[2024] iPad Asking for Passcode I Never Set? No Worries

Q:"My iPad keeps asking for passcode, but I never set one and never update iOS. Passcodes like 0000 or 1234 is not working. Please help. There is very important data on my tablet." - User from Apple Community

Why does the iPad ask for a passcode even if you have not set it up? An increasing number of iPad users have encountered this problem. If you are one of them, please don't be alarmed. The exact cause is hard to dig out and one can guess that your iPadOS system has some glitches. However, not knowing why it occurs does not mean that it cannot be solved. Here, to settle the matter of iPad asking for passcode I never set, this guide proposes 7 general solutions.

• Part 1. 7 Methods to Remove Passcode from iPad
  • Method 1. Try Default Passcode
  • Method 2. Repair iPad by Force Restart
  • Method 3. Update iPadOS Software
  • Method 4. Erase iPad on Security Lockout
  • Method 5. Reset iPad with iCloud
  • Method 6. Restore iPad by iTunes
  • Method 7. Remove iPad Screen Lock via Passcode Unlocker
• Part 2: How to Set up Passcode after Removing It
• Part 3. How to Recover Data after Restoring iPad

Part 1. 7 Methods to iPad Asking for Passcode I Never Set

Method 1. Try Default Passcode

There is a possibility that your iPad is locked for a system error, you could try to enter the default passcode such as 0000 or 1234 as the user mentioned at the beginning. Besides, 8888 or other regular number combinations are worth trying. If your iPad is asking for a 6-digit passcode, just extend numbers with regularity. Sometimes this method is workable to unlock your iPad.

Method 2. Repair iPad by Force Restart

If your iPad is asking for a passcode but you only set up a Touch ID or Face ID rather than a digit passcode, you could reboot your iPad to see if the screen lock works normally. If nothing changed, you need to force restart your iPad to give it a thorough refreshment. Here is how to do it.

• iPad with a Home button: simultaneously press and hold both the Home button and the Top button, and release them when you see the Apple logo.
• iPad without a Home button: press the Volume Up button and release it, quickly press the Volume Down button and release it, press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears.

Method 3. Update iPadOS Software

In case you are in the same situation as the user from Apple Community where the iPad passcode problem occurs when you don't update the iPadOS version, you'd better consider giving it an update. This is easy on the Settings app, but you are unavailable to get into your iPad, which means iTunes is the optimal choice. Run the latest iTunes on your computer and plug your iPad into it. Locate your iPad icon, choose the Summary option and click Check for Update. Wait for minutes until your iPad turn on again.

Method 4. Erase iPad on Security Lockout

Security Lockout is a new feature only running on iPadOS 15.2 and later. It appears when you enter the wrong passcode over 10 times, implying that more than an hour is needed. It permits you to erase your settings including the not-set passcode of course and your data if you remember your Apple ID password. So, if you can satisfy these conditions, go ahead with the device-erasing process.

• Step 1: Try the incorrect passcode, and wait for the Security Lockout to show.
• Step 2: Tap the Erase iPad option and enter your Apple ID password.
• Step 3: Touch the pop-up to confirm that you need to delete your data.
• Step 4: Leave your iPad aside until it reopens.

Method 5. Reset iPad with iCloud

Is there any other solution to iPad asking for passcode when the foregoing methods are invalid? Of course. Making use of iCloud to erase the iPad is also effective in bypassing the iPad screen lock. But only when "Find My iPhone" is enabled and your iPad is connected to a stable network can iCloud take effect. If the conditions are met, do the following.

• Step 1: Please log in to your iCloud account with Apple ID by visiting www.icloud.com on a computer.
• Step 2: After that, click your Name, choose the "Find My Devices" option and then click on "All Devices" under this option.
• Step 3: Now, select the problematic iPad.
• Step 4: Then, a window with three options is presented in your sight. Just click "Erase iPad" to solve the iPad asking for a passcode problem.

Method 6. Restore iPad by iTunes

When you could not have the aid of iCloud, sensibly consider iTunes to fix iPad asking for the unset passcode. With iTunes, you stand a chance to back up iPad data. But this requires that your iPad has been trusted and synced with iTunes. And if you need to back up data, then you ought to "Back Up Now" in the "Backups" section prior to tapping "Restore iPad". The steps in this case are detailed below.

