I found an ipad how do i reset it

In some rare cases, you may find yourself in a scenario where you're looking to wipe an iPad or other iOS device to factory settings, but the device you have is currently password protected and you don't know the password.

I have found myself in this situation as I am helping to sell a friend's old iPad that he understandably wants to be wiped prior to its sale.

Since he had previously set a 4 digit password to access the iPad's contents and I cannot contact him to ask what the password is (he is out of the country at the moment), I will have to resort to manually overriding the password and restoring the device.

There are two different ways to go about doing this and I will run you through each of them.

Method #1: Reset an iPad Previously Synced With Your Computer's iTunes

  1. Connect your iPad to the computer via USB cable
  2. Launch iTunes
  3. Remove iPad from your computer if iTunes prompts for a passcode. If this happens, move on to method #2.
  4. Right click on the iPad icon found within the iTunes left column & click “Back Up” (only perform this step if you want to restore your data after restore)
  5. Click “Restore” when your back up has finished. This will cause your iPad to enter “Recovery Mode” which will reset all its settings.
  6. After the device reboots, right-click the iPad icon and choose “Restore from Backup” This will replace all the content you previously backed up before the reset. This step is only necessary if you are looking to restore your data which was deleted during the reset.

Method #2: Reset An iPad That Was Never Synced With Your Computer's iTunes

  1. Disconnect iPad from computer
  2. Hold down the top “Sleep/Wake” button until the red slider appears & proceed to turn the iPad off
  3. While holding the bottom “Home” button down, reinsert the USB connector and the iPad will turn back on

    Erasing all of the data on an iPad and restoring it to its factory settings is something you can do from the iPad's settings – provided you remember your passcode. If you don't remember your passcode, or you've been locked out because you entered the wrong passcode too many times, you'll need to reset it using iTunes on your computer. If you have backed up your iPad, you'll be prompted to restore your data and settings when you sign in after the reset. If you haven't backed up your data, you can recover the apps you purchased, but ​your data won't be recoverable​.

    If your iPad is just frozen and not responding to your taps, rather than being locked, you can usually solve the problem with a ​hard reset​.

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    Resetting the iPad With iTunes

    Before getting started, make sure that your computer has the latest version of iTunes installed and that you have a strong internet connection. Resetting an iPad is time sensitive, and your computer will need to download and install software on the iPad. If the process takes longer than 15 minutes, it will automatically abort the process and you will need to start all over again.

    Apple computers come with iTunes already, so you can open it and update it if prompted. If you have a Windows PC, you can download iTunes from the Microsoft Store if you don't already have it.

    1. Open iTunes

    2. Sign into iTunes on your computer. As a security measure, you will need your Apple ID and password to reset the iPad.

    3. Start Recovery Mode

    4. Recovery mode is what directs iTunes to either update or erase the iPad. You need to start this process before connecting the iPad to your computer. Because you'll need to hold down a button or two while connecting the iPad, connect its cable to your computer first, and then you can more easily connect the iPad once recovery mode has started. The process varies a bit, depending on which iPad model you have.

    5. ​iPad with Home button​: Hold down the Top or Side button until the Power Off slider appears on the screen. Drag the slider to turn off the iPad. Then hold down the Home button while connecting the iPad to your computer. Release the Home button only after the recovery mode screen appears.

    6. ​iPad with Face ID​: Press and hold the Top button and one of the volume buttons until you see the Power Off slider. Drag the slider to turn off your iPad. Continue holding down the Top button and connect your device to the computer. You can release the Top button after you see the recover-mode screen.

    7. Restore the iPad to Factory Settings

    8. Once the recover-mode screen appears on the iPad, iTunes should automatically launch on your computer. It will give you the option to restore or update the iPad. Click ​Restore​. Restoring the iPad can take several minutes.

    How to Hard Reset an iPad

    If your iPad is frozen, preventing you from unlocking it with your passcode, or if it doesn't recognize your taps or the slider doesn't work, a hard reset/hard reboot of your iPad will often do the trick. This forces the iPad to turn off and on, flushing its memory clean. A hard reset, however, ​does not delete your data​.

    Press the ​Home​ button and the ​On/Off​ button at the same time. Keep holding the buttons down until after the screen turns black and the iPad starts up again. When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the buttons.

    You should now be able to access the iPad, provided you know the passcode. If you still need to erase the data and restore it to factory settings, you can do that with iTunes or from the iPad settings.

    How to Erase iPad From Settings

    If you are now able to open your iPad, you can erase all of your data and return it to its factory default settings without connecting it to a computer.

    1. Ensure that your iPad is charged, or connect it to a power source.
    2. Open ​Settings​; select ​General​ and then select ​Reset​.
    3. Select ​Erase All Content and Settings​. Enter your passcode or your Apple ID password if prompted. This password is the one that's associated with your email address and used to access the App Store or iCloud.
    4. Confirm that you want to erase everything on your iPad.

    After several minutes, the iPad will restart, giving you the same welcome screen as when you purchased it.

    Can you factory reset a stolen iPad?

    If your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch is lost or stolen, you can erase it in Find Devices on iCloud.com.

    How do I reset someone else's iPad?

    Go back to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. If you turned on Find My [device], you might need to enter your Apple ID and password. If your device uses eSIM, choose the option to erase your device and the eSIM profile when asked.

    How do you reset an iPad without knowing the password?

    If you can't remember your passcode when you try again, you need to use a computer to put your iPad in recovery mode. This process deletes your data and settings, including your passcode, giving you access to set up your iPad again. After you erase your iPad, you can restore your data and settings from backup.

    Can you factory reset a used iPad?

    Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad. Do one of the following: Prepare your content and settings to transfer to a new iPad: Tap Get Started, then follow the onscreen instructions. When you finish, return to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad, then tap Erase All Content and Settings.