input a phone number that will appear on the newly reset iPad and a message to go along with it.

Step 6. Confirm by entering your Apple ID password.

Step 7. Wait for the process to finish, and your iPad will be reset.

Unlock a Disabled iPad Via iCloud.com

If you don't have another device to use Find My, you can also use iCloud.com to reset your disabled iPad to factory settings. Here's how:

Here's how you can use iCloud.com to unlock your disabled iPad:

Step 1. Go to iCloud.com and enter your login credentials.

Step 2. Go to your Find My app and open it.

Step 3. Click All Devices and find your disabled iPad on the drop-down menu.

Step 4. Click on Erase iPad and click Erase again to confirm the process.

Step 5. You will be prompted to input your login credentials once again. Type them again.

Step 6. The app will send a verification to your backup device. Use the code to confirm the two-factor authentication of the app.

Step 7. An optional pop-up window will ask if you want to input a phone number and leave a message if the phone is lost.

Step 8. Wait for the process to finish.

Unlock a Disabled iPad Using Erase iPad Option (For iPadOS 15.2 and above)

If you don't have access to another device or computer, and your iPad is running iPadOS 15.2 or above, you can unlock your disabled iPad directly.

Here's how to unlock your disabled iPad without a computer:

Note that this method also erases the data within the phone, so be prepared to let go of these files if you haven't backed them up.

Step 1. On the Unavailable or Security Lockout screen, press the screen until the Erase iPad option appears.

Step 2. Select Erase iPad and confirm by entering your Apple ID password.

Step 3. Wait for the process to complete, and your iPad will be restored to factory settings.

Conclusion

These are four effective methods to unlock a disabled iPad without using iTunes. Forgetting your passcode can be frustrating, but with these solutions, you can quickly regain access to your device.

Among the available options, Unlockit iPhone stands out for its speed and ease of use. In just 20 minutes, you can bypass a disabled iPad without hassle. With Unlockit iPhone, being locked out is no longer a major problem, just a minor inconvenience.