How to recover photos from a disabled iPad (Gen 2) without Apple Account?

If you have locked yourself out of that iPad 2, and you did not back up any of the photos on the iPad by

• Synchronizing them to iCloud Photos,
• Making backups that included photos (if iCloud Photos was disabled), or
• Copying the photos off the iPad in some other way (e.g., by importing them to a computer)

they are gone.

There is one thing you can do.

Use a digital camera or smartphone and take a picture of your iPad's Lock Screen, while it is lit up – the screen that you say is showing a picture of Boomer. (Avoid using flash, and try to put the screen somewhere that will minimize reflections.)

It won't get back the other photos, and the photo of the iPad screen might not be as good as the original photo that is stored on the iPad, but at least it will let you save a version of that one photo.

Unless you are able to restart your iPad to a running state - and successfully enter your Passcode - you'll not be able to recover any data from your iPad.

iPadOS uses an encrypted filesystem. Successful entry of your iPad Passcode unlocks the Secure Enclave (this being your iPad's security chip) within which the only copy of the encryption keys - that are required to access and decrypt your data - are stored.

Unless you have a pre-existing backup of your locally stored data, anything stored on your inoperable iPad will remain beyond reach. However, any data that has been synchronised with iCloud may still be accessible from iCloud itself:

https://icloud.com

If you value your data, always keep a backup.

A forgotten or unknown iPhone/iPad passcode cannot be recovered - and neither can it be reset or modified from another device. If you see a waiting period you can wait and try again to input the correct Passcode; otherwise, the iPad must be restored.

You may find this support page to be helpful:

If you see an iPhone or iPad unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support

iPadOS 17 or later with a forgotten Passcode

If you have changed your passcode in iOS/iPadOS 17 and later - and have since forgotten the new Passcode - you may be able to recover access using your previous Passcode. Passcode Reset gives you 72 hours to use your old Passcode to access your device; when you access your device in this way, you must change your passcode again immediately:

Temporarily use your old passcode when you forget your new passcode on iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

If you cannot use the new Passcode Reset feature, you must use another method.

iOS/iPadOS 15.2 or later with a forgotten Passcode

Apple has introduced a procedure with which to reset an iPad or iPhone with a forgotten Passcode - allowing you to use your AppleID and associated Password to reset your device.

How to reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when you forgot your passcode - Apple Support

You will be able to restore data from a pre-existing iCloud backup without the use of a computer, but will require a PC/Mac to restore data from an iTunes backup.

iPadOS 15.1 and earlier - and all devices that are Disabled



If your iPhone/iPad indicates that it is disabled/unavailable/locked-out, or you have forgotten your iPad passcode, you have no alternative other than to follow this process:

If you’ve forgotten the passcode on your iPad, or your iPad is disabled – Apple Support

You’ll need access to either a Windows PC (with iTunes for Windows installed) or a Mac (with iTunes or Finder - as appropriate for the installed version of macOS).

Download and use iTunes for Windows – Apple Support

Update to the latest version of iTunes – Apple Support

Use of a PC or Mac is unavoidable. If you don’t have access to a suitable computer of your own, that of a helpful friend or family member will suffice. Alternatively, the technicians at the Genius Bar of your local Apple Store will be delighted to assist:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

AppleID

You may also need your AppleID and associated password. If these have also been forgotten, they can be recovered here:

https://iforgot.apple.com

To recover your credentials, you’ll need access to one of the following:

• Your primary email address mailbox that corresponds with your AppleID
• Any of the secondary/recovery email addresses that should be configured for your AppleID account
• Any of the trusted telephone numbers (fixed line or Cellular/Mobile) that are associated with your AppleID

More information about recovery of your AppleID and associated Password:

If you forgot your Apple ID - Apple Support

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Photos and all data on a locked device are gone, absent iCloud Photos use, or some copy or backup created from prior to the lock. There is no recovery from that iPad.

If you’ve locked the device, there is no way to get any data off. If you cannot access the device, there is no way to retrieve data. It’s effectively gone.