Working Ways to Factory Reset iPad

Apple products are very popular. This applies to computers and mobile gadgets. Their tablets have been released for several generations, and each time they have new features and improved performance.

At the same time, sometimes it becomes necessary to completely clear the device of all contents. The reasons are different for everyone. But the task is one. This is to reset to factory settings.

There are several ways to achieve the desired result.

Why is it needed

There are 2 main reasons for this need arises. These are the following situations:

• Selling, donating or exchanging a tablet. If the iPad user decides to get rid of it in one way or another, selling, donating or exchanging, then all information from the device must first be deleted. It is much easier to perform a full reset than doing it manually. This protects against the possibility of personal data falling into the wrong hands.
• Malfunctions, crashes and glitches. If the iPad starts to behave uncharacteristically, constantly freezes, knocks out some errors, then a reset will help solve these problems in most cases. To do this, you do not need to contact the service center.

When the need arises, take action.

Preliminary preparation

It rarely happens that the user does not need all the contents of the tablet. After all, photos, videos, and other content are probably stored there.

Therefore, important and valuable information must first be saved. It is not very convenient to transfer all this manually. Plus, sometimes it takes a lot of time. It is much easier to perform the automatic backup procedure. After creating the appropriate file, when you open it on a new iPad or on another device, everything will be restored.

However, there are 2 ways to create a backup.

Via iTunes

Through how to create the necessary backup of the iPad content through iTunes, you should prepare your computer or laptop, and also install the appropriate program on it.

Then the process looks like this:

• Connect your tablet to your computer using a dedicated cable. Then launch iTunes on your PC or laptop. You may need to enter a password to connect.
  
• On the extreme panel of the running program, the “Browse” item will be displayed. You need to click on it.
  
• Among the proposed options, find the item “Create a copy now”. Choose the required list of content to save. The backup is encrypted with a security password.
  
• Follow the prompts from the iTunes backup wizard to complete the file creation.

Everything, on this copy is created as a separate file. It can still be stored on the computer, and when buying a new iPad, it is simply transferred to the tablet.

Via iCloud

There is another alternative, how you can back up data from iPad via iCloud.

The peculiarity of this method is that you do not need to use a computer or laptop. Only the tablet itself should be available.

The speed of the mobile Internet may not be enough, and it will take several hours to copy.

The instructions should be presented as follows:

• connect your tablet to the Internet;
• go to the settings, there click on the item “Username”;
• then open iCloud;
  
• go through all the switches that mean what data is copied to the cloud;
• move the sliders in front of the items that you want to save;
• scroll down the page;
• find the item “Backup”;
• make sure the copy switch is active (highlighted in green);
  
• now tap on the “Create a backup” item;
  
• wait for the completion of copying and saving the information.

All content is now stored on the cloud. You can access it not only from the iPad, but also from any other device.

As a last resort, you can connect the tablet to your computer and drag all the necessary files to the hard drive through the explorer. Then you don’t have to create a backup.

Reset methods

Now directly about how you can reset your iPad to factory settings, and what you need to do for this.

The most important thing is not to forget your Apple ID password. Otherwise, you will have to do a special reset with a firmware update, memory reset. And then we still have to create a new account.

You can use one of 4 methods to reset your iPad to its factory settings. They provide for the use of such tools:

• menu;
  
• iTunes;
• new firmware;
• DFU mode.
  

If you need to return your iPad to its original factory settings, choose one of the presented methods. It is important to know how they are implemented and in what cases they can be applied.

It is far from always worth resorting to resetting via DFU mode.

Now about each method separately.

Through the menu

This is the most standard iPad reset, allowing you to reset it to factory settings, but without much fanaticism.

The instructions can be presented as follows. An iPad user will need:

• open the settings section on the iPad and go to the “General / Reset” menu;
• a reset menu will appear, where you need to select the option “Clear all content and erase settings”;
  
• in the next window, which will be displayed upon completion of this procedure, you will be prompted to restart the device;
• here it is important to understand that after confirmation it will be impossible to return the previous settings;
• if backups are made, you need to agree to restart;
• confirm the second request for data deletion;
• when the “Find iPad” function is active, after confirmation, you must enter the password for your Apple ID account;
  
• wait until the procedure is completed.

