How to Factory Reset a Locked iPad: 4 Ways [2026]

Unlock with iMyFone LockWiper

Locked out and unsure where to begin? LockWiper guides you through removing the forgotten screen passcode. Download it, check your iPad’s compatibility, and take the next step toward a reset.

Try It Free

Another wrong passcode. Another longer wait. If your iPad now says “Unavailable,” it’s tempting to keep guessing, especially when you’re sure the right code is somewhere in your head.

But don't worry. You can totally factory reset a locked iPad without its screen passcode. I’ll walk you through how to factory reset a locked iPad in four ways so you can choose what fits your situation.

Quick answer

A factory reset removes the forgotten screen passcode by erasing the iPad’s local data. Try the previous-passcode option first if you qualify. Otherwise, choose a reset method below and have the linked Apple Account ready for setup.

I’d pause here for a minute. Getting back into the iPad matters, but so do the photos, notes, and files sitting on it. Two checks can help you avoid a very unwelcome surprise.

1 Try Your Previous Passcode Before Erasing Anything

Changed your passcode within the last 72 hours? On iPadOS 17 or later, Apple’s Passcode Reset may let you use the previous code without erasing your iPad, provided you haven’t expired it manually.

• Step 1: On the iPad Unavailable screen, tap Forgot Passcode? when available.





• Step 2: Choose Enter Previous Passcode.





• Step 3: Enter the old code and follow the prompts to create a new one.

Apple lists a network connection, a signed-in Apple Account, and Find My being enabled among the conditions for the Forgot Passcode? option. If this works, you can stop here. No factory reset needed.

2 Check Your Backups and Apple Account

If the old code isn’t an option, check for an existing iCloud or computer backup. Also check what’s already synced to iCloud, such as photos or notes. Synced content and device backups are different; you may have one without the other.

A previously trusted computer might still allow a backup, but don’t count on it. Try Back Up Now only if Finder or Apple Devices already recognizes the iPad and doesn’t ask for the forgotten passcode. A prompt to unlock or trust the computer can stop you there.

Have the linked Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) ready, too. Its password is separate from the code that unlocks the screen. For a secondhand iPad, settle any previous-owner account issue before wiping it.

If your computer backup is encrypted, make sure you know its backup password before relying on it. That’s another separate password, and you’ll need it when you restore the saved data.

Once you know what’s saved, choosing a reset method becomes much less stressful. Here’s what each option needs.

You don’t need to try all four. I’d choose based on what you have available: a computer, a reset button on the lock screen, or access to the linked account.

Method	What you need	Best fit	Data loss
LockWiper	iPad, computer, USB cable, LockWiper	Apple Account password forgotten
Lock-screen reset	iPadOS 15.2+, Find My enabled, internet, Apple Account password	Reset option appears onscreen
Recovery Mode	Computer with internet, USB cable, working buttons	No lock-screen reset option
Find Devices	Find My enabled, linked account access, iPad online to erase	Remote erase from another device

Note

Erasing the iPad does not automatically remove Activation Lock. You may still need the linked Apple Account to activate it afterward.

iMyFone LockWiper

Forgot your Apple Account password too? iMyFone Fixppo lets you unlock and reset a locked iPad without Apple Account password the or screen passcode.

Try It Free

100% Secure

If you have a computer handy and want onscreen guidance, let’s start with LockWiper. We’ll cover Apple’s own tools next.

The frustrating part of a locked iPad isn’t always the forgotten code. Sometimes it’s staring at a computer prompt and wondering what to do next. iMyFone LockWiper is a desktop unlocking tool that guides you through clearing the screen lock so you can set up the iPad again.

It brings device detection, firmware downloading, and the final unlock confirmation into one app. For this job, you’ll use Unlock Screen Passcode. You don’t have to navigate an iTunes restore yourself.

My suggestion: start with the free trial to check compatibility before buying. The official trial comparison includes compatibility checks and firmware downloads.

A Clearer Path Back to Your iPad

• Check before you buy: Use the free trial to check device compatibility.
• Leave the forgotten code behind: Unlock and reset your iPad in one place. No screen passcode and Apple Account password needed.
• Know what comes next: Follow the app’s onscreen instructions. iPad reset in just a few clicks.
• Skip the iTunes/Apple Devices/Finder restore interface: Manage the reset in LockWiper.
• Less manual setup: Let the app detect your device model.
• Keep firmware steps together: Download and verify the package in the app.

Try It Free Buy Now

Ready to proceed? Follow the LockWiper screen-passcode guide:

• Step 1: Install and launch LockWiper on your computer. Select Unlock Screen Passcode and start.
• Step 2: Connect the iPad by USB.



• Step 3: Check the detected device details, then download and verify the firmware.



• Step 4: Enter 000000 and confirm the unlock.



• Step 5: Keep the iPad connected until completion, then follow its setup screens.

Prefer to use Apple’s own tools? You have three options, starting with a reset directly from the lock screen if your iPad offers it.

These methods don’t require a paid unlocking app. The best starting point is the option already available on your iPad; if it isn’t there, a computer gives you another route.

