How to factory reset an iPad (with or without the passcode)

A factory reset puts an iPad back to the way it was when it came out of the box. It is the right move before you sell it, trade it in, give it to a child or hand it back to a school or employer. It is also a last resort for software problems that restarts and updates did not fix. The steps are nearly the same on every iPad, but the way you reach recovery mode depends on whether your iPad has a Home button. Here is each path, and what to do before you start.

What a factory reset erases (and what it does not)

A reset erases your apps, photos, files, messages, saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords and settings from the iPad. It does not delete anything stored only in iCloud, such as photos in iCloud Photos, notes and contacts. Those come back when you sign in again. Erasing from Settings also keeps the iPadOS version you already have. A restore with a computer installs the latest version available instead.

Before you reset: 4 things to do first

• Back up. Anything that is not backed up is gone for good.
• Know your Apple Account password. You need it to turn off Find My and Activation Lock. Without it, a reset can leave you locked out of your own iPad.
• Check which account is signed in. Open Settings and look at the name at the top, so you know which password to have ready.
• Plug it in. A reset that runs out of battery halfway can leave the iPad needing a computer to recover.

To back up to iCloud, go to Settings › your name › iCloud › iCloud Backup › Back Up Now. To back up to a computer, connect the iPad, open Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows, select the iPad and choose Back Up Now. A computer backup is the better choice when iCloud is nearly full. See how to back up your iPhone for more detail, since the steps match on iPad.

How to reset an iPad from Settings

On older iPadOS versions the menu is called Reset instead of Transfer or Reset iPad. Open Settings › General › Reset and choose Erase All Content and Settings. The other options on that screen, such as Reset All Settings and Reset Network Settings, keep your data and only change settings, so try those first if you are fixing Wi-Fi or a setting that will not stick.

Reset an iPad when you forgot the passcode

After several wrong passcode attempts the iPad shows iPad Unavailable or Security Lockout. There are two ways out, and both erase the iPad. On iPadOS 15.2 and later, the first one needs no computer.

The iPad needs Wi-Fi or a cellular connection for this to work. If you do not see the option, the iPad is on an older version or has no connection. In that case use recovery mode. For more on this screen, see what to do when iPhone says Unavailable, which works the same way on iPad.

Factory reset an iPad with a computer (recovery mode)

Recovery mode is the way back in when the iPad is disabled, frozen or will not finish starting up. It needs a Mac running Finder, or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app, and a working cable. Both methods below end with Restore, which erases the iPad and installs a fresh copy of iPadOS.

Recovery mode buttons for each iPad model

• iPad Pro and newer iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad models without a Home button: use the volume up, volume down, then hold top button sequence.
• iPad, iPad Air and iPad mini with a Home button: hold the Home button and the top button together. Keep holding when the Apple logo appears.
• If the screen stays black: try a different cable and port, and let the iPad charge for 30 minutes first. A flat battery is a common reason recovery mode seems to do nothing.

If the computer says the iPad cannot be restored and shows an error number, try another USB cable, restart the computer, update Finder or the Apple Devices app, and try again. A cable that charges but does not carry data is a common cause.

Find My and Activation Lock: why they matter

Activation Lock ties an iPad to the Apple Account that set it up, so a lost or stolen iPad is useless to anyone else. That is good for security and a problem if you reset an iPad you want to sell, because the buyer will be asked for your Apple Account password. Turning off Find My before you erase, or letting Erase All Content and Settings do it, removes the lock. If you gave the iPad away and forgot, sign in at icloud.com/find, choose the iPad and remove it from your account. See how to turn off Find My if you are not sure where that switch is.

If you bought a used iPad that asks for someone else’s Apple Account, you cannot get past that screen yourself. Ask the seller to remove the iPad from their account. Services that promise to bypass the lock are not safe to use.

Selling, trading in or giving away your iPad

• Back up first, then erase. Do it in that order, so your files are safe before they are gone.
• Use Erase All Content and Settings. It removes your account and the lock in one go.
• Remove the SIM card if it is a cellular model. Your carrier plan stays with the SIM, not the iPad.
• Remove it from your device list. Sign in at account.apple.com to confirm the iPad is no longer listed.
• Compare offers. Apple Trade In, your carrier and resale sites pay differently, and condition and storage size change the price a lot.

A cracked screen or a battery that drains quickly lowers the offer, but a trade-in is often still worth more than the repair costs. Ask for a price from at least two sources before you decide.

School or work iPads

If the iPad belongs to a school or an employer, it may be managed with device management software. Erasing it can remove the settings the organization needs, and the iPad may ask you to sign in with the organization’s account afterward. Ask the IT team before you reset, because you cannot remove management on your own.

Restore from a backup afterward

On the Hello screen, follow the setup steps until you reach Apps & Data. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac or PC, depending on where you saved your backup. Sign in, pick the most recent backup and keep the iPad on Wi-Fi and plugged in. Your settings and app layout come back first, and the apps and photos keep downloading in the background for a while afterward. If you are giving the iPad away, stop at the Hello screen and leave setup to the next owner.

If the reset gets stuck or fails

• Stuck on the Apple logo for over an hour: force restart the iPad, then try recovery mode and Restore. See the guide for an iPad stuck on the Apple logo.
• Erase option is greyed out or missing: check for a Screen Time restriction or a management profile in Settings › General › VPN & Device Management.
• Asks for an Apple Account password you do not know: use account recovery at iforgot.apple.com, which can take a few days.
• Computer does not see the iPad: unlock the iPad, tap Trust, and try another cable and port.

If a reset does not fix the problem you were trying to solve, the cause may be hardware, such as a failing battery or storage chip. An Apple Store or authorized repair provider can run diagnostics. If the iPad is more than a few years old, compare the repair price with a trade-in toward a newer model.