[2024 Guide] How to Connect to iTunes When iPad Is Disabled

Are you experiencing the same problem as this user? Your iPad is disabled and you get a message saying that “iPad is disabled, Connect to iTunes”. However, it doesn't tell you how to connect iPad to iTunes and what to do next. Don’t worry too much, this guide will tell you how to connect to iTunes when iPad is disabled and how to bring it back to life.

How to Connect to iTunes When iPad Is Disabled

Perhaps, you have connected your disabled iPad to iTunes, but there is no response. Well, when iPad is disabled, you should restore it in recovery mode.

It will delete everything on your iPad, including the passcode. In other words, your iPad will be restored to factory settings. After the recovery, you can restore your iPad from iTunes or iCloud backup. Or you can choose to set it up as a new device.

Let’s start to see how to connect to iTunes when iPad is disabled.

1. Please make sure that you have installed the latest version of iTunes on computer.

2. Turn off your iPad.

• Unplug your iPad if it is connected.
• For iPad with Home button: press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears > drag the slider to turn off iPad.
• For iPad without Home button: press and hold one of the volume buttons and the top button at the same time until you see the power off slider > drag the slider to turn off iPad.

3. Put iPad in recovery mode.

• For iPad with Home button: Connect iPad to computer while holding the Home button > Keep holding the Home button until you see the recovery mode screen.
• For iPad without Home button: Connect iPad to computer while holding the Top button > Keep holding the Top button until the recovery mode screen appears.

4. Click the Device icon to view your iPad.

5. Choose Restore when you see the option that asks you to update or restore the device.  Please keep iPad connected wait for iTunes to restore your iPad.

Usually, iPad will exit the recovery mode after 15 minutes. If your iPad exists recovery mode, don’t worry, just let the download finish. Then you can repeat the steps to put your iPad in recovery mode again.

iTunes Is Disabled Connect to iTunes Fix without Computer

It says that you need to connect iPad to iTunes, however, what if you do not have a computer on hand? Fortunately, it’s possible to unlock disabled iPad without iTunes if you have previously enabled “Find My iPad” feature.

You can go to iCloud.com or Find My app and choose the Erase iPad option to delete all content and settings on iPad. After that, you can choose to set your iPad as a new device or restore data from iCloud backup.

Option 1. Unlock Disabled iPad via iCloud.com

1. Open a browser and go to iCloud.com on your iPhone or any device.

2. Sign in your Apple ID and password.

3. Choose Find iPhone option.

4. Select the disabled iPad.

5. Choose Erase iPad > Tap Continue to confirm. If will start the process immediately if the iPad is connected to Internet.

Option 2. Unlock Disabled iPad via Find My App

If you have installed Find My app on your other iDevices, you can simply open the app to erase your iPad.

1. Open Find My app.

2. Tap Devices option and it will show all your devices that use the same Apple ID.

3. Set the disabled iPad  > Tap Erase This Device > Tap Continue to confirm.

Bonus: An Easy Way to Backup Important Data on iPad

From the above, you know how to connect to iTunes when iPad is disabled and how to unlock disabled iPad without iTunes. However, both methods will delete all content on iPad. If you have not backed up your iPad beforehand, then it’s certain that you will lose all important data. To avoid this situation in the future, backup your iPad as soon as possible!

You can create a full backup with iTunes or iCloud. If you only want to backup important contacts, messges, photos, videos, etc., you can let third-party iOS backup tools like AOMEI FoneBackup help you achieve the goal

AOMEI FoneBackup is one professional iOS data manager for Windows PC users. Its Selective Backup feature can help you backup important data instead of the whole iPhone content. In addition, you are allowed to restore selected backup files to iPad. In short, easily backup and restore the data you need.

Besides data backup, you can also let it help you transfer music, photos, videos and more between iPad and computer, between iPad and iPhone. You can click the download button to get it and explore more by yourself.

Final Words

That’s all about how to connect to iTunes when iPad is disabled. You should put iPad in recovery mode so that your iTunes can detect the device. If it does not work, you can choose to erase iPad via iCloud.com/Find My app or contact Apple support.