iPad Unavailable Try again in 15 minutes - Solve It Now

Your iPad keeps saying the message "iPad unavailable, try again in 15 minutes"? It’s annoying to be stopped from accessing your iPad when you need to use it immediately. An alternative saying is “security lockout try again in 15 minutes” on the iPad locked screen.

Don’t be distraught by the issue. In this article, we’ll help you to fix the iPad unavailable try again in 15 minutes issue. Read on to learn the solutions to bypass the iPad locked screen.

Why does your iPad say iPad unavailable try again in 15 minutes?

When you enter the seventh failed passcode attempt on your iPad, it should show you "iPad unavailable try again in 15 minutes" on iPadOS 15.2 or later. It means your iPad is disabled for 15 minutes. Apple has started security measures to stop you from accessing your iPad immediately to avoid password attacks. You can enter your correct passcode to bypass the screen when 15-minute countdown ends. After 10 failed passcode attempts, the iPad should be permanently disabled.

Why does your iPad keep saying iPad unavailable try again in 15 minutes?

When you put your iPad in your pocket or your bag with the screen rubbing your skin or body, you may inadvertently press the screen until the message appears.

If your device is lost and is encountering passcode attacks by someone, your iPad may also keep locking you out for 15 minutes.

If your Erase iPad option is not working when you don’t meet the prerequisites to erase it. Your iPad should be stuck on iPad unavailable try again in 15 minutes. And it keeps saying the message.

How to fix iPad unavailable try again in 15 minutes stuck issue.

If you want to access your iPad immediately,  there is no way to speed up the 15-minute countdown. After waiting for 15 minutes, do enter your correct passcode carefully.  Everything is there on your iPad now.

If you don’t have the correct passcode within 10 tries, your iPad should permanently disable itself showing you iPad unavailable with no timer. To learn more about iPad Unavailable try again message, refer to iPad Unavailable Try again message.

Once you forgot the iPad passcode, reset it and erase everything to use it. It sounds cruel to all data and content on your iPad but it makes sense from a security perspective when a stolen device is attacked. 

We’re explaining the following methods. Choose one that is most convenient for you to regain access to your iPad.

If you have a computer, use Option 1 or Option 2. Skip to Option 3 or Option 4 when you have no computers. Generally speaking, the success rate of solving by computer is higher.

Option 1. Unlock it by 3rd party software.

The SD iPhone Unlocker app is perfectly capable of unlocking the iPad unavailable screen, unlocking Apple ID, unlocking the screen time passcode, and more.

Free download and install it to your computer first, if you have a PC or Mac.

Step 1. Launch SD iPhone Unlocker.

Head to the Wipe Passcode option.

After hitting the Unlock Passcode option, you will get to the page titled "Wipe Passcode".

Read the texts carefully before starting. It shows you the notification that the method should erase all data on it.

Step 2. Put your unavailable iPhone in recovery mode.

1. Turn off your disabled or unavailable iPad.

Firstly, disconnect your iPad from the computer if it's connected.

For iPad that has a Home button. Please press and hold the top button until the power off slider appears. Then drag the slider to turn off your iPad. Wait for a while to make sure it's turned off completely.

For iPad that doesn’t have a home button. Please press the volume up button and the top button at the same time until the power off slider appears. Then drag the slider to turn off your iPad.

2. Connect your iPad to the computer with a USB cable.

After turning off the iPad, connect the iPad to your PC or Mac with the lightning to USB cable.
If it turns on automatically, turn it off again.

3. Put your iPad in Recovery mode.

If your iPad has a home button, press and hold the home button. Keep holding the home button until you see the recovery mode screen. Then let go.
If your iPad doesn’t have a home button, press and hold the top button. Keep holding the top button until you see the recovery mode screen on your iPad. Then release the button.

To let the app and computer detect your security-locked iPad, you should enter it into recovery mode by pressing buttons and connecting it to your computer with the USB cable.

