How to connect disabled ipad to itunes

Table of Contents Show

Try to back up the iOS device in iTunes
Restore the device using iTunes and a previous backup
Restore the device using recovery mode and reset the password
Get back into your iPad using iTunes or Finder
iPad Passcode Woes
What Causes a Disabled iPad That Needs to be Connected to iTunes or Finder?
How to Fix an iPad That Is Disabled and Says 'Connect to iTunes or Finder'
How do you unlock an iPad that is disabled and says connect to iTunes?
How do you restore a disabled iPad to iTunes?
How do I get my iPad out of Disabled mode?

Have you ever picked up your iPad, only to discover it has been disabled by your curious children who entered the password too many times? Or maybe you've done it yourself when you've forgotten the passcode you created a month ago? if you enter in an incorrect password too many times, iOS will think someone is trying to break into your device and will disable it.

The problem with a disabled device is that you can't type in the password anymore, even if you suddenly remember it. You either have to wait a certain amount of time or connect the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to iTunes, if it has been permanently disabled. Here are a few tips to help you get that device unlocked without losing valuable information.

Try to back up the iOS device in iTunes

The first thing you should try to unlock your disabled device is a simple iTunes backup. Connect your iOS device to your computer via USB and open iTunes. Select the device in the upper right-hand corner to display its properties in the main screen.

Click on the "Back Up Now" button to start a sync. You may be prompted to type in your password on your iOS device to start the sync because the device is locked. Once you have typed in your password, you can cancel the back up and start using your device.

Restore the device using iTunes and a previous backup

If the backup trick doesn't work, then you may have to reset the passcode by restoring the device. This only works if you have previously synced your device with iTunes and have a backup stored on your computer. Follow these steps to restore your device and reinstall your backup.

Connect the device to the computer with which you normally sync and open iTunes.
If the device is still disabled, or if iTunes does not automatically sync your device, sync the device with iTunes by pressing the "Back Up Now" button.
When the backup and sync are complete, restore your device.
When iOS Setup Assistant asks to set up your device, choose "Restore from iTunes backup."
Select your device in iTunes and choose the most recent backup of your device.
Wait patiently while the restore completes its process.

When the restore is completed, you should have all your documents, photos, emails and settings in place and the device should no longer be disabled.

Restore the device using recovery mode and reset the password

If you've never connected your iOS device to your computer, then you may need to place the device in recovery mode and restore it to erase the device. Unless you have an iCloud backup, you will lose all of your data using this method. If you use iCloud for backup, you can select a backup during the setup process after the restore.

Disconnect the USB cable from the device, but leave the other end of the cable connected to your computer's USB port.
Turn off the device: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red slider appears, then slide the slider. Wait for the device to shut down.
While pressing and holding the Home button, reconnect the USB cable to the device. The device should turn on.
Continue holding the Home button until you see the Connect to iTunes screen.
iTunes will alert you that it has detected a device in recovery mode. Click OK, and then restore the device.
Follow the prompts in Setup Assistant and proceed to "Set up your device."
If you used iCloud for backup, tap Restore from a Backup, then sign in to iCloud.
Proceed to "Choose backup," then choose from a list of available backups in iCloud.

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Get back into your iPad using iTunes or Finder

This article will explain what to do when your iPad tells you to connect it to a computer. It will explain why it's happening and how to get it working again.

iPad Passcode Woes

An iPad can become disabled from entering in the wrong passcode too many times (Passcode disabling happens to iPhone, too). When that happens, you'll see a message saying your iPad is disabled and to try again later—sometimes it says in a few seconds, sometimes in hours or days. No matter what the screen says, it really means wait a few minutes and try again.

What Causes a Disabled iPad That Needs to be Connected to iTunes or Finder?

When you see the message on an iPad's screen saying "iPad is Disabled Connect to iTunes" it's most likely caused by an operating system update that failed or other serious software problem. When that happens the iPad stops responding to anything you do and needs to be put into Recovery Mode to get it working again.

How to Fix an iPad That Is Disabled and Says 'Connect to iTunes or Finder'

When you see the connect-to-computer icons on your disabled iPad, follow these steps to unlock it and return it to working order:

There are different steps depending on what computer you are using. We'll point out the differences so no matter what you have, you can still get your iPad working again.

You'll need a Mac or PC in order to continue. Make sure the computer you are using is up to date and running the latest version of its operating system.
If you are using a Window-based PC or a Mac running macOS Mojave (10.14) or earlier, make sure to have the latest version of iTunes.
With your software up to date:
- On a Mac running macOS Catalina (10.15) and higher, open a Finder window.
- On a PC or Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes.
If you can, turn off your iPad. How you do this depends on which model of iPad you have:
- For iPads without a Home button, press and hold Volume Down and the top button.
- For iPads with a Home button, press and hold the Home and top buttons.
When the power-off slider appears, slide it from left to right.

Apple Inc.
If you can't turn off your iPad, it's fine to skip this step.
Using the cable that came with your iPad, connect the iPad to your computer.
Put the iPad into Recovery Mode. Again, how you do this depends on your iPad model:
- For iPads with a Home button, press and hold the Home and top (or side) buttons at the same time.
- For iPads without a Home button, press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, and press and hold the top button.
Keep holding until the Recovery Mode screen appears on the iPad.
Again, the steps differ based on your computer:
- On a Mac running macOS Catalina and higher, click your iPad in the Finder sidebar (if you don't see it, expand Locations).
- On a PC or Mac running macOS Mojave, click the iPad icon in the top left corner in iTunes under the playback controls.
Click Update and follow the onscreen prompts to update your iPad's software. Always try this first, since you don't have to delete any data from your iPad if this works.
If updating the iPad didn't work, you'll have to restore it.
The Restore process will delete all of the data on your iPad and there is no undo, so hopefully you have a recent iPad back up. If you do, you'll be able to recover that data in the next step. Click Restore and follow the onscreen instructions.
Once the Restore process is complete, your iPad will be back to its factory-new state.
You'll now need to set up the iPad as if it were brand new. When you get the step with a choice, you can choose to restore the iPad from back up.

FAQ

How do I fix a disabled iPad?
If your iPad is disabled because you've made too many incorrect attempts to enter the passcode, you don't have many options. More than likely, the easiest fix is to return it to factory settings by going to iCloud.com > Find iPhone > choose your iPad > Erase iPad.
How do I fix a frozen iPad?
A frozen iPad may have several fixes. First, try holding the Home and Power buttons to force a restart. If your iPad doesn't have a Home button, hold Volume Down and Power. You can also try freeing up storage, charging the battery, or, if nothing else works, a factory reset.

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How do you unlock an iPad that is disabled and says connect to iTunes?

Unlock Disabled iPad with iTunes.

If you are a Windows user, open iTunes. And if you are a Mac user, open Finder..

Boot the iPad in Recovery Mode using the buttons. The method differs for iPads with Touch ID and those with Face ID. ... .

Locate the device on the computer. ... .

From the options that appear, select Restore..

How do you restore a disabled iPad to iTunes?

Step 4: Restore your iPad.

Locate your iPad in the Finder or in iTunes on the computer that it's connected to. (Learn how to find your connected iPad.).

Choose Restore when you see the option to Restore or Update. ... .

Wait for the process to finish..

Disconnect your iPad from the computer, then set up and use your iPad..

How do I get my iPad out of Disabled mode?

Turn off the device: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red slider appears, then slide the slider. Wait for the device to shut down. While pressing and holding the Home button, reconnect the USB cable to the device. The device should turn on.