This article explains how to restart an iPad and how to hard reset an iPad. It covers every iPad model ever released. It also includes other options for how to reset an iPad.

What to Know

  • Press and hold the on/off button. When the slider appears, slide to the right. Hold down the on/off button again to restart.A restart is sometimes called a reset. A hard reset is used when the standard restart process doesn’t work.To hard reset, hold down the home and on/off buttons at the same time, even after the slider appears.

The Easiest Way to Restart an iPad (All Models)

The basic kind of restart—in which you turn the iPad off and then turn it back on—is the easiest to do and the first thing you should try when you experience hardware problems. The process won’t delete your data or settings. Follow these steps:

  • Your steps depend on whether your iPad has a home button or not:
  • For iPads with a Home button: Begin by pressing the on/off button. The on/off button is located on the top right corner of the iPad.For iPads without a Home button: Press and hold the on/off button and one volume button at the same time. Skip to step 4.
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  • Hold the button until a slider appears at the top of the iPad screen.
  • Let go of the on/off button.
  • Move the slider left to right to turn off the iPad (or tap Cancel if you change your mind). This shuts down the iPad.
  • When the iPad’s screen goes dark, the iPad is off.
  • Restart the iPad by holding down the on/off button until the Apple icon appears. Let go of the button and the iPad will start up again.

How to Hard Reset iPad (All Models)

The standard restart process doesn’t always work. Sometimes an iPad can be locked up so much that the slider doesn’t appear and the iPad screen doesn’t respond to taps. In that case, you need to try a hard reset.

Your steps depend on whether your iPad has a home button or not:

  • For iPads with a Home button: Begin by pressing the on/off button. The on/off button is located on the top right corner of the iPad.For iPads without a Home button: Press and hold the on/off button and one volume button at the same time. Skip to step 4.

Hold the button until a slider appears at the top of the iPad screen.

Let go of the on/off button.

Move the slider left to right to turn off the iPad (or tap Cancel if you change your mind). This shuts down the iPad.

When the iPad’s screen goes dark, the iPad is off.

Restart the iPad by holding down the on/off button until the Apple icon appears. Let go of the button and the iPad will start up again.

This technique clears the memory that apps and the operating system run in (but not your data; it will still be safe) and gives your iPad a fresh start. To perform a hard reset:

  • Again, the steps differ based on whether your iPad has a Home button or not.
  • For iPads with Home Buttons: Hold down the home and on/off buttons at the same time.For iPads without Home Buttons: Quickly press volume down, then quickly press volume up, then press and hold the on/off button. Skip to step 3.
  • Continue holding the buttons even after the slider appears on the screen. The screen will eventually go black.
  • If the iPad is completely frozen, the slider might not appear. Continue holding down the button until the screen goes black.
  • When the Apple logo appears, let go of the buttons and let the iPad start up like normal.

More Options for Resetting an iPad

There’s one other kind of reset that’s commonly used: restoring to factory settings. This technique isn’t usually used to solve problems (though it can work if the problems are bad enough). Instead, it’s most often used before selling an iPad or sending it in for repair.

Again, the steps differ based on whether your iPad has a Home button or not.

  • For iPads with Home Buttons: Hold down the home and on/off buttons at the same time.For iPads without Home Buttons: Quickly press volume down, then quickly press volume up, then press and hold the on/off button. Skip to step 3.

Continue holding the buttons even after the slider appears on the screen. The screen will eventually go black.

If the iPad is completely frozen, the slider might not appear. Continue holding down the button until the screen goes black.

When the Apple logo appears, let go of the buttons and let the iPad start up like normal.

Restoring to factory settings deletes all your apps, data, preferences, and settings and returns the iPad to the state it was in when you first took it out of the box. It’s a drastic step, but sometimes you need it.

  • Will a hard reset delete everything on my iPad?
  • No. A hard reset is like rebooting your computer. It clears memory and applications, but no data is lost.
  • How can I perform a factory reset if I’m locked out of my iPad?
  • If your iPad has FaceID, press and hold the top button and a volume button. When the slider appears, turn off the device. While holding the top button, connect the iPad to your computer; the Recovery Mode screen will appear. If your iPad has a Home button, follow the previous steps, but press the Home button instead of the top button.

No. A hard reset is like rebooting your computer. It clears memory and applications, but no data is lost.

If your iPad has FaceID, press and hold the top button and a volume button. When the slider appears, turn off the device. While holding the top button, connect the iPad to your computer; the Recovery Mode screen will appear. If your iPad has a Home button, follow the previous steps, but press the Home button instead of the top button.

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