Step 3.  Download the firmware in the app or via the browser.

When your iPad is in recovery mode successfully, the app should detect it and automatically identify your iPad model, showing you the fixing package to download.

Click download. Don’t worry if your iPad exits recovery mode after 15 minutes. Let the download finish. Then put it in recovery mode again.

Step 4. Unlock your iPad.

Hit unlock. The app should pop up a screen to ask for confirmation. Enter 0000 as it requires. Later your iPhone should be unlocked successfully.

When you see the notification that tells you unlocking is complete. Disconnect your iPad from the computer and set it up. Don’t forget to restore any backups if you need your data during the setup process.

Video Tutorial:

Option 2. Restore in Finder or iTunes.

To use Finder or iTunes, you should also learn the button operation skills to put your iPad in recovery mode.

We’ve assembled the instructions for you. Follow our steps to do it.

Step 1. Install the latest iTunes or Finder.

Update your iTunes or Finder to the latest version. If you have a Mac, do update your MacOS to the latest version, and the Finder should be updated. It’s one of the keys to successful unlocking.

Step 2. Enter the iPad in Recovery Mode.

Once you put your iPad in recovery mode, iTunes or Finder should recognize your disabled iPad, popping up a screen, saying

as the snapshot shows.

Step 3. Hit the Restore option, and confirm to restore your iPad if asked.

when iTunes or Finder download is complete, it will reset your iPad with the package. If the download takes longer than 15 minutes, iPad will exit recovery mode. Don’t panic, just put it in recovery mode again.

The resetting process should begin once the iPadOS download is complete.

Wait until your iPad is awake with the Hello screen. Unplug it and set it up.

Option 3. Use Erase iPad option.

Apple offers the solution on iPadOS 15.2 or later, even iPadOS 16 or later.

If you enter the wrong passcode more than 7 times in a group, it’s possible you can see the Erase iPad option.

When your Find My iPad is turned off, or your iPad is offline, or if you forgot your Apple ID password, you can’t use the Erase iPad option to erase it. These three conditions are indispensable. This approach also erases all data on your iPad.

The biggest advantage of this method is that it does not require a computer. The difficulty with this method is that some people do not have the option to erase their iPads.

The steps are easy.

Tap Erase iPad. Tap Erase iPad again on the next page.

Enter your Apple ID password.

If everything works well, the iPad should erase itself immediately.

Later, when you see the Hello screen in multiple languages, you’re done.

Related: iPad Unavailable No Erase Option What to Do

Option 4. Use iCloud to Erase iPad.

To use iCloud to erase your iPad locked for 15 minutes, you should also have some prerequisites.

Your Find My iPad should be on. You know your Apple ID and password. Your device is online.

Apple has made the iCloud Erasing process more flexible when your iPad is running on iOS 13 or later. You can go to the iCloud webpage to erase your locked iPad in the old way, besides, you can navigate to the Find My app to erase your iPad on your device.

Check the steps as follows.

Log in your another device with your Apple ID credentials on your device or the iCloud webpage. Pass the two-factor authentication if required.

Locate your locked iPad on the iCloud.com/find webpage or the Find My app on your other devices.

Pay attention that you should sign in to your other device with the same Apple ID to discover the locked one in the device lists.

Tap Erase iPad and confirm, and follow the instructions to finish the erasing iPad process.

On the iCloud website, you should enter your Apple ID password to confirm erase.

Then the iPad starts to erase itself. Wait for your iPad to be awake.

After a reset, you can check whether you have any backups. If your data is doomed, you should learn a hard lesson to remember your password. Or you can both set up the FaceID and password to make sure you have multiple authentication ways to access your device.

You May Also Want to Read:

• How to Factory Reset an iPad with Buttons
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• How to Put an Unavailable iPad into Recovery Mode
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• Security Lockout on iPhone or iPad - 11 Things You Need to Know