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reset iPad back to factory settings

How to Reset iPad Back to Factory Settings

By 29 comments Last updated August 25, 2018

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Your iPad is designed to be customized. However, sometimes you may want to undo all your customization to get it back to the same setting when you first bought it. In addition, you may also want to erase all your contact info, browsing history, emails, favorites, etc. This is especially true if you plan on selling or giving your iPad to someone. And that is exactly what your iPad’s “Reset” app is designed to do. It can reset your iPad back to factory settings!

iPad troubleshooting, How to fix your iPad problems

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Reset Your iPad Back to Factory Settings without iTunes

Did you know that your iPad’s Settings app includes a one-stop shop where you can reset each (or every) feature on your iPad?

Say for example, that for whatever reason your iDevice’s AirDrop decides to act up, and you need to reset your internet connection. Well, that is easily done through the Setting called Reset Network Settings.

In this post, we break down each option and then you choose which one best suits your situation.

But first, let’s find the location of your Reset feature

  1. On the Home screen, tap “Settings” to bring up the Settings screen
  2. Tap “General”
  3. And then tap “Reset”

Reset your iPad back to factory settings

 

This brings up the Reset screen with the following options

1) Reset All Settings – this resets all your settings back to factory default but does not erase your content data.

2) Erase All Content and Settings – this resets all your settings and erase all your content data. You might want to do a sync with iTunes before performing this erase if you want to keep any music or apps that you have downloaded.

3) Reset Network Settings – this deletes your Wi-Fi network settings.

4) Reset Keyboard Dictionary – this clears any history in the dictionary such as the history of the keyboard suggestions that you’ve rejected or accepted previously.

5) Reset Home Screen Layout – this simply resets your Home screen icons back to the original default layout.

6) Reset Location Warnings – this erases any location preferences that was set for your apps. For example, GPS-aware apps often pop up a location warning asking if you want the app to be aware of your current location. Your answers to these questions are stored by your iPad for each app. This reset erases these answers so that the app may pop up the prompt asking for your location permission again the next time you use it.

Reset iPad Back to Factory Settings: Selecting a Reset Option

After selecting one of the above options, your iPad or other iDevice asks for confirmation that you really want to perform the reset.

If yes, confirm by tapping “Reset.” You may need to enter your Apple ID to confirm.

That’s pretty much it. Be sure to backup your iDevice frequently so that in an event where you accidentally choose one of these Reset options or something else happens with your data that results in a loss, have peace of mind that there is always a backup.

Factory Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Using iTunes

A factory restore erases all your personal information and device & app settings and then installs the latest iOS available for your particular iDevice. Before you start, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC.

And make a backup of your iDevice, just in case, there is some information you want to be saved. Finally, turn off Find My iPhone via Settings > Apple ID Profile > iCloud. Enter your Apple ID when requested.

Using iTunes to Reset Your iPad Back to Factory Settings

  1. Open iTunes and connect your iPad or another iDevice
  2. Select your device icon when it shows up in iTunes
  3. Tap or click on Summary in the Settings panel,
  4. In the Right Panel, click or tap on Restore iPad (or your particular iDevice)
  5. Click Restore to confirm

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iTunes erases your iDevice and then installs the latest iOS for your device. After your iDevice restores to factory settings, it restarts.

Set it up as new and then reconnect your iCloud account if desired. Remember to turn Find My iPhone back on for this device, using your current or a new Apple ID.

Forgot Your Apple ID?

If you haven’t used your Apple ID for a while, you may not remember your Apple ID and/or password. These credentials are critical to your iDevice experience.

When you don’t know your Apple ID and password, you cannot download any Apps, Music, iBooks, Games, etc from the App and iTunes Stores.

If you forget your Apple ID and password, you cannot back up your iDevice data on iCloud.

If you are caught in the situation where you cannot do anything with your iDevice due to a misplaced Apple ID or password, take a look at our articles dealing with Apple ID issues. The first step is always trying to fix your Apple ID problems.

Apple ID Troubleshooting

If you weren’t able to fix the problems with your Apple ID, some users report success with restoring their iPads or other iDevices using iTunes Recovery Mode or with a DFU Mode Restore. These usually work if Find My iPad is already turned off.

