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unlocking a I Pad

10 years ago

My 80 year old aunt gave me her Ipad ... she has forgotten the password I think ... anyhow it now says "Ipad is disabled" How can I help her get it back? any thougths here ...thanks

Featured Answer

zep516

10 years ago

If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204306

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Comments (10)

kudzu9
10 years ago
This was discussed at some length recently in another thread:

Unlock iPad
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I-Pad Backup Help or Need?
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I was here pk. I guess I should have let you know that the backup was specifically asking for the apple id password. I only brought up email because I found no contacts (but I also pointed out that I hadn't tried to link emails in any way). I also now see that there is an off setting on a 'settings' button for email. I am not sure how she sees her mail. Probably directly via Safari but I do see an email app right on her first page trey below the regular apps. Probably way more info than needed since this was not really an email question. Looking back, I now see that I wasn't clear about what password was wanted; sorry. My general question was about the whole purpose of this kind of backup. It appeared (and still does) that she may not have had anything to backup because she didn't really use itunes for paid music (and yesterday I saw something that implied it didn't do that either, I suppose because apple really only has pointers to the music and always remembers your apple id with those pointers). I was more concerned that perhaps each system update might wipe all apps and perhaps other stuff. As far as I can tell, it certainly didn't wipe all apps out (she still has some), and I see no reason it would clear specific ones. I was waiting for another response and to see if I got a backup. I can't really tell because it doesn't say so. It was not asking to be backed up yesterday (or today) and I can't find where it is indicated. The new update changed stuff on icloud and wanted new legal acceptance (i gave it) but that was after I attempted the backup. BTW I actually read a little of the legal stuff and it included that icloud could wipe your backup if you didn't backup for 120 days!!! Anyway, I still don't really understand the purpose of this backup system. While attempting to follow various directions, I got messages that suggest if there are problems (I don't think there actually were) that I should Reset the ipad. I am suspecting that perhaps that is exactly when the backup would be needed because the Reset Would wipe everything back to a new pad. Not sure of that either.
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Thanks to both of you, but it's not practical. You cannot use a laptop on a music stand and there isn't nearly such nice software for organizing and reading music as there is for iOS. Also, I would have to carry a very heavy clunky stand if I wanted to do that, and it can't come in nearly as close as a regular music stand because of the keyboard, besides looking terrible. Also, I'd have to turn every half page because laptop software isn't designed for the computer to run sideways, so you can only see half a page of music at a time with most of those programs. I find the suggestion kind of puzzling, to tell the truth. The idea that needing to bring a phone, keys, credit card, and a comb is "a whole lot of other stuff" confuses me. Don't you need those things when you go anywhere in your car? All I want is a case that can also serve as a small clutch for valuables like a phone and credit cards. You don't seem to realize that there is usually no safe place to put valuables on jobs in public locations like stores and restaurants, unless you keep it right at your feet, which clients often don't care for. In the pre-internet days it didn't matter so much, because smart thieves knew that a musician wasn't worth robbing, but these days a smartphone, for instance, is a very tempting target to anyone. I don't happen to have one, but they're going to grab the bag first and find that out later.
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iPad Activation Lock
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I assume you've done a factory reset via iTunes given you say Activation lock. Should be on a white screen asking for apple id (his email address) and password. If you have access to his email address, you can try resetting the password either by sending an email, or answering questions here Apple iForgot. If you don't have that, then you'd need a proof of purchase receipt or email receipt and a death certificate and Apple MAY unlock it for you then, but it's not a guarantee. Apple has been very stubborn on stuff like this because they don't know if it's stolen and your word unfortunately means nothing to them. There are may stories online of people trying to do this very thing and Apple gave them all the cold shoulder. If you're trying to unlock the device with the passcode to access data on the device, your only hope is to guess the passcode, or try connecting it to a computer that he might have used to sync with the phone. In some cases, it will detect it as a trusted device and unlock the phone, but it's not a guarantee. If these don't work, then there is little Apple will do for you here. They don't store passcodes, and they won't even unlock a phone for a terrorist for the authorities, they will not help you here. Sorry for your loss, and best of luck.
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Spanish, there's nothing in Settings with that info. I found iCloud and no option to do anything. Maddie, I've thought about linking the devices but so far no need to.
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big_al_41
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi all.... well I tried all of the above as best as I could... I hooked up this Ipad to my computor and did what I was shown on youtube to unlock etc.... I got the apple icon to come on but that's as far as I could go even holding down that button... the screen would then just fade out and than nothing would come up. I am at a lost here ... I think need to tell my aunt that I need to buy her a new one I guess.
kudzu9
10 years ago
Do you mean that all you've seen is the Apple logo and nothing else? If so, maybe it's fully discharged and you need to charge it first. When phones and tablets get to the point that the battery is exhausted, it wouldn't be unusual for them to not come on right away even if they are plugged in, or to only briefly see the logo come on at first. Can you clarify what happened more clearly?
big_al_41
Original Author
10 years ago
It shows an indication that the unit is disabled and when I hold down the power button as well as the button on the screen that wording disappears and the apple icon comes on..... the battery shows it's fully charged ...this is where I dead end . there is a jet plane icon in the upper left corner of the unit if that means anything ......
kudzu9
10 years ago
"Jet plane icon" means that it is in airplane mode. I don't know if this is interfering with what you would like to do, but it would be good to disable it. Can you access the Settings -- for example, by swiping up from the bottom of the screen -- to turn it off?
big_al_41 thanked kudzu9
jane__ny
10 years ago
When I lost my Ipad, I tried to find it through 'find my I'pad.' I was given the option of disabling or erasing the IPad. I chose 'disable.'

I am not suggesting anything, but someone had to choose to disable the IPad.

I would suggest taking it to an Apple store and speak to someone there.

I did find my IPad eventually, (very scary), and all was fine. No one could turn it on because I disabled it.

Jane
big_al_41 thanked jane__ny
big_al_41
Original Author
10 years ago
OK ... here is the latest that I was able to do. I download Itunes and I was able to to connect, and by that I mean the screen showed the image of a usb cable and the Itune icon. when I went to do a "RESTORE" it went thru the process but at the end it still was asking for a password. That's the problem my aunt doesn't remember it ... I did restore not update . Any thoughts on how to reset everything. she just uses it for pictures and I can reload them for her. Help.
rgreen48
10 years ago
Here's the problem with passcodes... They work.

I understand that it is common for people to forget their passcodes, especially the very young or older, but I don't think it's ethical to help anyone with this problem.

If you bought it legitimately, then that's what company support is for. I also understand you may have to pay for support, but if you can prove you bought the iPad, then it is ethical to offer help.

Since I personally cannot verify the purchase, I'm not going to help anyone.

So, I will say that if this is a legitimate case, then I hope you find an answer that works. If it's not, then I'm glad the passcode, and the disabling feature is working.

In the future, if you enable the passcode, write it down somewhere and keep it safe.
kudzu9
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
big_al-

Glad you made some progress, but I think it might now be a good time to call an Apple store, explain the situation, and see what you would have to do to get them to help. I'm sure it is out of warranty, but getting help will be much cheaper than buying a new one. Since it has a password, and you don't have it, I suspect that you can only get it working again by showing up at the store with some kind of proof of purchase, and then they could reset it for you. Looking back at your very first post, I think the reason it was disabled is that your aunt entered the wrong password several times in a row. Apple has this security feature to make an iPad unattractive to a thief, as it turns into a paperweight if you don't know the password.
big_al_41 thanked kudzu9

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