Updated on 2025-09-03 views 5 mins read
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Stuck at the iPad passcode screen after a restart? You’re not alone. You can’t provide the screen passcode because you’ve used Face ID for so long that the passcode feels irrelevant or you have never set a screen lock before. Whatever the case, it’s a jarring interruption that makes a secure feature feel like a barrier.

Don’t worry, in this article, we’ll walk through seven reliable solutions to help you remove your iPad passcode and regain access without stress or guesswork.

passcode requirement | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Fixed: iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting If Screen Passcode Is Set

If a screen lock is set, entering screen passcode after iPad rebooting is a regular security mechanism. Simply unlock your iPad and change its configuration, so you don’t have to input the passcode each time you reboot your device. 

Step 1. First, enter the correct passcode on the iPad screen.

enter correct passcode | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 2. Open your iPad’s Settings app. Then, touch either the Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode option, whichever is available in your device.

select Face ID and Passcode | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 3. Enter your current passcode.

Step 4. Select Turn Passcode Off and confirm by entering your passcode again.

select Turn Passcode Off | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Fixed: iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting but You Never Set One

Some users have reported that their iPads ask for the screen passcode after restarting, even though they never set one.  Most likely, some security settings or a glitch triggered it. Don’t falter, the following are several methods to effectively solve this unexpected issue.

Way 1. Force Restart iPad

A force restart can clear temporary glitches causing the passcode prompt error. To do this:

On iPads with Home Button

Press and hold both the Home and Power buttons. When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release them.

force restart iPad with Home button | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

On iPads Without Home Button

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button first, then the Volume Down button. Immediately after, press the Power button until the Apple logo shows.

force restart iPad without Home button | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Way 2. Remove iPad Screen Passcode with Passixer

If the issue persists, then you need to remove the self-generated passcode from your iPad. You can get it done via professional tools like Passixer iPhone Unlocker. Passixer can unlock iPad without passcode when the device is locked with unavailable screen, broken interface and Enter-Passcode screen shown after restart. It can remove passcode, Face ID or Touch ID from your iDevice and thus help you get into your iPad again. Whether you forget the screen passcode you changed just now or don’t know the passcode set by its previous owner on your second-hand iPad, Passixer can unlock your device within a click-through process.

Key Features

Remove SIM lock from iPhone without data loss and carrier.
Bypass iCloud Activation Lock without IMEI or password on your second-hand iPhone/iPad.
Unlink Apple ID from your iDevice when you forgot the password or the Apple ID is unavailable.
Turn off Screen Time and MDM restrictions to use your iPad/iPhone freely.

How to Remove Screen Passcode from iPad Using Passixer

Step 1
Get Passixer and Access Its Wipe Passcode Feature

Download and install Passixer via the Download button above. Then, launch Passixer and press the Wipe Passcode mode. Afterwards, tap Start.

press Wipe Passcode | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 2
Use a USB Cable to Connect the iPad

Connect your iPad to the PC or Mac. Make sure you are using a certified USB cable.

connect iPad | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 3 
Download Firmware for iPad Passcode Removal

Review the details of your iPad and verify that everything is accurate. Once confirmed, click the Start button to begin downloading the needed firmware.

click Start | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 4
Start Removing iPad Passcode

Once the firmware download is complete, enter 0000 into the field and then click the Unlock button. Passixer will begin removing the passcode.

click Unlock | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 5 
iPad Screen Lock Is Removed

After unlocking your iPad, a confirmation message will appear. You’ll now be able to access your iPad without passcode and proceed with setting it up as a new device for use.

confirmation message | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Way 3. Erase iPad in Lock Screen

This way enables you to erase and unlock your iPad directly using your Apple ID and password without needing a computer. Data loss will occur and you can restore your iPad later from an iCloud backup. If you have enabled Find My iPad before, follow these steps to try this way:

Step 1. On your iPad’s lock screen, enter any passcode combination. After several attempts, an iPad Unavailable prompt will appear. Then, tap the Forgot Passcode? at the bottom right of the screen.

iPad unavailable | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 2. Press iPad Reset >  Start iPad Reset.

choose Start iPad Reset | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 3. You will be required to sign out of and erase the iPad by entering your Apple ID credentials. This will permanently remove all your iPad’s data and settings, including the screen lock.

enter Apple ID | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Way 4. Restore iPad via iTunes/Finder

You can also use a PC or Mac to restore your iPad to factory settings and unlock it. There are different apps you can use, including iTunes, Finder and the Apple Devices app. Each app can be used in specific sets of PC or Mac.

Step 1. First, launch the appropriate app according to your computer and OS:

  • MacOS Catalina or newer: Finder.
  • Windows 10 or later: Apple Devices app.
  • MacOS Mojave or earlier/Windows 10 earlier: iTunes

Step 2. Attach your iPad to your computer with a USB cable and put the iDevice into Recovery Mode via the corresponding buttons.  

iPad without Home button:

  • Quickly press and release the volume button closest to the top (power) button, followed by the volume button farthest from it. Then, press and hold the top button.
  • buttons for iPad recovery mode | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

  • Continue pressing the top button until the recovery mode screen appears on your iPad.
  • release buttons | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

iPad with Home button:

  • Press and hold both Home button and Power button simultaneously.
  • press both Home button and Power | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

  • Hold on the Home button when the recovery mode screen appears.
  • let go of top button | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 3. When prompted with options to Restore or Update, choose Restore.

choose Restore | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Your computer will begin downloading the necessary files for iPad restoration. Follow the onscreen steps to complete the process.

Way 5. Factory Reset iPad Through iCloud Site

iCloud site can remotely erase your iPad via a network-connected browser and in turn your iPad is unlocked. However, note that the iPad must have Find My iPad enabled and you will need its Apple ID credentials.

Follow these steps:

Step 1. In a web browser, go to https://www.icloud.com/find. Then, provide the email and password linked to the Apple ID signed into the locked iPad.

go to icloud find | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 2. Find My iPad will begin scanning for your device’s location and display it on a map. Click All Devices to view your list and select the device you are going to erase.

click All Devices | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 3. C hoose the Erase This Device button from the Find My map. Then, follow the on-screen instructions.

choose Erase this Device | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 4. After erasing your device, a confirmation email will be sent to your Apple Account’s email. The Activation Lock will remain enabled for security. Your Apple ID’s credentials will be needed to reactivate it.

Way 6. Wipe iPad Using Find My App

Have you installed the Find My App on your another Apple devices and have your iPad’s Find My feature on before? If you have, then great, you can use the app to reset and unlock your iPad. Following are the steps to unlock iPad passcode with Find My app. 

Step 1. Ensure the device with Find My app installed is signed with the Apple ID used on the locked iPad.

Step 2. Open the Find My app on another Apple device. Go to Devices in the lower-left corner and select the iPad you want to erase.

go to Devices | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Step 3. Hold Erase This Device and press Continue. Then, enter your Apple ID password and tap Erase again to confirm.

enter Apple ID password | iPad Requires Passcode After Restarting

Conclusion

In this article, we went over 7 easy fixes you can apply if you accidentally locked yourself out of your iPad after restarting. If your iPad still asks for a unknown passcode after force restart, then you can remove the screen passcode easily with Passixer iPhone Unlocker.

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