How to Reset iPad: Three Methods

If your iPad is frozen or unresponsive, you may need to force restart it. This will force your device to turn off and back on, which can fix minor software glitches and freezes. If you can’t start your iPad again using the Sleep/Wake button, you may need to reset it. This will turn the iPad to turn off and back on, but it won’t delete any of your data or settings. You should only factory reset your iPad as a last resort, as it can erase lots of data and settings. Thus, you should have a backup in place.

Also, if a specific app troubles you, you may want to try deleting and reinstalling it first. With all that said, here are different ways to reset iPad and start anew or sell it.

Note. Due to similarities between iOS and iPadOS, our iPhone reset guide can be useful if read in parallel.

When should you reset your iPad?

Typically speaking, you must reset your iPad in these four conditions:

• When your iPad behaves strangely or when there is an issue with your iPad despite the buttons and screen remaining responsive, this is the time you have to reset your devices. It can be when you feel the iPad becoming slow, apps freezing, or having trouble with any particular program. 
• When your iPad fails to respond to your tap or the screen has become frozen. In short, if your device has become unresponsive, you need a reset.
• Another situation is when your device has already been turned off, and you are unable to get it back online despite a soft reset or restart. 
• And finally, when you want to wipe out the device and remove everything from it before either selling it or passing it on to someone else.

How to prepare your iPad for a factory reset?

Before you actually proceed with the reset, there are a few things to remember, and these are as follows:

• Try to disable the Find My iPhone feature before deleting everything on it, especially if you’re thinking of selling it. Here’s how:
  • Go to the Settings.
  • Tap on the device name.
  • Then choose iCloud.
  • Finally, tap on Find My iPhone and turn it off.
• Next is backing up the data before performing a factory reset. If you use iTunes for backup, then keep the app up to date.
• Also, you must know how to reset your iPad without iTunes, especially if you own a Mac with Catalina or later versions. You can use the Finder to back up your data.
• You can also use iCloud for backup purposes; just remember to sync regularly.

Method 1: Soft reset your iPad

Here are some troubleshooting steps to check if your iPad is slower than usual. If you’re still having difficulties, you may need a more extensive iPad reset. Now:

1. Hold the Power/Lock button down for 10 seconds to reset the device.
2. Swipe the “slide to power off” button to the right.
3. After the iPad shuts down, press and hold the Power/Lock button until the Apple logo appears.

Method 2: Force restart an iPad tablet

There are two ways to restart an iPad forcefully, but you should use either if your device isn’t operating. The first option is appropriate for most iPads because they have Home buttons at the bottom of their screens and will turn off as follows:

1. Hold down the Power and Home buttons simultaneously until the iPad shuts down.
2. The iPad should restart automatically. If the Power button does not work, press it again.
3. If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, you can use the Power button alone to force restart it.

In case the steps above don’t work at first, you’ll need to act quickly. Do this:

1. Press and release the Volume Up key.
2. Press and then release the Volume Down key.
3. Hold the Lock/Power button for three seconds until the “power off” screen appears.
4. To turn off the iPad, slide to the right. Allow your iPad to shut down.
5. Keep pushing the Power button until it turns on.

Method 3: Factory reset your iPad device

At this point, we’ll teach you how to reset an iPad and erase all personal data. This technique is the same on all iPads and is the best method to deal with your problem when nothing else works or if you want to give away or sell your iPad.

It’s somewhat extreme, so double-check that the procedures outlined above don’t work. When you do, follow these steps to reset your iPad:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go to the General section and scroll down.
3. Tap Reset.
4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
5. Select a backup or erase option.

Wait for the iPad to restart. On the initial setup screen, it should let you download data from iCloud or another device.

Use a computer to perform iPad factory reset

If your iPad doesn’t turn on, you can use a Mac or Windows computer after connecting it via a cable. Here’s how:

• Mac 10.15 and later: Go to Finder → choose your iPad → Pick General → Select Restore iPad.
• Mac lower than 10.15: Open iTunes → Click the iPad icon in the top left corner → Select Summary under iPad → Choose Restore/Restore iPad.
• Windows: Identical to the method above, but via the iTunes for Windows app.

Does resetting an iPad delete my Apple ID?

Yes, when you reset your iPad to Factory settings, it will also remove your Apple ID from the device since you are essentially rolling back any changes made to the device from the native state it was back then. But worry not, your Apple ID will remain safe on Apple’s iCloud servers. Thus, when you switch to a new iPad or even the same device after finishing your reset, you can restore your data via iCloud using your Apple ID.