In this article, we will discuss the top 3 methods to unlock disabled iPad without iTunes. Each method comes with its pros and cons, and can only be used under certain conditions. But the good news is every method can 100% help you successfully fix disabled iPad regardless of iPad models and iPadOS versions.
- Method 1. Unlock Disabled iPad with iCloud – Best for Unlocking Disabled iPad without Computer
- Method 2. Unlock Disabled iPad with Dr.Fone – Best for unlocking disabled iPad without iTunes or Apple ID
- Method 3. Unlock Disabled iPad with PhoneRescue – Best for unlocking disabled iPad without Losing Data
Read More: What do you do when your iPad says iPad unavailable
Method 1. Unlock Disabled iPad with iCloud – Best for Unlocking Disabled iPad without Computer
iCloud provides a free way to unlock disabled iPad through iCloud.com or Find My app. It is in essence resetting your iPad to factory settings and once it’s done, you have to set up your iPad from scratch with all your data lost away. Even though you can later restore data from iTunes or iCloud backup (if you have once backed it up), you’ll inevitably lose App data and other important data that iTunes and iCloud don’t support to back up.
Prerequisites:
- iCloud ID credentials, namely Apple ID account and password.
- A computer or another iDevice logged in with the same iCloud ID as your disabled iPad.
Pros:
- Free to use.
- Unlock disabled iPad even without a computer.
- Restore iPad without iTunes or passcode.
Cons:
- You will erase all your content and settings on your iPad.
- The process is quite lengthy.
How to Unlock Disabled iPad with iCloud – with Computer
- Step 1: Visit icloud.com on your computer, and sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and password.
- Step 2: Click Find iPhone icon.
- Step 3: Under All Devices, select your iPad.
- Step 4: Click Erase iPad among the three options.
- Step 5: Click the Erase button to confirm in the pop-up window.
- Step 6: Enter your password again to continue.
- Step 7: Enter a phone number and click the Next button. This step is designed for people who lost their devices. You can directly click the Next button if your iPad is safe with you.
- Step 8: Then enter a message and click the Done button. Also, you can directly click the Done button if your iPad is safe with you.
- Step 9: Now click Erase iPad again and your iPad will be erased within the next few minutes.
After that, you can just swipe up to unlock your iPad and log in to your previous Apple ID again. If you want to log in with another Apple ID, don’t forget to click Remove from Account when your iPad is erased.
How to Unlock Disabled iPad with iCloud – without Computer
- Step 1: Open Find My app on another Apple device logged in with the same Apple ID as the iPad. Here I’ll take iPhone as an example.
- Step 2: Go to Devices and tap your disabled iPad.
- Step 3: Scroll down and tap Erase This Device.
- Step 4: Tap on the Continue button to confirm.
- Step 5: Enter a phone number, which is unnecessary if you haven’t lose your iPad. Then tap Erase at the upper right corner.
- Step 6: Enter your Apple ID password to continue.
- Step 7: Now your iPad will be erased in the next few minutes and after that you can choose whether or not to remove it from your current Apple ID. To remove it, you’ll have to enter your Apple ID password again.
Method 2. Unlock Disabled iPad with Dr.Fone – Best for Unlocking Disabled iPad without iTunes or Apple ID
If you unfortunately forget both your passcode and Apple ID, you have missed the chance to unlock a disabeld iPad for free. In this case, you need to download and buy a tool called Dr.Fone – Screen Unlock, which supports unlocking any disabled iPad without passcode or Apple ID.
Prerequisites:
- A Windows/Mac computer.
Pros:
- Remove all types of lock screen, be it 4-digit/6-digit passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID.
- Unlock disabled iPad without iTunes, Apple ID, or passcode.
- Simple, safe, and easy to use.
- Recognized by industry authorities.
Cons:
- Not free.
- It will also reset your iPad to factory settings.
How to Unlock Disabled iPad without iTunes or Apple ID:
- Step 1: Go to this page to download and install Dr.Fone.
- Step 2: Launch Dr.Fone and click Screen Unlock on the home page.
- Step 3: Connect your iPad to the computer with a USB cable and select Unlock iOS Lock Screen in the new window.
- Step 4: Click the blue Start button.
- Step 5: Put your iPad into recovery mode following the on-screen instructions. You can switch the device type in the upper right corner.
- Step 6: Select an available iPadOS version on the right and click the Start button to download the firmware file, which is provided by Apple.
- Step 7: Buy and login to your Wondershare ID, then click the Unlock Now button to proceed.
- Step 8: Confirm to unlock your iPad and wait for the process to finish.
That’s it. When the process ends, your iPad will automatically reboot and at that time you can easily swipe up to unlock it with no need to enter a passcode.
Method 3. Unlock Disabled iPad with PhoneRescue – Best for unlocking disabled iPad without Losing Data
If you don’t want to lose a single piece of information on your iPad after unlocking it, PhoneRescue would be a better choice though it’s a little bit more pricey than Dr.Fone Screen Unlock.
Prerequisites:
- A Windows/Mac computer.
Pros:
- Unlock disabled iPad without iTunes, Apple ID, or passcode.
- Support data recovery after restoring your iPad.
- Simple, safe, and easy to use.
Cons:
- You may fail to back up your iPad if you have never connected your iPad to the computer.
Before we start, you have to back up your iPad with AnyTrans. It is a free tool to back up and manage your iPad content. It has many advantages over iTunes and iCloud and the most impressive one is it supports more file types and thus can save more data. Here’s how you should use it:
- Step 1: Go to this page to download and install AnyTrans.
- Step 2: Launch the software and go to the Backup Manager part. Next, click the Back Up Now button.
- Step 3: Click the Back Up Now button and wait for the process to complete. Pay attention to the Backup Path, you’ll need it later.
How to Unlock Disabled iPad with PhoneRescue:
Now it’s time to unlock your disabled iPad and learn how to recover data after that.
- Step 1: Go to this page to download and install iMobie PhoneRescue.
- Step 2: Launch it and click the I’m Ready to Start button to skip the tips, of which you’d better take care.
- Step 3: Select Remove Lock Screen Passcode in the next interface and click the right arrow icon to proceed.
- Step 4: Tick OK, I Already Know, click the right arrow icon, and then click the OK button.
- Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to put your iPad into recovery mode.
- Step 6: Click the Download button and now you can leave it to PhoneRescue to automatically unlock your iPad.
- Step 7: After your iPad restarts, go back to the main interface of PhoneRescue and this time choose Recover from Backup option.
- Step 8: Browse and select the backup you just made before.
- Step 9: Choose Only Scan Backup in the pop-up window.
- Step 10: Select the data that you want to restore from the backup and click the OK button to start the scanning process.
- Step 11: When the scanning process ends, you are free to preview your backup data and buy PhoneRescue to fully or selectively restore your data.
Final Verdict
Although all the above three methods support unlocking disabled iPad, I would highly recommend iMobie PhoneRescue regardless of its higher price, for it offers a possible way to let you unlock your disabled iPad without losing data. Just go ahead give it a try and don’t forget to share with us your experience in the comment section.
