How to Factory Reset an iPad (Every Method)

To factory reset an iPad, back it up, confirm the Apple Account password, and go to `Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings`. This erases personal data and returns the iPad to the `Hello` setup screen. Do not confuse it with `Reset All Settings`, which changes preferences but leaves files and accounts in place. If you cannot unlock the iPad, erase it with Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes; use recovery mode for a forgotten passcode or disabled iPad. Before handing it to someone else, confirm that Activation Lock is removed and decide what to do with any cellular plan or eSIM.

Before you erase your iPad, save what you still need

A factory reset permanently removes data stored on the iPad. Check that your backup is current before erasing, especially for photos, notes, messages, documents, or app data that is not already syncing with iCloud.

• Connect the iPad to power, or charge it sufficiently before starting.
• Know the password for the Apple Account signed in under Settings > [your name].
• Know the iPad passcode. You may need it to approve the erase.
• If you might need to locate or erase the iPad remotely, confirm that Find My iPad is enabled.
• If the iPad has cellular service, decide whether to keep or remove its eSIM or cellular plan.
• If you are selling or giving away the iPad, plan to leave it at the Hello screen without asking the next owner for your Apple Account.

To create an iCloud backup, open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now. Keep the iPad connected to Wi-Fi until the backup finishes. You can also back it up to a Mac or PC with Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes. An encrypted computer backup can preserve more sensitive information, such as saved passwords and Health data, than an unencrypted backup.

Open Settings > [your name] and confirm that the account shown is yours. If you do not know its password, do not erase the iPad yet. The device can remain tied to that account by Activation Lock, preventing the next person from activating it.

If you are keeping the iPad, you usually do not need to turn off Find My before erasing it from Settings. Entering the Apple Account password during the erase removes the device from Find My and disables Activation Lock. If you use a computer or recovery mode, check the account afterward and remove the device if you are transferring ownership.

How to factory reset an iPad from Settings

Use this method when you can unlock the iPad and it starts normally. Erase All Content and Settings deletes personal information, apps, settings, and accounts, then prepares the iPad for a new setup.

Erasing all content cannot be undone. Confirm your backup and Apple Account password before continuing.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPad.
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
5. Review the information shown, including any option related to an eSIM or cellular plan.
6. Tap Continue, enter the iPad passcode, and provide the Apple Account password if asked.
7. Confirm the erase and leave the iPad connected to power while it removes the data.

The iPad restarts when the process finishes. The reset worked when it reaches the Hello screen, where setup begins with language and region choices.

Do not choose Reset All Settings if you are selling or giving away the iPad. It returns settings such as network, keyboard, location, privacy, and Apple Pay settings to defaults, but it does not delete photos, apps, messages, files, or accounts. Reset Network Settings and Reset Home Screen Layout address narrower problems and are not factory resets.

How to reset an iPad with a computer or recovery mode

Use a computer when Settings will not open, the touchscreen is unreliable, or the iPad cannot complete a normal startup. Use Finder on a Mac with a recent version of macOS, the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC where it is installed, or iTunes on older Mac and Windows setups.

1. Connect the iPad to the computer with a USB cable.
2. Open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, then select the iPad when it appears.
3. Choose the option to restore the iPad. In Finder this is usually Restore iPad; the wording is similar in Apple Devices and iTunes.

Restoring the iPad erases its contents. It does not automatically remove Activation Lock if the iPad is still linked to an Apple Account.

4. Confirm the restore and keep the iPad connected while the computer downloads the software and reinstalls it.
5. Wait for the iPad to restart and display the Hello screen before disconnecting it.

If the iPad is disabled, you forgot the passcode, or it will not start normally, put it into recovery mode first. The button combination depends on the model.

1. Connect the iPad to the computer and open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
2. Turn off the iPad if possible.
3. On an iPad without a Home button, press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, press and quickly release the other volume button, then press and hold the top button until the recovery screen appears.
4. On an iPad with a Home button, press and hold the Home button and the top or side button together until the recovery screen appears.
5. When the computer reports that the iPad is in recovery mode, select Restore, not Update, if you need to erase a forgotten passcode or disabled iPad.
6. Leave the iPad connected until the restore completes. If the software download takes long enough for the iPad to leave recovery mode, repeat the recovery-mode steps and choose Restore again.

