To fix an iPad that says it is disabled and asks you to connect to iTunes, put it into recovery mode, connect it to a Mac or Windows PC, and choose Restore in Finder, the Apple Devices app or iTunes, which erases the iPad and removes the passcode.
This guide also covers the two routes that need no computer, the recovery mode buttons for every iPad, getting your data back, and what to do when the computer will not see the iPad.
Fix a disabled iPad with a computer in recovery mode
This route always works when the passcode is lost. You need a Mac or Windows PC, a cable that can charge the iPad, an internet connection, and up to 60 minutes.
- Unplug the iPad from the computer if it is connected.
- Turn off the iPad: without a Home button, hold a volume button and the top button until the power off slider appears; with a Home button, hold the top button. Drag the slider and wait a minute.
- Connect the iPad to the computer with a USB cable.
- Press the recovery mode buttons for your model (see the table below) and keep holding through the Apple logo.
- Release the button only when an image of a computer and a cable appears on the iPad.
- On the computer, select the iPad in Finder or the Apple Devices app, then choose Restore when you see Restore or Update.
- Wait for the restore to finish, then disconnect the iPad when the Hello screen appears and set it up.
If the passcode screen appears instead of the computer-and-cable image, turn off the iPad and start again. The restore deletes your data and settings along with the passcode.
Which disabled iPad fix should you use?
| Your situation | Fix | Data kept? |
|---|---|---|
| iPadOS 17 or later, passcode changed in the last 72 hours | Passcode Reset with the old passcode | Yes |
| iPadOS 17 or later, online, Find My on, Apple Account password known | Forgot Passcode? then Start iPad Reset | No, restore from backup |
| iPadOS 15.2 or iPadOS 16, online, Find My on | Erase iPad on the lockout screen | No, restore from backup |
| Older iPadOS, no network, or Find My off | Recovery mode restore with a Mac or Windows PC | No, restore from backup |
| No computer and none to borrow | Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider | No |
Apple's own order is Passcode Reset first, then the reset on the iPad, then a computer.
Why does iPad say disabled, connect to iTunes?
| What you see | Why it appears | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Unavailable after five wrong attempts | Too many incorrect passcodes on the Lock Screen | Passcode Reset or Forgot Passcode? can appear if the conditions are met |
| Security Lockout with Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPad | iPadOS 15.2 or later, online, Find My on | You can erase the iPad without a computer |
| Disabled message that asks for iTunes or a computer | The lockout screen on older iPadOS versions, or a lockout with no reset option | Only a computer restore removes the passcode |
| Activation Lock after the erase | Find My was on before the lockout | Only the owner's Apple Account password reactivates the iPad |
There is no way to remove a forgotten passcode and keep the data, other than Passcode Reset with a recent old passcode.
Recovery mode buttons for each iPad model
| iPad type | Turn off | Enter recovery mode (cable connected) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad without a Home button (Face ID or top button Touch ID) | Hold a volume button and the top button until the slider appears | Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, press and quickly release the volume button farthest from it, then press and hold the top button |
| iPad with a Home button | Hold the top button until the slider appears | Press and hold the Home button and the top (or side) button together |
Keep holding until the computer-and-cable image appears; releasing at the Apple logo starts the iPad normally. The same turn-off buttons are used to power down an iPad at any time.
Connect a disabled iPad to iTunes, Finder or Apple Devices
The app you restore with depends on the computer. iTunes is the older name for this job, and the steps inside it are the same: select the iPad and choose Restore.
| Computer | App to open | Where the iPad appears |
|---|---|---|
| Mac with a recent macOS | Finder | Sidebar of a Finder window (choose View > Show Sidebar if it is hidden) |
| Windows PC | Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store | Apple Devices window, as a connected device |
| Windows PC or older Mac with iTunes | iTunes | iTunes window, once the iPad is detected |
Apple's current Windows instructions use the Apple Devices app. If you still rely on iTunes, get the latest iTunes before you start, because an outdated copy can fail to restore.
Fix a disabled iPad without a computer (Security Lockout)
This erases the iPad from its own lock screen. It needs iPadOS 15.2 or later, Find My turned on before the lockout, an active Wi-Fi or cellular connection, and your Apple Account password.
- Enter a passcode on the Lock Screen until the iPad Unavailable screen appears.
- Tap Forgot Passcode? when it appears in the bottom corner.
- On the Security Lockout screen, tap Start iPad Reset.
- Enter your Apple Account password to sign out of your Apple Account on the iPad.
- Tap Erase iPad to delete all data and settings.
- When the iPad restarts, follow the setup steps, restore a backup, and set a new passcode.
On iPadOS 15.2 and iPadOS 16, the lockout screen shows Erase iPad directly instead of Forgot Passcode?. A cellular iPad that uses an eSIM on iPadOS 16 or earlier needs a QR code from the carrier to set up the eSIM again, so ask for it first.
Unlock a disabled iPad with your old passcode (Passcode Reset)
Passcode Reset is the only fix that keeps your data. It works on iPadOS 17 and later for 72 hours after you change the passcode.
- Enter wrong passcodes until the iPad Unavailable screen appears after five attempts.
- Tap Forgot Passcode? in the bottom corner of the screen.
- Tap Enter Previous Passcode.
- Enter your old passcode.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to set a new passcode immediately.