Restore iPad with Trusted iTunes:

• Step 1: Run the latest version of iTunes on the computer and then use a USB cable to plug the iPad into it.
• Step 2: When iTunes detects the iPad successfully, click the iPad icon to get into the next interface.
• Step 3: In this interface, choose "Summary" and then click "Restore iPad" in the right panel to restore the iPad.
• Step 4: Once your iPad is restored, remember to click "Restore Backup" to recover iPad data after the process.

Suppose that your iPad has not been synced before, and you are locked out so that unable to tap "Trust" on your iPad, backing up data is unallowed and you need to put iPad into recovery mode to restore it with iTunes.

Restore iPad in Recovery Mode:

• Step 1: First, still, run iTunes on the computer and connect your iPad to computer.
• Step 2: Set your iPad into recovery mode.
  • iPad with a Home button: hold the "Home" and "Power" buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
  • iPad without a Home button: quickly press the Volume Up button then release it, do the same to the Volume Down button, and continue to hold the Top button until entering the recovery mode.
• Step 3: When iTunes recognizes the iPad in recovery mode, it will pop up a window. Then you just click on "Restore" to settle the iPad asking passcode problem.

Method 7. Remove iPad Screen Lock via Passcode Unlocker

Is your iPad asking for a passcode but you never set one? The simple and quick solution to it is to draw support from a specialized unlocking tool - Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker. As a fairly reliable and well-received program, it is designed with a convenient interface and enhanced features that allow you to bypass 4 types of screen locks on any iOS device with the slightest effort. Not just simple digital passcodes but also complicated Touch ID and Face ID could be unlocked by it.

Besides the above characteristics, Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker also owns other functions. For instance, it can be applied to various occasions including unlock disabled iPad, reset Apple ID password when you forget it, turn off Screen Time without a passcode, bypass iPad MDM restrictions, and more.

Main Features of Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker

• Bypass never-set passcode on iPad without difficulty
• Be used to unlock 4 kinds of screen locks
• Remove Apple ID, Screen Time passcode, and MDM restrictions
• Simple to use and ensure safety in the process
• Totally support almost all iOS devices and iOS 17

Try It Free Try It Free

• Step 1 Download and Install Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker

  Directly download Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker from its official website and install it on the computer. Then open the program and connect the iPad to it. Enter the Unlock iOS Screen interface, and click on "Start" to start up.

  

• Step 2 Put iPad into DFU/Recovery Mode

  Select your iPad model and manually put the iPad into DFU mode or recovery mode in the basics of indications on the screen. Switching to recovery mode just needs you to click the link at the bottom.

  

• Step 3 Download and Verify the Firmware Package

  Now, all info of your iPad will be recognized and shown on the screen. You need to confirm it. If there is nothing wrong, please click "Download" to get and verify a matching firmware for the iPad.

  

• Step 4 Remove Unset iPad Screen Lock

  After verifying, you should hit on the "Unlock" button. Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker will unzip the firmware and later start removing the passcode from your iPad.

  

Part 2. How to Set up Passcode after Removing It

After removing the screen lock from your iPad, it is necessary to set a new passcode for your iPad. Otherwise, anyone can access your iPad at random. Although it is rather simple to do, the following gives a quick guide as before to set a passcode on an iPad.

• Step 1: First of all, please open "Settings" on your iPad and followed by "Touch ID & Passcode" or "Face ID & Passcode".
• Step 2: You can hit on "Add a Fingerprint..." to set the fingerprint lock, touch the "Set Up An Alternative Appearance" option to set a Face ID, or tap on "Turn Passcode On" to set a 4-digit/6-digit passcode for the iPad.
• Step 3: Just in case, you can set both of them. Even though the passcode is not working someday, you can simply get into the iPad with your finger or face.

Part 3. How to Recover Data after Restoring iPad

When you have fixed the malfunctioning iPad passcode, you are required to set up your iPad. And if you have backed up your data in advance, you should recover it when your iPad turns on again after restoring.

• Step 1: On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
• Step 2: Log into iCloud with your Apple ID and choose a backup.
• Step 3: Connect to the Wi-Fi network during the process and make sure sufficient power.

The Bottom Line

In this guide, seven methods are listed to resolve iPad asking for passcode I never set. It is recommended that you read them all so that you could find the best one fitting your own circumstance. To save your time, here suggest Joyoshare iPasscode Unlocker, which has the least limitations. After you succeed in restoring your iPad, you could find how to set up a new passcode and how to recover data from your backup in this article. Wish your problem could be settled without obstacles.