Recovery mode removes the passcode by erasing the iPad, but it cannot bypass Activation Lock. Afterward, activation still requires the Apple Account previously associated with the device unless you remove it from that account.

How to erase an iPad remotely with Find My

Use remote erasure for an iPad that is lost, stolen, or inaccessible while it remains connected to your Apple Account and Find My. It is not the best choice for an iPad you have in your hands and can unlock; use Settings instead.

1. On another Apple device, open the Find My app, or sign in to Find My through iCloud on the web.
2. Open the device list and select the iPad.
3. Choose Erase This Device or Erase iPad, then follow the prompts.
4. Confirm the erase request and enter the Apple Account password if requested.

The iPad must have been added to Find My before it became inaccessible. If it is offline, Find My queues the erase and performs it when the iPad connects to the internet. If it cannot reconnect, the remote erase cannot run yet.

Remote erase deletes the data but does not by itself remove Activation Lock. Keep a lost or stolen iPad in your Find My device list; that preserves the lock and lets you continue tracking it when possible. If you are transferring ownership, wait until the erase is complete, then choose Remove This Device or Remove from Account in Find My. Removing it from the account allows another person to activate it. Do not remove a missing iPad from your account merely to make it usable to someone else.

How to tell the reset worked and prepare the iPad for its next owner

The reset is complete when the iPad displays the Hello setup screen instead of your home screen, passcode prompt, or Apple Account details. Start setup only if you are keeping the iPad. If you are selling or giving it away, stop at that screen.

1. Confirm that the display shows Hello and setup language or region choices.
2. If you erased the iPad with a computer or recovery mode, check Find My on another device and remove the iPad from your Apple Account after the erase has completed.
3. If you erased it from Settings, verify that it no longer appears among your active devices. If the erase did not complete normally, sign out of the account on the iPad before trying again.
4. Check the cellular prompt shown during erasure. Choose to erase the eSIM or cellular plan when the iPad is changing owners. If you are keeping the iPad and plan to continue using the same service, choose the option to keep the plan when offered.
5. If a carrier account or separate cellular subscription remains active, cancel or transfer it through the carrier. Erasing the iPad does not necessarily cancel billing.
6. If you are keeping the iPad, start setup and choose to restore from an iCloud backup or a computer backup when prompted. You can also set it up as new and sign in later.

For the final handoff, confirm that the iPad shows Hello, contains none of your data, and does not ask the next owner for your Apple Account. If it shows an Activation Lock screen with your account, remove the iPad from Find My before handing it over.

Conclusion

For an unlocked iPad, back it up and use `Erase All Content and Settings`. Use a computer restore when Settings is unavailable, and recovery mode when a forgotten passcode or disabled state prevents normal access. Use Find My remote erase for an inaccessible device rather than a device you can unlock. Before the iPad changes hands, verify the `Hello` screen, remove it from your Apple Account when appropriate, and handle the cellular plan separately from the data erase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does factory resetting an iPad remove Activation Lock?

Erasing from Settings normally removes Activation Lock when you enter the Apple Account password. A computer restore, recovery-mode restore, or remote erase can leave Activation Lock active, so remove the iPad from Find My after the erase if you are transferring ownership.

Can I factory reset an iPad without the passcode?

Yes. Connect it to a Mac or PC, use recovery mode, and choose `Restore`. This erases the iPad but does not bypass Activation Lock; the linked Apple Account can still be required for activation.

What is the difference between Reset All Settings and Erase All Content and Settings?

`Reset All Settings` returns preferences to their defaults while keeping apps and personal data. `Erase All Content and Settings` deletes the data and returns the iPad to the `Hello` setup screen.

Will erasing an iPad cancel its cellular plan?

Not necessarily. The erase process can offer a choice to keep or remove an eSIM or cellular plan, but carrier billing and account service are handled separately with the carrier.