I manage several Wi‑Fi-only iPads with Jamf. If someone forgets a passcode and the iPad has been rebooted or its battery has died, it cannot reconnect to Wi‑Fi until the passcode is entered, so I cannot use Jamf to clear it remotely. In the past, I could install iTunes on a Windows PC, place the iPad in recovery mode, and perform a factory restore.
I now have two passcode-locked iPads that Windows will not detect in recovery mode. They do not appear in iTunes, the Apple Devices app, or Device Manager, although they charge normally. I have tried several USB‑C cables and multiple Windows computers, and also tested an Ethernet adapter without success. Both iTunes and Apple Devices are installed.
Has something changed with iPad recovery on Windows 11, or is there a specific driver, application, cable, or procedure required? I do not have a Mac available and would prefer not to buy one solely for restoring these devices.
3 Answers
A Mac running Apple Configurator is another option, but a Mac should not be inherently required for a basic factory restore. iTunes and Apple Devices have supported restoring iPads from Windows for years; if neither detects the devices, I would focus first on the recovery-button sequence, a known-good data cable, and the Apple USB driver installation.
If the iPads have SIM trays, inserting a SIM with its PIN disabled may give them cellular connectivity even while they are locked. That could let Jamf communicate with them, although it is only useful for cellular-capable models and may not be practical for every deployment.
Depending on the iPad model, the Apple Devices app is the current Windows tool for recovery-mode restores. Make sure the cable supports data, not just charging, and try reinstalling or repairing the Apple device drivers if the iPad never appears in the app or Device Manager. A recovery-mode iPad should normally be detectable without Wi‑Fi or an unlocked screen.
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