How can i unlock my ipad without a computer

Erasing all of the data on an iPad and restoring it to its factory settings is something you can do from the iPad's settings – provided you remember your passcode. If you don't remember your passcode, or you've been locked out because you entered the wrong passcode too many times, you'll need to reset it using iTunes on your computer. If you have backed up your iPad, you'll be prompted to restore your data and settings when you sign in after the reset. If you haven't backed up your data, you can recover the apps you purchased, but ​your data won't be recoverable​.

If your iPad is just frozen and not responding to your taps, rather than being locked, you can usually solve the problem with a ​hard reset​.

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Resetting the iPad With iTunes

Before getting started, make sure that your computer has the latest version of iTunes installed and that you have a strong internet connection. Resetting an iPad is time sensitive, and your computer will need to download and install software on the iPad. If the process takes longer than 15 minutes, it will automatically abort the process and you will need to start all over again.

Apple computers come with iTunes already, so you can open it and update it if prompted. If you have a Windows PC, you can download iTunes from the Microsoft Store if you don't already have it.

1. Open iTunes

2. Sign into iTunes on your computer. As a security measure, you will need your Apple ID and password to reset the iPad.

3. Start Recovery Mode

4. Recovery mode is what directs iTunes to either update or erase the iPad. You need to start this process before connecting the iPad to your computer. Because you'll need to hold down a button or two while connecting the iPad, connect its cable to your computer first, and then you can more easily connect the iPad once recovery mode has started. The process varies a bit, depending on which iPad model you have.

5. ​iPad with Home button​: Hold down the Top or Side button until the Power Off slider appears on the screen. Drag the slider to turn off the iPad. Then hold down the Home button while connecting the iPad to your computer. Release the Home button only after the recovery mode screen appears.

6. ​iPad with Face ID​: Press and hold the Top button and one of the volume buttons until you see the Power Off slider. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad. Continue holding down the Top button and connect your device to the computer. You can release the Top button after you see the recover-mode screen.

7. Restore the iPad to Factory Settings

8. Once the recover-mode screen appears on the iPad, iTunes should automatically launch on your computer. It will give you the option to restore or update the iPad. Click ​Restore​. Restoring the iPad can take several minutes.

How to Hard Reset an iPad

If your iPad is frozen, preventing you from unlocking it with your passcode, or if it doesn't recognize your taps or the slider doesn't work, a hard reset/hard reboot of your iPad will often do the trick. This forces the iPad to turn off and on, flushing its memory clean. A hard reset, however, ​does not delete your data​.

Press the ​Home​ button and the ​On/Off​ button at the same time. Keep holding the buttons down until after the screen turns black and the iPad starts up again. When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the buttons.

You should now be able to access the iPad, provided you know the passcode. If you still need to erase the data and restore it to factory settings, you can do that with iTunes or from the iPad settings.

How to Erase iPad From Settings

If you are now able to open your iPad, you can erase all of your data and return it to its factory default settings without connecting it to a computer.

1. Ensure that your iPad is charged, or connect it to a power source.
2. Open ​Settings​; select ​General​ and then select ​Reset​.
3. Select ​Erase All Content and Settings​. Enter your passcode or your Apple ID password if prompted. This password is the one that's associated with your email address and used to access the App Store or iCloud.
4. Confirm that you want to erase everything on your iPad.

After several minutes, the iPad will restart, giving you the same welcome screen as when you purchased it.

• To unlock a disabled iPad if you forgot the password, you can restore it with Finder or iTunes.
• You can also unlock your iPad by doing a system restore using the Find My website or app.
• You'll need a recent iPad backup to get your data back after you restore and unlock it.

If you lock your iPad using a passcode (and for your privacy and security, you should) you can rest assured that it's highly secure.

But if you can't remember the passcode — or you've entered it wrong so many times that the iPad is disabled and won't accept the passcode anymore — you can still unlock it.

Unfortunately, you'll need to reset the iPad to its factory-default settings in the process. Afterward, you can replace your data from a recent backup. Here's how to do it.

How to unlock your iPad using Finder or iTunes

If you have a recent backup, you can restore your iPad with Finder or iTunes. This will erase all the data along with your passcode, allowing you to unlock your iPad, and then replace the data from a backup.

1. On your computer, start Finder or iTunes and then connect your iPad to the computer using a USB cable.

2. Force your iPad to enter recovery mode.

• If you have an iPad with Face ID, quickly press the Volume Up button, press the Volume Down button, and then press the Power button until you see the recovery mode screen appear on the iPad.
• If you have an iPad with a Home button, press and hold both the Home and the Power buttons at the same time until you see the recovery-mode screen.

3. On your computer, select your iPad in Finder or iTunes.

• In Finder, you'll see the iPad's name in the left sidebar of the window, and you can select it from there.
• In iTunes, click the phone icon in the top left corner of the window. If there's more than one device connected, a dropdown menu will appear, and you can click on the iPad there to select it.

4. You'll then see a dialog box that says there was a problem with your iPad. Click Restore.

How to unlock your iPad using Find My iPhone

You can also use Find My to unlock your iPad. This only works if you've previously enabled this feature.

1. Go to the Find My website. Or if you have another iOS device like an iPhone, you can open the Find My iPhone app on that device.

2. Log in to your iCloud account, if you aren't already.

3. If you're using the Find My website, click the All Devices link and select your locked iPad from the list.

4. Now, select Erase iPad.

5. A window will appear, confirming that all your iPad's content and settings will be erased. To complete the restore, click Erase.  

6. If you're using the Find My iPhone app, select your iPad from the visible list of devices.

7. In the pop-up that appears below the map area, scroll down and tap Erase This Device.

8. Confirm your choice by tapping Continue.  

After the iPad is erased and restarts, you can then restore your iPad with a recent backup.

How to restore your iPad from a recent backup

1. From your iPad's initial setup screen, follow the instructions until you get to the Apps & Data screen.

2. On the Apps & Data screen, select Restore from iCloud Backup.

3. Sign into your iCloud account.

4. Enter the passcode that's been sent to one of your other Apple devices, or texted to your linked phone number.

5. After agreeing to the terms and conditions by tapping Agree, you'll get to the Choose Backup screen.

6. On the Choose Backup screen, tap on the most recent backup to select it and review its contents.

7. Tap on Continue for the backup to be installed. The length of the installation process will vary depending on the speed of your internet connection and the size of the backed-up content.

8. Follow the rest of the instructions to finish restoring the iPad.

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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