After restarting, iPad will be reset to factory settings. And then there is the need to re-make changes, create the necessary settings.

As you can see, restoring your iPad in this way to restore it to factory settings is quite simple. Therefore, this method is the most popular and widespread among ordinary users.

Via iTunes

You can also restore your iPad directly to factory settings using the iTunes app. But, as in the case of creating a backup through this program, in order to reset the settings and reset all parameters, you will need a computer.

As a result, the instruction looks like this:

• connect your apple tablet to your PC or laptop with a special cable. It usually comes with the iPad;
• on the PC or laptop itself, install and run the iTunes application;
• when connecting the tablet, the program should recognize your device;
• on the left side of the application menu, the tablet icon will be displayed, on which you need to click;
• at the next stage, click the “Browse” button;
  
• now a menu will appear on the right, where there is an item “Restore iPad”;
  
• press this button and wait for the device to restart;
• this will reset the device to factory settings.

In such a simple way, you can erase all data and return the iPad to its factory settings.

Moreover, often users first make a backup copy and, without disconnecting the iPad, immediately reset the device.

Again, nothing complicated. The main thing is that you have a computer with the installed program at your disposal. Then it’s a matter of a few minutes. And bringing the iPad to factory production is extremely easy. This can be done with your own hands, without the involvement of third-party specialists.

It is worth noting that the presented methods, which allow you to throw off the tablet to the factory state, work on all generations and versions, be it a mini or a regular iPad of the last generation.

By flashing

This is not really a reset procedure and erase all data. This method is useful when you need to reflash your tablet computer.

This procedure is already more complicated. Here you will need to perform the following procedures:

• First, launch Recovery Mode on your tablet. To open the “Recovery Mode”, you first need to turn off the device, and then, holding the “Home” button, connect the cable to the computer. You cannot release the Home button. If everything goes well, then the iTunes application icon and the cable image will be displayed on the screen.
  
• Now on your computer, open iTunes. A notification should appear here that the app has detected the device in recovery mode.
  
• At the next stage, you need to click on the “Restore” button. After pressing it, all settings will be reset to the factory state. And automatically start the firmware installation process. But it is the official one.
  
• If you want to replace the factory firmware with a custom one, then when you press the “Restore” button, hold down the Shift key. When restoring via MacBook, Alt is pressed instead of Shift.
• The program will prompt you to select a file to install the firmware. You need to specify the file that was previously downloaded to your computer.

Again, you need to wait for the completion of the procedure, and start creating new settings.

Through DFU mode

In situations where the user has forgotten the password for the Apple ID account, and also cannot turn off the Find iPad function, the only option is to use the DFU mode.

In this case, you need to do the following:

• connect the tablet to a computer or laptop using a cable;
• launch iTunes;
• enable the iPad interaction program in standard mode;
• activate DFU mode, in which the tablet will boot without using the iOS shell;
• to activate the special mode, you need to hold down the power button and “Home” for about 10 seconds;
• then the shutdown button must be released, and the “Home” key must be continued to hold;
• if everything is done correctly, then the sound of connecting to iTunes will be heard;
• you can now launch iTunes;
• the display should only show an inscription with a proposal to restore the devices;
  
• all that remains is to press this button and wait for the procedure to complete.

That’s all, the reset is complete.

Helpful hints

To increase the likelihood of a successful factory reset of your Apple tablet, there are a few more tips to consider.

• Use only the original cord. Analogs may not work as expected. Because of them, errors often appear when restarting and reinstalling iOS.
• The presented methods work only on original Apple devices. There are, after all, Chinese forgeries. But only a visual copy of iOS applies there. In fact, this is a stylized Android.
• Before starting work on restoring the settings, be sure to charge the tablet to at least 80%.
• If you have any doubts about this or that decision, it is better to contact the service center.

A full reset of the settings is quite a responsible event, which should not be carried out just like that. There must be good reasons.

Have you ever reset iPad? What method was used for this? Are there any difficulties?

Share your experience in the comments, give tips for newbies, or ask your own questions.