Forgot Passcode? appears only when the iPad is online, signed in to your Apple Account, and has Find My turned on.
Erase a disabled iPad remotely from iCloud.com
If Find My is on and the iPad is online, you can erase it from a browser on any device. The erase clears the passcode, but Activation Lock stays on.
- Go to icloud.com/find and sign in with the Apple Account used on the iPad.
- Select the iPad in the list of devices.
- Select Erase This Device.
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
- Wait for the erase; an offline iPad erases the next time it goes online.
- Set up the iPad and sign in with the same Apple Account to remove Activation Lock.
Restore your data after fixing a disabled iPad
Data comes back only from a backup made before the lockout, in iCloud or on a computer.
- Turn on the erased iPad and follow the setup steps until the Apps & Data screen.
- Choose your iCloud backup, or tap Restore from Mac or PC for a computer backup.
- For a computer backup, connect the iPad and select it in Apple Devices, iTunes or Finder.
- Select Restore Backup and pick the backup by its date and size.
- Enter the backup password if the backup is encrypted.
- Keep the iPad on Wi-Fi and power after setup so photos, music and apps in iCloud download again.
Without any backup, data stored only on the iPad cannot be recovered after the erase. A full iPad factory reset from Settings works the same way once you can unlock the iPad again.
How to check the disabled iPad is fixed
- Confirm the iPad shows the Hello screen or your Home Screen instead of the disabled message.
- Lock the iPad and unlock it with the new passcode.
- Open Settings and check that your name appears at the top, which shows the Apple Account is signed in.
- Open Photos and other apps to confirm the backup content is coming back.
- Make sure Find My is on again, so a future lockout can be fixed without a computer.
Disabled iPad won't connect to iTunes or restore
iPad disabled and won't connect to iTunes or Finder
A charge-only cable, a dirty port, or an outdated computer.
- Use another USB cable that supports both data and charging.
- Check the iPad charging port for debris, and try another USB port or computer.
- Update macOS, or install the latest Apple Devices app on Windows.
- Check for VPN and other third-party security software that can block the connection.
Passcode screen appears instead of the computer-and-cable image
The button was released at the Apple logo, or the wrong buttons were used.
- Turn off the iPad.
- Connect the cable and press the buttons for your model from the table above.
- Keep holding until the computer-and-cable image appears.
iPad leaves recovery mode during the restore
The iPadOS download took more than 15 minutes.
- Let the download finish on the computer.
- Turn off the iPad.
- Enter recovery mode again and choose Restore.
Restore stops with an error number
A connection, software or hardware problem named by the code.
- Note the error number; for a negative number, use it without the minus sign.
- If it is error 1671, wait for the computer to finish downloading software.
- Look up the code on Apple's iTunes or Finder error code page and follow its steps.
Disabled iPad with no computer
Recovery mode needs a Mac or PC.
- Check whether Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPad appears on the lockout screen.
- Try erasing the iPad at icloud.com/find from another device.
- If neither works, borrow a computer or visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Asked for an Apple Account after the factory reset
Activation Lock is on because Find My was on.
- Enter the Apple Account and password that were used on the iPad.
- If you forgot the password, reset your Apple Account password first.
- On a second-hand iPad, ask the previous owner to remove it from their account.
Disabled iPad connect to iTunes FAQ
How do I connect to iTunes when my iPad is disabled?
Turn off the iPad, connect it to the computer, and hold the recovery mode button until the computer-and-cable image appears. Then select the iPad in iTunes, Finder or Apple Devices and choose Restore.
How do I fix an iPad that says disabled, connect to iTunes?
Restore it in recovery mode with a Mac or Windows PC. On iPadOS 15.2 or later with Find My on and a network connection, you can instead erase it from the lockout screen with Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPad.
Why does my iPad say disabled, connect to iTunes?
Too many incorrect passcodes were entered on the Lock Screen. The iPad locks to protect your data, and without the passcode it must be erased, either on the device or through a computer restore.
Can I fix a disabled iPad without a computer?
Yes, on iPadOS 15.2 or later if Find My was on and the iPad is online. Use Forgot Passcode? or Erase iPad on the lockout screen, or erase it at icloud.com/find from another device.
Can I unlock a disabled iPad without losing data?
Only with Passcode Reset on iPadOS 17 or later, using an old passcode changed within the last 72 hours. Every other fix erases the iPad, and your data returns only from a backup.
Does a factory reset fix a disabled iPad?
Yes. Restoring in recovery mode or erasing from the lockout screen deletes the passcode with everything else. After setup, Activation Lock asks for the Apple Account password if Find My was on.
Can I fix a disabled iPad on a Windows PC?
Yes. Install Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store, put the iPad into recovery mode, select it in Apple Devices and choose Restore. A PC with iTunes installed can do the same restore.
Is fixing a disabled iPad free?
Yes. Recovery mode, the lockout screen reset and the iCloud.com erase are all built into Apple's software and cost nothing. Apple Store or service provider help is an option if you have no computer.
Bottom line: fastest fix for a disabled iPad
Try Passcode Reset, then the reset on the lockout screen, and use recovery mode with Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes when neither appears. Passcode Reset keeps your data and the on-device reset avoids a computer, while a recovery mode restore works on every iPad but needs a computer and up to an hour.
