How to Factory Reset Your iPad

05-Feb-2024

If you’re upgrading your tablet and wish to sell or give your iPad to another user, or if you’re experiencing performance issues on your iPad, then you may want to perform a factory reset on your device. This will enable you to reset the device’s software and settings, returning it to its original default state.

In the event that you are attempting to factory reset your iPad for the first time, you might not know exactly how to go about performing this process. If that’s the case, you’ll find all of the information you need right here.

In this guide, we will give you a full step-by-step explanation for factory resetting your iPad so that you can easily restore it to its factory default state.

How to factory reset your iPad

Whether you’re using an iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air, or iPad Mini, the steps for performing a factory reset are the same, as long as your device model is running a supported version of iPadOS. You can perform a factory reset by following these steps:

Open the “Settings” application on your device.
Go to “General”, then select “Transfer or Reset iPad”.
Tap “Erase All Content and Settings”, then confirm your choice. Your device will then initiate a factory reset.

How to factory reset your iPad from your Mac or PC

How to factory reset your iPad via PC

Alternatively, you can perform a full reset on your device through your computer, however, the process will vary slightly depending on whether you’re using a PC or Mac, and also on your OS version.

On MacOS Catalina or later

To reset your iPad on a Mac running MacOS Catalina or later, follow the steps outlined here:

Connect your tablet to your computer via a USB cable.
Switch on your iPad and open the Finder.
Select your device on your computer, and locate the “Software” section in the device menu.
Click “Restore iPad”, then click “Restore again to confirm.

This will initiate a factory reset and your device will do the rest. Once your iPad restarts, the process is complete and it can be set up as new.

On MacOS Mojave or PC

If you’re using a PC or a Mac running MacOS Mojave or earlier, then you will need to perform the reset through iTunes. To do this, you should follow these steps:

Connect your tablet to your computer via a USB cable.
Switch on your iPad and open the iTunes app on your computer
Select your device on the iTunes app, open “Summary” and locate the “Software” section in the device menu.
Click “Restore iPad”, then click “Restore” again to confirm.

Note that you may need to sign out of Find My in order to use the “Restore” option.

So, that’s all you need to know to perform a factory reset on your Apple iPad. If you’ve followed the steps correctly, your device should be cleared of all of your data and running a clean install of the latest OS version available. Any bugs or performance issues should also be resolved.

With your iPad now reset to its factory default state, you can sell it or give it away, or set up your device as new to enjoy a clean day-one user experience.