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A new life for your iPad —this is a real possibility that can fix many problems. Whether your iPad freezes, apps misbehave, or you want to pass the device to another person, you should know how to reset iPad different ways. Essentially, the choice depends on whether you want to wipe away the content and settings or not. In the guide below, we’ll explain the typical use cases of iPad resetting. What are the symptoms of a misbehaving iPad? How to backup iPad data before resetting? What if you’re used to iTunes backups, but this option doesn’t work on macOS Catalina and later? As a bonus, we’ll tell you about one tool to keep iPad data safe —whatever type of reset you run. How to reset iPad and why your iPad needs itThere are four conditions that define the way you should reset iPad:
Check out how to factory reset AirPods Soft reset iPad to fix misbehaviorAs the name suggests, soft reset is treating your device softly. It’s a basic restart process that doesn’t hamper any of your iPad functionality. You also never risk losing data or settings when running a soft reset. We recommend using this type of reset as a universal troubleshooting method —provided your iPad is responsive. Here’s how it works:
Force restart iPadIf your iPad wouldn’t turn on, or you’ve tried soft resetting and it didn’t work, you’ll need to force restart the device. It’s just another way to restart iPad —so it’s completely and keeps your data untouched. The mechanism of force restart will be different for different devices. You would usually use the Home button to restart. However, there are some models that don’t have the Home button —including the popular 2018 iPad Pro. So make sure you note the right way to force restart your iPad. For devices with Home button:
For devices with no Home button:
You may encounter the same problem of the missing button if you’re trying to force restart iPhone X models. The solutions are here —in the full guide on how to restart and reset iPhone X, XS, and XR. How to reset iPad to factory settings and erase all data and settingsSometimes the only response your iPad can give you is a black screen. Frustrating, yes. But you shouldn’t panic. Restoring iPad to factory settings can fix most of the iPad problems. But you have to put up with the fact that your data and settings will be gone after resetting. This is why we couldn’t emphasize the following more: Regular iPad backups totally rock. Another case when you need to erase iPad would be before selling the device or passing it to another person. One way or another, there’s only one way to keep your iPad data safe —backup everything before factory resetting. Check out how to clear cache on iPad Prepare your iPad for factory resetA few things for you to remember before we move to the backup options:
You have a few options on how to back up iPad. Just as with any other iOS device, you can use iTunes (Finder if your Mac runs on Catalina or later) or iCloud to create a copy of the device data. iTunes is the easiest option, but it’s effective only if you regularly sync your iPad. If that’s not the case, you should rather go with iCloud —or, ideally, use both. To back up iPad using iTunes/Finder:
To back up iPad using iCloud:
You can always check the date and time of a recent backup under the Back Up Now tab. The problem with iCloud backups is that you can’t have too many. While you have limited iCloud storage —5 GB for free —the chances are you might run out of space and your data won’t be saved. This is especially risky if you enable automatic iCloud backups and don’t monitor your storage very often. Get AnyTrans for automatic backupsTo stop worrying about backups, we recommend installing AnyTrans for iOS on Mac. This app completely replaces both iTunes and iCloud backups. It eliminates all the trouble with storage limitations and syncing. Plus, it enables you to schedule regular backups —so that your iPad data is always synced and securely backed up. Here’s how you create a backup, getting ready to completely reset iPad:
So as you’ve noticed, another big perk of AnyTrans is that it actually allows you to choose what files to back up —the choice you don’t have with iTunes and iCloud. Completely reset iPadOnce the backup is done, you can move ahead to the next stage. On your iPad, erase all content and settings. Here’s how to wipe an iPad:
The whole process will take a few minutes and it ends once you see the welcome screen. This means your iPad is ready for a new life. If you were searching how to factory reset iPad, because your device didn’t work, be prepared that resetting might not fix the problem. In this case, you’ll have to take it to the nearest Apple Service Center. How to reset iPad without passwordWhat if you don’t have a passcode? Apple passcode is a code that you use to unlock your device. On the devices with Touch ID, it can be replaced with a fingerprint). If you can’t remember your passcode or you’ve entered the wrong one too many times, you’ll have a problem with factory resetting. This can be fixed if you hard reset iPad and remove passcode in a Recovery Mode:
That’s about it about restoring an iPad. It’s pretty easy to remember in what cases to apply soft reset, force restart, or factory reset:
Whatever the case, make sure you keep your data securely backed up, always. You never know when the problem comes in. So it’s better to be always ready for it. If you want to use default utilities for backups, we strongly recommend to go with both iTunes/Finder and iCloud. Ideally, use AnyTrans via Setapp subscription — this will give you an affordable and super secure way to keep data protected + 200 other apps to discover and install on your Mac. |