How to Reset iPad? (All iPad Models)

Whether you’re selling your iPad or are tired of the slow performance, you should know how to reset an iPad.  If your iPad frequently throws some unexpected errors, maybe it’s time to factory reset your iPad. When you perform a complete reset, it will sign you out of Apple ID and remove your personal data. To avoid any loss of personal data, you should perform a couple of tasks before you perform a reset. Or maybe, you don’t even have to perform a factory reset as some other types of resets can do the trick. In this article, we’ll discuss everything about how to reset an iPad. Without any ado, let’s get right into it!

Soft Reset iPad

If your iPad is slowing down or some apps are misbehaving, you don’t need to perform a complete reset. Instead, you can soft reset your iPad, which is just another term to restart to iPad. It is one of the most effective ways to wipe off any temporary bugs or improve the overall performance of your device without deleting any settings or data. Before you try other ways to reset your iPad, we recommend performing a soft reset. Here’s how to do it:

• On iPads without a Home Button, press and hold the Volume Up/Down and Power button (on the top) until you see the Power off slider.
• On iPads with a Home Button, press & hold the Top button until the Power Off slider appears.
• Now, drag the slider to the right and wait for about 30 seconds to turn off your iPad.

• To turn on your iPad, press and hold the Power Button until you see the Apple Logo.

Reset iPad using buttons (Force Restart)

There can be instances when your iPad has frozen or becomes unresponsive, and the slider menu won’t open up. In such cases, you can reset your iPad with buttons. Commonly known as force restart or hard reset, this method clears apps stored in the memory to fix common software issues on your iPad without deleting any data.

Here’s how to reset an unresponsive iPad without a Home button:

• Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
• Right after that, press and release the Volume Down button.
• Finally, press and hold the power button until you see the Apple logo. Your iPad will restart and boot up normally.
• In case this isn’t working for you, try again and be faster in pressing and releasing the buttons.

On iPads with a Home Button, press & hold the Power and Home button simultaneously until your iPad turns off. Once done, the iPad will restart on its own.

Reset All Settings on the iPad

 If the above steps don’t work, you can reset all settings on your iPad to fix bugs or glitches that are interfering with the overall functionality of your device. It’s worth knowing that this method will restore all your iPhone settings to their defaults, fixing any misconfigured settings. When you reset all settings on your iPad, it won’t delete any downloaded data or media. It will only reset network settings, location settings, privacy settings, keyboard dictionary, and Apple cards.

Follow the below steps to reset all settings on your iPhone:

• Open the Settings app on your iPad and navigate to the General section.
• Here, scroll down to the bottom and tap on Transfer or Reset iPad.

• Here, tap on Reset.

• Next, select Reset All Settings from the available options.

• When prompted, enter your iPad password and hit the Reset All Settings button again to confirm your decision.

Prepare your iPad for Factory Reset

There can be instances when the above methods don’t work or you’re facing complex issues like an iPad showing a black screen, overheating, excessive battery drain, etc. In that case, you may consider going for a complete factory reset. This method can fix most iPad issues, but will also wipe off all your downloaded data and saved settings. Therefore, we need to do some important tasks beforehand to avoid any issues later.

Things to do before you reset iPad to factory settings

•  Since a factory reset will wipe off everything and restore your iPad to default settings, you should backup your iPad so you can restore your personal data anytime later. You can back up your iPad using iCloud storage, Mac, computer, or third-party cloud storage services.
• If you’re selling your iPad, you must disable the Find My service on your iPad. This Apple feature lets you track your missing iPad or even erase it using the Find My app. No one can disable Find My without your Apple ID password, which you obviously won’t share with anyone. So, make sure to disable this feature yourself. Also, make sure to remove your iPad from your Apple ID before you give away your iPad.

How to Reset iPad Without a Computer

You can factory reset an iPad with or without a computer. The first method we’re discussing doesn’t involve the use of a computer. The iPad’s Settings app offers a factory reset option that can easily delete all your data to reset your iPad to its default settings. You can easily perform this method, provided you know the passcode and your iPad is unlocked.  Follow the below steps to factory reset your iPad without a computer:

• Open the Settings app on your iPad and visit the General section.
• Tap on Transfer or Reset iPad from the bottom of the screen.

• From the list of available options, tap on Erase All Content and Settings.

• You’ll see a screen showing information on what data will be erased. Once ready, click Continue.
• When prompted, enter your iPad Passcode and proceed.
• Now, you’ll see another screen showing a backup. If you’ve backed up your iPad already, choose Erase Now. The factory reset process will now begin and it might take some time.

Once completed, your iPad will greet you with a setup screen. Simply follow the on-screen instructions to set up your fresh iPad or restore it from a backup.

How to Factory Reset an iPad Without Password

There can be instances when you wish to reset your iPad, but don’t know the password. But, you need not worry a lot as you can factory reset your iPad with a computer. This method comes in handy when you wish to reset your iPad with a forgotten passcode or a disabled iPad. For this method, you need a Mac or PC with iTunes installed. 

• Connect your iPad to your Mac or PC.
• When prompted to enter the passcode or allow any permissions, simply follow them.
• On Macs running macOS Catalina or later, open Finder and select your iPhone from the sidebar. On older Macs or Windows computers, open iTunes and click the iPhone icon.
• Once selected, you will see your iPad details along with the iPadOS version. From the available options, find and tap on the Restore iPad button.

• A dialog box will now open up asking if you want to make a backup.

• Next up, hit the Restore Button to confirm your decision and let the factory reset begin. This process can take up to 15 minutes.

Once the process completes, your iPad will restart and show an initial setup screen. Disconnect your iPad from the computer and restore it from a backup or set it up as new.

That’s how you can reset your iPad. Soft reset comes in handy when your iPad is slowing down or some apps are misbehaving. A hard reset helps you fix an iPad with a frozen screen. Finally, factory resetting an iPad helps you fix the most complex issues on your device. Hopefully, you were able to easily fix issues with your iPad and enjoy optimal performance. In case you’re facing any issues, let us know in the comments.