By Hally | Last Updated
Q: "My iPad asks me to enter the passcode after a restart, but I've never set any before. That's weird, how do I unlock it?"
When your iPhone prompts you to enter a passcode to unlock it after a reboot, you may be confused, especially if you've never used a passcode before. You're not alone, it is not a new thing, a number of Apple users have reported similar encounters. In this article, we'll talk about why the iPad requires passcode after restarting and how to unlock it. Continue reading.
The iPad requires your passcode after restarting, usually due to Apple's strict security protocols. If you have set a passcode for your iPad, you will be asked to enter it after turning on or rebooting the device to verify access.
However, if your iPad's original unlock passcode is empty or the passcode you've been using is suddenly incorrect, here are some possible reasons:
1. After upgrading iPadOS, your four-digit passcode may be defaulted to a six-digit passcode.
2. When the feature of Apple Pay is enabled, the system will let you set up an advanced hybrid passcode and automatically update it as a lock screen unlock code.
3. Your iPad restarts with an unknown iOS error and asks you to enter your passcode.
If you haven't set a passcode, but the iPad asks you to enter it after a reboot, it could be the result of an error in the iOS runtime. Sometimes a simple forced reboot can clear up a glitch in the operating system, and this is a simple preferred option.
iPad with Home button: Quickly press and release the volume up and down buttons separately, then press and hold the top button (power button) until the Apple logo appears, then release.
iPad without Home button: Press and hold the Home button and Power button at the same time and release the buttons when you see the Apple logo.
After a forced reboot, check if the iPad still has the passcode prompt. If the problem persists, go ahead and try the next method.
A number of users on the Apple forums have reported that when adding a new card to Apple Pay, the original numeric passcode prompts an upgrade to a more complex hybrid passcode that automatically becomes the lock screen passcode. So if your iPad asks you to enter a passcode you never set up after a reboot, or the original passcode is incorrect, you might want to try Apple Pay credentials.
Other than that, if you are pretty sure that your iPad has never had any unlock passcode before, then you can try some default passcode like "123456", "000000", which might work.
If the passcode fails to unlock the iPad, you can use iTunes or Finder to restore the device and then unlock it again via Apple ID. Although the recovery process resets the iPad to factory settings, it's an effective solution. Once the recovery is complete, you can also retrieve important content from the backup file (if any).
Step 1: Connect your iPad to your computer and run iTunes or Finder.
Step 2: Put iPad in recovery mode. If you don't know how to do it, you can find the corresponding steps in this guide.
Step 3: When iTunes detects your iPad, it will ask you whether to "Restore" or "Update". Click "Restore" to reset the device.
After that, you can use your iPad freely. Note that if your iPad has been logged into Apple ID before, the device will ask you to enter its credentials to verify access.
If none of the above unlocking methods work for your iPad, then you may consider turning to professional third-party unlocking software, such as iSunshare iPhone Passcode Genius. It is a popular and reliable unlocker that has helped thousands of users successfully bypass the iPhone or iPad lock screen restrictions, whether it's a 4/6-digit passcode, or Touch/Face ID.
Download and install this iPhone Passcode Genius on computer, then follow the steps below to fix iPad asking for passcode after reboot.
Step 1: Run the installed software and select "Unlock Lock Screen" option in the function list of the main interface.
Step 2: Connect your iPad to the computer and click "Next", the software will automatically check your device and load its version information.
Step 3: Check if your device information is correct. If it is correct, click "Download" to download the firmware package for unlocking iPad.
Step 4: Wait patiently for the firmware file to finish downloading. When everything is ready, click "Unlock" and iPhone Passcode Genius will start unlocking your iPad immediately without the passcode.
If your device has Find My enabled and is connected to a valid network, you can unlock the locked iPad without a computer by using iCloud Find My to remove all information and settings on your iPad, including Passcode Lock.
Step 1: Visit icloud.com/find on another device and sign in to your Apple ID on your iPad.
Step 2: If your Apple ID is associated with more than one device, select iPad from the list of devices and click "Erase This Device", then verify your Apple ID credentials and dual authentication code as required.
Step 3: Once everything has been verified, click "Erase" and your iPad will immediately begin wiping all information and data.
You may find it annoying to ask you for a password verification every time your iPad reboots, so if you're not worried about the security of your iPad's information, you can turn off its password protection. Note that removing password verification means any passerby can access your device, so consider this action carefully.
Step 1: First, go to your iPad's Settings page, locate and click on "Face ID & Passcode" or "Touch ID & Passcode", which depending on your device model.
Step 2: You will be asked to enter the unlock code for verification. After verification, click the "Turn Passcode Off" button.
Step 3: A pop-up window will explain the effects of this action, if you want to continue, click "Turn Off" to confirm. After verifying the passcode again, your iPad will no longer require you to enter the passcode to unlock the device.
These are the effective ways to fix iPad requires passcode after restarting summarized in this article. It is indeed confusing when you have never set a passcode but are asked to authenticate. Following the guidelines in this article, you can troubleshoot the problem step by step and unlock the device smoothly. If these methods still fail to solve the problem, it is recommended to contact Apple support team for professional help and further solutions.
