How to fix a disabled iPad

🧰 Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (Easy fix… in theory)

⏱ Time involved: 15–45 minutes, depending on your backup situation

⚠️ Risk level: Medium—resetting is safe, but data loss isn’t

💡 Pro insight: Most disabled iPads come from too many passcode attempts—fixing it’s easy, saving your data isn’t.

⚙️ Avoid the wipeout—visit your nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store for help restoring your iPad safely.

From TV shows and movies to the latest news and our favorite books, our iPad® tablets keep us informed and entertained no matter where we are. But when the screen is disabled, we can miss out on important information—like what happens in the next episode of Ted Lasso.

Don't worry—at Asurion, when tech breaks, we fix it. From faulty touchscreens to outdated software, our experts have your iPad issues covered. Here's their guide to why your iPad is disabled and what you can do to fix it.

Why is my iPad disabled?

If you've entered the wrong passcode too many times, your iPad will disable itself to protect you from hackers or thieves.

But what happens if it is accidentally disabled by a child or friend? Unfortunately, your iPad can't tell the difference—after the 10th attempt, it will auto-lock to block a security breach. Luckily, there are steps you can take to restore or reset it. If your iPad has the dreaded disabled message, here's how to bring it back to life.

How to fix a disabled iPad with iTunes​

To use this method, all you'll need is a computer with the iTunes® app (or the Apple Devices app on Windows) and the charging cable that came with your iPad.

1. Put your iPad in recovery mode

This will allow you to bypass the passcode on your screen.

For iPads without a Home button:

1. Connect your iPad to your computer and open iTunes.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
3. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
4. Press and hold the Top button. Continue holding it even after the Apple logo appears. Release it only when you see the "Connect to Computer" or "iTunes" logo on the iPad screen.

For iPads with a Home button:

1. Turn off your iPad and make sure it is not connected to the computer.
2. Press and hold the Home button while connecting the iPad to your computer.
3. Keep holding the Home button until the recovery mode screen appears on the iPad, then release it.

2. Restore your device

Restoring will erase your iPad, including the passcode. You can recover your data afterward if you have a backup in iCloud or on your computer.

1. Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes or the Apple Devices app (for Windows 10/11).
2. Locate your iPad on your computer:
   • On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later: Open Finder and select your iPad from the sidebar under Locations.
   • On Windows or an older Mac: Open iTunes (or Apple Devices) and click the iPad icon in the top-left corner.
3. Select Restore when the pop-up appears. If the software download takes longer than 15 minutes, your iPad will exit recovery mode.Let the download finish, then turn off the iPad and repeat the button sequence from Step 1.
4. Once the process finishes, follow the on-screen prompts on your iPad to set it up as new or restore your data from a previous backup.

How to fix a disabled iPad without iTunes

If you can’t access a computer, you can reset your iPad using iCloud®. This requires that you previously enabled Find My™ on the device and that it is connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data.

How to reset your iPad using iCloud

• Go to iCloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple Account (formerly Apple ID) and password.
• Select your iPad from the All Devices list (or the Devices menu).
• Select Erase This Device, then follow the prompts to confirm.
• Once the iPad is erased and restarts, follow the setup assistant. If you have an iCloud backup, you will be prompted to restore your data after signing in with your Apple Account.

If you've tried these steps and still need a little help, we're right around the corner. Schedule a repair at the nearest uBreakiFix® by Asurion store and our certified experts can get your device back up and running as soon as the same day.

How to prevent your iPad from being disabled in the future

Follow these guidelines to keep your iPad running smoothly:

• Remove your passcode or Face ID® while someone else is using your iPad.
• Use the Guided Access® or Screen Time features to restrict what apps can be used and how long your iPad can be accessed. Check out this video on Asurion's YouTube to learn how to set up Guided Access.
• Turn off the Tap to Wake accessibility setting.
• Manually back up your iPad to iTunes or iCloud once a month.