You probably already know that iOS has a security feature such that multiple incorrect passcode entries will lock the device. Initially for a few minutes, eventually for an hour or so... and finally, your iPad will be disabled, with a message that you need to connect to iTunes to restore.
That's my iPad mini, stopping me working on a flight to Stockholm. And yes, I wrote this article on my iPhone, with edits when I got home - it can be done, in extremis.
Now, before I get on to how to fix this (or not), let's see how it happened in the first place. I've actually had the same problem a couple of times before. The first time, the iPad seemed to be in a loop: the passcode screen would come up, numbers would be filled in, which would be wrong, the iPad would lock and then it would start all over again. Eventually I force-reset and that seemed to clear the problem. The second time, I was at home. I took the iPad out of its cover (smart slimline leather envelope) to find it already in the disabled state. I'd started to think that there must be some hardware glitch, but nothing untoward happened then until this particular occasion.
I finally figured it out. My external Bluetooth keyboard must be switched on in my bag.
The lessons here are:
- Always disable Bluetooth on the device as soon as you are finished with the external keyboard (or other BT accessory) - probably a good security & battery-life practice anyway; and
- In the case of the Apple external keyboard, which is kind of tricky to switch on & off properly (and potentially easy to switch on accidentally in a bag): consider removing the batteries after use and/or pre-flight. Apple folks: a power switch lock of some kind wouldn't go amiss!
Instructions for getting out of the disabled state are simple enough (Apple Support, and several third party articles which you can find using a search engine of your choice), but require you to connect to iTunes, and so assume you have the relevant computer to hand.
Which I don't. That rather being the point.
There appear to be two fall-back options:
- You can use the Find iPhone app on the iPhone, remote wipe the iPad and then restore same from your online backup. However, even if you do have a recent online backup (which you do, right?), this also relies on the iPad being able to connect to a network. Which it won’t do in the locked state. (Side note: Maybe this works with a mobile-connected iPad - mine is wifi only.).
- You can hard-reset (and so wipe) the device, and then restore it. By connecting to iTunes. On the computer which I don't have.
Oh good.
Bottom line: there is no way out of this, beyond: wait until you get home, and in the meantime, struggle along with just the iPhone… or borrow a spare laptop from a colleague. Well, at least I got to play around with Linux as a desktop solution for a couple of days, so I learned something!
Maybe Apple could provide an option to get out of this that doesn't ultimately require another computer? Although maybe they have data suggesting most users aren't working without ready access to another machine, in which case I'll gracefully concede defeat.
Final note: please do be mindful of backups. Device plugged in, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi, or you've had it.
