Can't unlock iPad

So I recently got a laptop and I was trying to use it to unlock my iPad that had been disabled a few years ago but it isn't working.

I have:

My first and last name

My date of birth

My new email

The iPad

My new phone number

Laptop and iPad cable

iPad serial number


I don't have:

My old apple id

proof of purchase as it was second hand from a school

my old email

My old phone number as I lost the phone


Is there any way I could get a complete reset or anything Apple could do to make my iPad usable?

I know it's an old iPad mini but I don't know the model

iPad

Posted on Oct 10, 2022 7:10 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 10, 2022 7:42 PM

With all of the info, I am going to state no.

You will never get this old iPad back up and running.


Sorry.


You will just have to properly and responsibly recycle this electronics device.


Even if you could get this iPad fully reset and working, if this iPad is 10 to 11-year old model, it would be of very limited uae.

If this is an old iPad model, it will NOT be able to upgrade/update beyond whatever last iOS version was installed in it.


Apple ended support for all 10-11-year old iOS devices 6 years, ago, in 2016.

Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 10-11 year old iOS devices 4 years, ago, in 2018.

There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!

Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2022.

This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices and, throughout 2022, ALL iOS 12 ONLY devices!

AND, NO WAY to, initially, install any older, compatible, third party apps into this old iPad, any longer!

NO MORE SUPPORT! NO MORE APPS!


All 2011-2012 iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are fully and completely unsupported AND obsolete!


Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 10-11-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now, in 2022.


In addition, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.

Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.


Also, any Web browser from 2016-2018 is now too old and no longer secure to be trusted to use on today’s modern Internet.


Also, these very old iPad models have NO trade-in NOR any resale value, either.


Sorry.


Even if this iPad is a 8-9-year old iPad model that could be upgraded/updated to a maximum iOS of iOS 12.5.6, these iPad year and models will be reaching their full end of life by the end of 2022 and into early 2023.

Almost all third party app support for all iOS 12 devices will be gone by the end of 2022 and into early 2023.


It is the Fall of 2022, now.

iPadOS 16 will be released, sometime, soon, this October 2022.

You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.


There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need OR ONLY able to afford to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older iPads from 2015 and later.


All of these older model iPads below, CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 15 and the up and coming iPadOS 16 releasing sometime in the Fall of 2022.


2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017,10.5 inch screen iPad iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )



Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.


I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.



Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 10, 2022 7:42 PM in response to manasa129

With all of the info, I am going to state no.

You will never get this old iPad back up and running.


Sorry.


You will just have to properly and responsibly recycle this electronics device.


Even if you could get this iPad fully reset and working, if this iPad is 10 to 11-year old model, it would be of very limited uae.

If this is an old iPad model, it will NOT be able to upgrade/update beyond whatever last iOS version was installed in it.


Apple ended support for all 10-11-year old iOS devices 6 years, ago, in 2016.

Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 10-11 year old iOS devices 4 years, ago, in 2018.

There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!

Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2022.

This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices and, throughout 2022, ALL iOS 12 ONLY devices!

AND, NO WAY to, initially, install any older, compatible, third party apps into this old iPad, any longer!

NO MORE SUPPORT! NO MORE APPS!


All 2011-2012 iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are fully and completely unsupported AND obsolete!


Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 10-11-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now, in 2022.


In addition, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.

Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.


Also, any Web browser from 2016-2018 is now too old and no longer secure to be trusted to use on today’s modern Internet.


Also, these very old iPad models have NO trade-in NOR any resale value, either.


Sorry.


Even if this iPad is a 8-9-year old iPad model that could be upgraded/updated to a maximum iOS of iOS 12.5.6, these iPad year and models will be reaching their full end of life by the end of 2022 and into early 2023.

Almost all third party app support for all iOS 12 devices will be gone by the end of 2022 and into early 2023.


It is the Fall of 2022, now.

iPadOS 16 will be released, sometime, soon, this October 2022.

You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.


There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need OR ONLY able to afford to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older iPads from 2015 and later.


All of these older model iPads below, CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 15 and the up and coming iPadOS 16 releasing sometime in the Fall of 2022.


2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017,10.5 inch screen iPad iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )



Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.


I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.



Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

Oct 10, 2022 7:40 PM in response to manasa129

If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, from individual Apple device sellers, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.



If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.

A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.

DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free!

We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.

User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.

Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.


So, buyer beware!


If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON

If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.

If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.

You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.

Pass on the device!


If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.

Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.

If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy!




Best of Luck to You!


Oct 10, 2022 8:07 PM in response to manasa129

It is just the way it is.

No mobile electronics device manufacturer supports their producrs forever.

Apple supports their mobile devices longer than any other device manufacturers, now.

Apple is now up to almost 8-years of device support, now.

Unfortunately, much older iPad models fall outside of these newer support standards.



Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Can't unlock iPad

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.