So your iPad is acting up, and you want to reset the damn thing, but you don’t want to lose all your shit. I feel you. Resetting technology can be a pain in the ass, but sometimes it’s the only way to get your device back up and running properly when it starts acting like an entitled toddler.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the different ways on How to Reset iPad, so you can get back to streaming Netflix and doom-scrolling Instagram like the mindless zombie we all know you are.
The “thermonuclear option” of resets is the full factory reset. It will completely wipe your iPad back to its virgin out-of-the-box state. It’ll be like you just bought the thing yesterday, naked and afraid.
If you want to go this route, here’s how to factory reset your iPad:
Once it’s finished, your iPad will reboot and walk you through the setup process like when you first bought it.
So tell me, was wiping your iPad clean everything you hoped for? Did it scratch that itch deep in your soul? Or do you feel hollow knowing you nuked years of memories and half-written songs?
Well, too bad, there’s no going back now. Let’s move on.
If you’re having Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular data connectivity issues, resetting your network settings is a quick fix you can try before going nuclear.
It will reset all network accounts, passwords and settings – but NOT erase your apps, data or accounts. Think of it like a hard reboot of just your network components.
Here’s how to reset network settings on an iPad:
After it restarts, you’ll have to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords and set up cellular data again. It’s a small price to pay for a functioning internet connection again.
We’ve all been there. You try to type a perfectly normal word, but autocorrect keeps changing it to something bizarre or offensive.”Hey mom, I’ll be home for dinner after my viola lesson.”
Becomes, “Hey, Mom, I’ll be home for dingos after my moist vajayjay lesson.”Not an ideal text to send, dear old mom.
Resetting your keyboard dictionary will wipe out any weird autocorrect suggestions that your iPad has learned. It’s an easy fix to get autocorrect back in line.
Here’s how to reset your keyboard dictionary:
If you want to unlink your iPad from your iCloud account or Apple ID without losing all your data, you can sign out of iCloud instead of factory resetting.
It will turn off syncing and remove the activation lock but leave all your content intact. Your iPad will work normally but is no longer synced with your iCloud account.
To sign out of iCloud:
Once you’re signed out, your iPad will work fine, but you’ll lose access to iCloud backups, photos, Find My iPad and other features.
If you want to refresh your iPad without deleting apps and data, resetting all settings is a good compromise. It will reset system settings, preferences, and accessibility settings – but leave your apps and content as-is.
It’s sort of a “soft reset”, if you will. Here’s how to do it:
It is handy when your iPad is glitchy but you don’t want to start over completely. Resetting settings will clear out any weirdness without nuking your whole setup.
I’m kidding here. Do not put your iPad in rice. Rice does nothing to help dry out or fix a wet device. It’s an old myth some idiot made up.
Rice won’t repair water damage or reset anything. But for some reason, this terrible advice still floats around the internet like an immortal zombie.
Rest in peace, rice trick. Hopefully, you’ll stop being spread by gullible grandmas on Facebook one day.
First, pour yourself a stiff drink because data loss sucks. Then you can restore from either iCloud or iTunes:
– For iCloud, just sign back in during setup and tap Restore from iCloud backup.
– For iTunes, connect to your computer and click Restore backup in iTunes
This will reload your stuff from the latest backup.
Resetting your iPad is like giving it a fresh start. It clears out any gremlins in the software and starts you off with a clean slate.
It’s an easy troubleshooting step before you go nuclear and take it to the Genius Bar. And it just feels good to hit the reset button sometimes!
First, take a deep breath and count to 10. Then, calmly bring your iPad to the nearest Apple Store for professional help.
The geniuses can run diagnostics to spot any hardware issues and hopefully get your iPad back up and running properly. If all else fails, sacrifice it to the tech gods and buy a new one.
Before resetting or restoring your iPad, ensure your stuff is backed up! iCloud and iTunes backups are your friends here.
Back up to iCloud if you want an ongoing backup solution. Back up locally to your computer with iTunes for a hard copy.
Having a current backup takes the stress out of resetting because you know you can get your apps, data and settings back afterwards.
So there you have it – the various ways to reset and restore your iPad when it’s being an uncooperative little turd. Factory reset, network reset, and a few more surgical options if you don’t want to nuke it from orbit yet.
Got any other iPad reset tips or horror stories? Let me know in the comments! And may your resets be smooth and painless.
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