Wiping iPads w/o passwords - owner passed away

[Notchka]

Hello, good people of Mac Forums...

I'm not exactly a beginner (got my first Mac 30 years ago), but I'm not super techie and I'm in an unfamiliar situation. My father passed way recently and I need to completely erase his two iPads. I only have the passcode for one of them, and I don't have his Apple ID password (even he lost track of it). Is this something that can be accomplished with an appointment at my local Apple Store?

Thanks in advance for any advice...

 

[Raz0rEdge]

For the iPad for which you have the password/passcode, you can go to Settings->General->Reset and choose Erase All Contents and Settings to basically return the iPad back to when it was bought new. For the other one, the Apple Store can absolutely do the reset, only if you can prove ownership of the iPad.

If you don't want to go the Apple Store route, I found a link here but totally cannot vouch for the application.

 

[chscag]

Welcome to our forums.

You should be able to recover the one iPad that you have the passcode for. However, you will need to somehow show proof of ownership for it... perhaps your late Father's purchase receipt. Your late Father's Apple ID could very well be his email address. I'm not sure if you attempt to erase and reset that it will ask for an Apple ID and password. You can try as Ashwin suggested above.

The second iPad that you do not have the pass code for is a dead end. Apple will not unlock that under any circumstance unless it's national security related. You might remember the big deal over the iPhone pass code from the San Bernardino shootings some years ago.

 

[Notchka]

Thanks Raz0rEdge and chscag. I was mostly concerned about the one without the passcode... what a shame!

 

[pm-r]

I was mostly concerned about the one without the passcode... what a shame!

Hmmm...??? Without getting into the the nefarious sites or their possible methods, a quick Google search seems to provide a whole bunch of hits that give the impression that they should work.

Worth a try anyway.
How to Wipe an iPad to Factory Settings Without a Passcode
How to Wipe an iPad to Factory Settings Without a Passcode | Chron.com

and lots more:
wipe ipad without passcode - Google Search

Certainly worth a try, and I'd also double check with Apple just in case.



- Patrick
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[chscag]

Patrick:

You're forgetting that he does not have his late Father's Apple ID and password. He will need both to get the iPad working even if the wipe is successful.

And as far as Apple assisting... several folks over in MacRumors have confirmed that Apple will not unlock a device with a forgotten passcode even if you have a receipt saying that it's yours.

 

[ferrarr]

If they have the passcode for one of the devices, then they should be able to access the Apple ID on that device. Then they should* also be able to get the password from the Passwords & Accounts, in Settings.

* provided the father did save passwords there.

 

[badshoehabit]

Thanks Raz0rEdge and chscag. I was mostly concerned about the one without the passcode... what a shame!

Try the same password as for the other.

 

[Notchka]

Thank you for all the input, everyone. One has a 4 digit code, the other 6 digits. He changed, but did not update/save, his Apple password. Fortunately it's not an urgent matter... I just wanted to erase the iPads and hoped it was an uncomplicated, convenient process.

 

[chscag]

Sorry we couldn't be of more help. Apple, ever since the San Bernardino incident has tightened up their security with regard to passcodes. Their policy now is that they will not unlock any device that the passcode is not known or forgotten.

If we can be of further assistance, don't hesitate to call upon us.

Regards from the staff.

 

[ferrarr]

Thank you for all the input, everyone. One has a 4 digit code, the other 6 digits. He changed, but did not update/save, his Apple password. Fortunately it's not an urgent matter... I just wanted to erase the iPads and hoped it was an uncomplicated, convenient process.

Don't forget there is this, If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support.

 

[pm-r]

My eldest son (an AASP) tells me, at least if one was living in Canada and there is a proper proof of purchase or reciipt, they may reset the iDevice to "Factory New" if Apple's Customer Support agrees to do so. The POP must be original purchase from an authorized reseller (not seconds hand).

He also mentioned that a legal Death Certificate (notarized) may be required.

Man, talk about brutal and secure, but they do stress how they honour one's privacy!!! But maybe worth a call to Apple Customer Care just in case.

Otherwise, I guess it's a waste of a nice iPad and heading for the recyclers.



- Patrick
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[chscag]

if Apple's Customer Support agrees to do so. The POP must be original purchase from an authorized reseller (not seconds hand).

According to several threads over at MacRumors, Apple's policy is to NOT unlock any iDevice that the passcode is unknown or forgotten. The threads and anecdotes of those involved are reliable as they quoted actual Apple replies from Customer Support.

Of course no one can say that Apple won't change their policy in the future, but after the way that Tim Cook replied to the FBI and then even to NSA, I doubt that is going to happen. You might remember that the US government had to use an Israeli firm to unlock the San Bernardino terrorist's iPhone.

We all have opinions on this but ultimately it's going to be up to Apple.

 

[Notchka]

Thank you –– I started to try to retrieve his Apple password, but it looked like it would involve a text to his iPhone, which no longer has service. Dad almost exclusively bought certified refurbs... I tried to open his purchase history, but the Apple password thing came up again. I considered the possibility of taking an original death certificate AND a copy of his will AND the official release of his personal property to me, but geez... I started to get really uncomfortable about the whole thing. I appreciate this level of security when it comes to my own Apple devices! If I end up having to destroy these iPads, I'll have to have a little ceremony for them.

 

[DianeVan]

I have 4 digit and 6 digit codes and was advised for ease of remembering to just add two zeros to the end or beginning of the 4 digit code that I have already memorized. Can’t hurt to try.


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[Rod]

Nobody has mentioned Find My iPad. You can't erase an idevice until you turn it off and for that you will need Apple ID and Password. Of course he may not have switched it on.


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[Rod]

Raises an interesting question though:
How many of us have provided some sort of mechanism in the event of our demise to allow our important others to gain access to our devices?


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[pm-r]

Raises an interesting question though:
How many of us have provided some sort of mechanism in the event of our demise to allow our important others to gain access to our devices?

That reminds me of a fellow who was so proud of the fact he had done just such a thing, and explained he had put all Necessary Things he felt any family member would need into a file called something like Alice in Wonderland or Winnie the Pooh that he told them about and left it sitting on his desktop of his Mac.

He didn't seem to understand his folly when I explained that they may have to log in to his Mac to access it if his Mac happened to get shut down.

Oh well, add another one I guess...

But a good and valid question Rod.



- Patrick
======

 

[MacInWin]

I have provided the login/password for my MBP to both of my daughters and advised them that on the Desktop is a Word file called "I am dead You need this." My wife has it, too, so I think we are covered. The Word document has passwords for my 1Password vaults, iCloud accounts and other information they may need to execute my estate.

 

[IWT]

I have provided the login/password for my MBP to both of my daughters and advised them that on the Desktop is a Word file called "I am dead You need this." My wife has it, too, so I think we are covered. The Word document has passwords for my 1Password vaults, iCloud accounts and other information they may need to execute my estate.

Me too. Got to allow your loved ones to close accounts, recover things etc - it's a digital will, in effect.

Ian