1 Reset Your iPad from the Lock Screen

Want to factory reset your iPad from the lock screen? Apple’s on-device reset needs iPadOS 15.2 or later, Find My previously enabled, an active Wi-Fi or cellular connection, and the linked Apple Account password.

On iPadOS 17 or later, use this sequence:

• Step 1: When iPad Unavailable appears after failed passcode attempts, tap Forgot Passcode? when available.
• Step 2: Choose Reset iPad.



• Step 3: Enter your Apple Account password to sign out.
• Step 4: Tap Erase iPad, then wait for the restart.

On iPadOS 15.2 or 16, you may see Erase iPad directly instead. Follow that option and authenticate when asked.

2 Restore Your Locked iPad in Recovery Mode

No reset option on the screen? You can use a computer instead. The button sequence depends on whether your iPad has a Home button.

Recovery Mode lets a computer restore an iPad you can’t unlock. Use Finder on a modern Mac or Apple Devices on Windows; iTunes is for older supported setups. You’ll need internet and a USB data cable.

Follow Apple’s iPad-specific recovery instructions:

• Step 1: Disconnect the iPad, turn it off, and wait one minute.
• Step 2: Reconnect it to the computer.
• Step 3 — Without a Home button: Quickly press and release the volume button nearest the top button, then the farthest one. Hold the top button until the computer-and-cable screen appears.
• Step 3 — With a Home button: Hold Home and the top or side button together until that same recovery screen appears. Keep holding past the Apple logo.



• Step 4: Select your iPad in Finder or Apple Devices and choose Restore, not Update.

Note

If downloading takes over 15 minutes and the iPad exits Recovery Mode, let the download finish. Then turn off the iPad and repeat the recovery sequence.

I’d keep the computer connected and give the process time. A return to the passcode screen during downloading can be confusing, but the note above is your next step, not another round of guesses.

Once you reach Hello, restore an available backup during setup or set up as new. Choose the backup by its date and size; an older one won’t include everything you added afterward. Keep Wi-Fi connected while apps and content return.

If connecting to a computer isn’t practical, there’s also a remote option: Find Devices.

3 Erase Your iPad Remotely with Find Devices

This is handy when another phone or tablet is within reach. You need access to the linked Apple Account, and Find My must already be enabled on the locked iPad.

• Step 1: Open icloud.com/find in a browser and sign in.
• Step 2: Select the locked iPad from your devices. Double-check the name before continuing, especially if your family has several iPads.
• Step 3: Choose Erase This Device and follow the confirmation prompts.

If the iPad is offline, the erase request waits until it reconnects. That matters with Wi-Fi-only models: sending the request doesn’t mean the iPad has already been wiped. Apple also confirms that Activation Lock stays on after a remote erase, so keep the account credentials ready.

Still unsure which route fits? Let’s clear up the questions about computers, data, and account passwords before you erase anything.

1 Can You Factory Reset a Locked iPad Without a Computer?

Yes. Use the lock-screen reset option if you meet its requirements, or open Find Devices from another phone or tablet. Both depend on account access and the required Find My/network conditions. If neither is available, I’d borrow a computer or ask an Apple Store or authorized service provider for help. LockWiper itself needs a computer.

2 Can You Reset a Locked iPad Without Losing Data?

A factory reset erases the iPad’s local data. The 72-hour previous-passcode option may avoid a reset entirely, which is why I’d check it first. Otherwise, your way back to photos and files is an existing usable backup or content already synced elsewhere. Restoring a backup afterward is different from keeping everything on the locked device.

3 What If Forgot Passcode or Erase iPad Is Missing?

The wording and availability depend on your iPadOS version, network connection, and whether Find My was enabled. You can’t fix every missing requirement from a locked screen. If the option isn’t available, move to Recovery Mode instead of searching for a Settings menu you can’t open. A missing button doesn’t mean the iPad is beyond recovery.

4 Can You Factory Reset an iPad Without the Apple Account Password?

You can erase it through Recovery Mode without first entering that password, but you may still need it to activate the iPad. If you see Locked to Owner, recover the linked account or ask the previous owner to remove the device. With proof of purchase, you can submit an Activation Lock support request to Apple. Repeating the reset won’t resolve ownership verification.

With those details clear, you can choose the reset method that fits what you have available.

Knowing how to factory reset a locked iPad takes some of the panic out of that Unavailable screen. I’d check the old-passcode option and saved data first, then choose the reset route that matches the devices and account access you have.

If you’d appreciate guidance along the way, iMyFone LockWiper puts the screen-passcode reset steps in one place. Download the trial, check compatibility, and decide whether its guided approach is right for your iPad.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your rating

Rated successfully!

You have already rated this article, please do not repeat scoring!

Article by

Melvin Cooper

Melvin Cooper has over 10 years of experience in the technology industry and is an expert at providing tips and handy solutions to Apple and Android users. Dedicated to helping millions of users improve their experience with mobile devices, he has maintained an impressive record of solving problems.