How-To Reset an iPad without an Apple ID using recovery mode via iTunes

  1. Connect your iPad to a computer that has the latest version of iTunes installed (Windows or Mac.) It doesn’t have to be your computer–any computer with iTunes installed is fine
  2. Open iTunes and then turn off your iPad
  3. Hold the Home button and the side/sleep/power button at the same time. Maintain holding these buttons until you see the iTunes logo and a USB cable icon on your iPad’s screen iPad in Recovery Mode
  4. iTunes should then show a message that it detects a device in Recovery Mode. Press OK and then select Restore (not Update) iTunes detects iPad in recovery mode
  5. Wait for iTunes to reset the iPad–all data should erase permanently

New-To-You iDevice?

If you received an older model or used iPad or another iDevice, the previous owner should have erased its content and unlinked from iCloud and their Apple ID before handing it off to you or any third-party reseller. Although that’s what’s supposed to happen, it often does not. So what to do?

If you can get ahold of the previous owner

  1. Ask that person (or company designee) to sign in to iCloud.com or Use the Find My iPhone App with THEIR (or company’s) Apple ID
    1. Go to Find My iPhone> Select All Devices
    2. Choose your specific iDevice
    3. Click Erase iPhone or Tap Actions > Erase iPad (or other iDevice) > Erase iPad (or other iDevice)
    4. Enter their Apple ID password > Erase
    5. Tap Remove from Account

Once the previous owner erases and removes your iDevice from their account, make sure you fully shut down the device and restart to initiate set-up.

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Show 29 Comments

  1. EB says

    I want to reset my IPAD to the original state and have Management Control taken off. It will not let me delete it. When I erase & reset, it still wants the remote control to set my IPAD up. How can I change this?

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi EB,

      Sorry, you’re having issues resetting your iPad back to Factory Defaults.

      Try first resetting all settings and then going through the steps outlined in this article. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.

      If that doesn’t work, please let us know what message you see on screen–send us the exact words so we can help you troubleshoot.

      Sam

      Reply

  2. Sue Parke says

    Some time ago we changed servers from Virginmedia to Plusnet, now we have a new ipad I wish to reset my original ipad back to factory settings.

    Everytime we try to reset the old ipad it keeps asking for my Apple ID but it has the Virginmedia address.

    I cannot remember my old password for Virgin and it keeps saying they will send me a new code, how can they send me a new code when I’m not on Virgin any more, plus my contact phone number has also changed so they can’t send a code that way!

    What can I do now to reset the old ipad, as I promised my grandson that he could have my old ipad? Any help with this problem would be gratefully appreciated. Thankyou.

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Sue,

      You should be able to reset the iPad without an Apple ID using recovery mode via iTunes.

      1) Connect your iPad to a computer that has the latest version of iTunes installed (Windows or Mac.) It doesn’t have to be your computer–any computer with iTunes installed is fine

      2) Open iTunes and then turn off your iPad

      3) Hold the Home button and the side/sleep/power button at the same time. Maintain holding these buttons until you see the iTunes logo and a USB cable icon on your iPad’s screen

      4) iTunes should then show a message that it detects a device in Recovery Mode. Accept this and select Restore (not Update)

      5) Wait for iTunes to reset the iPad–all data should erase permanently.

      If that doesn’t work because Find My iPad is still on, and you are unable to access that Apple ID, first try the tips outlined in this article for folks that need to change an Apple ID email they no longer an access.

      If you are unable to change or update your Apple ID, there are some third-party tools available that might help.

      We don’t have any particular recommendations so perform a google search. Make sure you read product reviews before trying these third-party options. Some work as advertised but many do not–that’s why we don’t recommend any products.

      Reply

  3. Cookie says

    I got a new Mini I Pad but set it up with my first name but I use the nickname cookie on my I phone Facebook and it now says Carolyn and people are asking if I’ve been hacked’ all I want it is to have my original name cookie as my account

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Cookie,

      That’s a story! If you open your Contacts App and change your information located in the first entry called My Card. Follow these steps:

        Open Contacts App
        Select My Card (first entry with your name)
        Tap Edit in the upper right corner
        Update your First Name to Cookie and any other info needing updates
        Tap Done to confirm changes

      Updating your contact info changes the name displayed on Messages, FaceTime, and your Apple Apps.

