iPad forgotten passcode

If your forget your device Passcode, or if your iPad is disabled, all locally stored data is lost. All data stored on the device is encrypted “at rest” - and the encryption key is stored within the iPad security chip (the Secure Enclave); your device Passcode is the key to the lock - that releases the encryption key. 

Once your iPad is disabled, nothing and nobody can access the encryption key that protects the data on your device. Without a Passcode, the only way to recover access to the device is to follow the restore process - which completely wipes the device. This is why keeping a backup of your device data is so important.

If your iPad is disabled, or you have forgotten your iPad passcode, you’ll need to follow this process - at the end of which you can restore your data from your iCloud or iTunes backup:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT211078

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

You’ll 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

Unless you AppleID account has not been fully/correctly configured, or has been seriously neglected, recovery of the AppleID and password should not be difficult.

More information about recovery of your AppleID:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201354

More information about recovery of your AppleID password:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201487

When you recover access to your credentials, you would be well advised to log-in to your AppleID account from a web browser - and verify/update any email addresses and trusted telephone numbers:

https://appleid.apple.com

At the conclusion of the Restore process, when setting-up the iPad, you will be invited to restore data from your backup.

Here is a link to the data restoration procedure:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Perhaps this will help: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211078