Before you start
- Your iPad passcode
- Your Apple Account email and password
- Wi-Fi, and the iPad charged or plugged in
Method 1 Back up your iPad first
You can restore this backup onto a new iPad later, so you lose nothing when you erase the old one.
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Step 1: Back up to iCloud
Connect to Wi-Fi, then go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. Wait until the backup finishes and the time of the last backup updates.
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Step 2: Or back up to a computer
Connect the iPad with a cable. On a Mac, open Finder and select the iPad in the sidebar; on Windows, open the Apple Devices app. Click Back Up Now.
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Step 3: Check your important files
Photos, notes and contacts that sync to iCloud stay in your account after the erase. Files saved only on the iPad (for example in Files > On My iPad) are deleted, so copy them somewhere safe.
Method 2 Erase the iPad and remove Activation Lock
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Step 1: Unpair accessories you’re keeping
If you’re keeping an Apple Pencil, Magic Keyboard or Bluetooth headphones, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info button next to the accessory and choose Forget This Device.
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Step 2: Open the reset menu
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad and tap Erase All Content and Settings. (On iPadOS 14 and earlier, it’s Settings > General > Reset.)
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Step 3: Confirm with your passcode and Apple Account
Tap Continue, enter your iPad passcode, then your Apple Account password when asked. This signs you out of iCloud and turns off Find My and Activation Lock. If Screen Time is on, you may also need the Screen Time passcode.
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Step 4: Choose what happens to an eSIM
On cellular iPads with an eSIM, you’re asked whether to keep or delete it. Delete it if you’re selling the iPad, and contact your carrier if you want to move the plan to a new device.
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Step 5: Wait for the Hello screen
The erase takes a few minutes. When the iPad restarts on the Hello screen, it’s back to factory settings. Don’t set it up again; leave that to the new owner.
Method 3 Finish up after the erase
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Step 1: Remove the physical SIM
If your cellular iPad uses a SIM card, take it out with a SIM tool.
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Step 2: Remove the iPad from your Apple Account
Sign in at account.apple.com, open Devices, select the old iPad and remove it, so it no longer receives verification codes for your account.
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Step 3: Clean it and include the charger
Wipe the screen with a soft cloth and pack the cable and adapter if you’re selling it with them.
If you no longer have the iPad
If you already gave the iPad away without erasing it, sign in at icloud.com/find (or open Find My on another Apple device), select the iPad, choose Erase This Device, and then Remove This Device. This wipes it remotely and removes Activation Lock once it goes online.
If you forgot the iPad passcode
On iPadOS 17 or later, enter the wrong passcode until iPad Unavailable or Security Lockout appears, tap Forgot Passcode?, then Start iPad Reset and sign in with your Apple Account. The iPad needs Wi-Fi or mobile data for this.
If that option doesn’t appear, use a computer and recovery mode:
- iPad with a Home button: press and hold the Home and top (or side) buttons together until the recovery-mode screen appears.
- iPad without a Home button: press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, then the volume button farthest from it, then press and hold the top button until the recovery-mode screen appears.
Connect the iPad to a Mac (Finder) or a Windows PC (Apple Devices app), choose Restore, and follow the prompts.
Troubleshooting
I don’t remember my Apple Account password
Reset it at iforgot.apple.com or in Settings > [your name] > Sign-In & Security > Change Password on another Apple device, then try the erase again.
The iPad still shows Activation Lock for the new owner
Sign in at icloud.com/find, choose the iPad and select Remove This Device. Ask the buyer to restart the iPad and try again.
The erase seems stuck
Keep the iPad plugged in and on Wi-Fi and give it up to an hour. If nothing changes, force restart it and repeat the steps, or use recovery mode as described above.
Frequently asked questions
Does a factory reset delete my iCloud data?
No. It deletes only what’s on the iPad. Your iCloud photos, contacts and backups stay in your Apple Account.
Is my data really gone after the erase?
Yes. iPads encrypt their storage, and erasing deletes the encryption key, so the old data can’t be recovered.
Should I update iPadOS before selling?
It’s optional. The new owner can update during setup, and erasing keeps the current iPadOS version installed.
Summary
Back up, then use Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings and enter your Apple Account password. Stop at the Hello screen, take out the SIM, and remove the iPad from your account list. The next owner can then set it up without any lock.