      You can also update your Apple ID; however if your link credit cards and other payment forms to your Apple ID, it’s not advisable to change to a nickname unless that nickname also appears on your credit card, bank, and other linked accounts.

      If you want email to have your nickname, you need to change that setting in each email provider’s account settings (like go to your Gmail account and update your name from there.)

      Hope this helps,

      SK

      Reply

  4. Gennady Pesochin says

    I forgot secret questions my Id . My account was blocked for security. Apple send me advice to blocked email address, but I wish to send for my sescue email address ge *****@yahoo.com. Help me, Please Gennady

    Reply

    • Elizabeth says

      Hi Elizabeth,

      Try updating to iOS 11.2 and see if this fixes the problem. There’s a bug in the earlier iOS that’s causing problems like this. Also, just in case remember to backup via iCloud or iTunes!

      Good luck,

      Liz (another Elizabeth!!!)

      Reply

  6. Kanwal Jit Singh says

    My iPad’s keypad is fixed in the middle of the screen making me unable to see what is to be written in the lower half of the screen. The key board should be at the bottom of the screen. How to do that.

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Kanwal,

      Press and hold the ‘keyboard’ key at the bottom right of the keyboard and after a second or two, you should see a popup. Tap ‘Dock’ on that and your keyboard should move back to the bottom of the screen.

      Let us know if this works for you!

      Cheers,

      SK

      Reply

  7. Sue carter says

    I’m trying to reset my iPad version 9.31 back to factory settings and I don’t have a reset button on it and I don’t know what to do

    Reply

  8. Jake says

    how do i reset my ipad to factory settings? The email associated with the Apple ID is incorrect and after many attempts to change the password or delete the incorrect email, nothing is working.

    Reply

    • SK says

      Hi Jake, a couple of things might help you. First, let’s work on those Apple ID problems.

      Try to see if you can get your Apple ID working again.

      If that doesn’t do the trick, some readers report success with restoring in DFU Mode.

      Hopefully, one of these does the job and gets your iPad back to working order.

      Good luck,

      SK

      Reply

  9. Abe says

    My iPad 2 has a problem with touch screen have to touch it multiple times to work what do I need to do to fix the problem

    Reply

  10. Mike says

    I have similar problems. I have been given an iPad with iCloud address still on. This address was a company address that was cancelled when the donor gave me the iPad.
    I have tried to set up an alternative ID but all Apps keep demanding the old ID.
    No idea what to do, the iPad is useless as is.

    Reply

  11. Anthony toro says

    My iPad image bounces on the screen and the images swipe by them self with out no control, I’m thinking of resetting it to factory ,will that help?need feedback

    Reply

  13. Theresa says

    I have an I pad mini and was asking me too update so I up dated and sll I’m getting now is a blank white screen can you please help me

    Reply

  14. Amelia says

    My ipad is about 3 yrs old and taking control of doing what it wants ,wipes me off of a site, closes down, bounces around and freezes etc. help please

    Reply

  15. Michael Cho says

    I dragged photo icon in my ipad and put it into another small icon box ( icon which keeps various
    icons inside in orderly form). To open that small icon box, I need to put password in diagram form.
    But I forgot that diagram form password. So I cannot use the photo icon locked inside another icon.
    So, I wonder whether there is any method to return all the setting in ipad into the original status?

    Appreciate your kind help and advice.

    Many thanks
    Michael

    Reply

  16. Liz Nana says

    I am going to reset my ipad 2 and give it to my grand child am I going to have a problem with this, they have there own apple acount so I wanted to let them set this up as there own do you think it will be a problem?

    Reply

  17. Jam says

    hi,
    i reset my ipad3 as im giving it to my sister. i forgot to transfer all my notes. Is there anyway I can retrieve those?

    Reply

  18. MAC says

    i click the ERASE ALL CONTENT AND SETTINGS. but my ipad still won’t open until now, it’s been 12 hours and it still not open i only see the apple logo with a circle on its center and stay that for a long long time…how can i open my ipad back to normal? please help me?

    Reply

    • mpiri says

      Hy dood
      I got the same pro. I attempt to reset and after even days it never get back to normal. only the apple logo. I gave it out to fix and thy return it with new firmware which I don’t like.

      Reply