This article explains how you can force your iPad into Recovery mode if it’s locked or stuck at the Apple logo. This resets the iPad to factory default settings. Instructions apply to iPadOS 13 or later on macOS Catalina (or later) or Windows 10.

What to Know

  • Try a reboot first. Press and hold the top button and Home button for 20 seconds, or press the Volume Up, Volume Down, and top button.
  • Recovery Mode: Connect the iPad to a computer, open Finder (Catalina or later) or iTunes. Restart. Choose Update from the recovery screen.
  • If you don’t have access to a computer, use the Find My app to wipe the iPad remotely.

Try Forcing a Restart First

Before you force your iPad into recovery mode, try a forced restart. This process forces the iPad to shut down when the normal shutdown process doesn’t work. How you force the iPad to restart depends on whether it has a Home button:

  • Home button: If the iPad has a Home button, press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.No Home button: If the iPad has Face ID, press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the top button. Release the top button when the Apple logo appears.

If the iPad freezes at the Apple logo, you’ll need to force it into Recovery Mode.

Before Forcing Recovery Mode

If you’re using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you’ll use Finder in this process. If you’re using a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, or if you’re using a PC, you’ll use iTunes.

Before you begin:

  • On a Mac: Update to the latest version of macOS.
  • If your Mac has macOS Mojave or earlier, be sure to download the latest compatible iTunes version.
  • On a Windows PC: If you installed iTunes, open it. If a new version of iTunes is available, the app notifies you (or, you can select Help > Check for Updates). If you haven’t installed iTunes, download it from Microsoft Store.

How to Force iPad Into Recovery Mode

To force the iPad into Recovery Mode, complete the following steps:

Use Recovery Mode only when you can’t get into the iPad to operate it. If your iPad starts but freezes while you’re using it, try the basic iPad troubleshooting steps to fix the problem first. If your iPad is frozen on an app or other screen, learn how to fix a frozen iPad.

  • Use the cable that came with the iPad to connect the iPad to your PC or Mac.
  • On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave (10.14) or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes.
  • If iTunes was open or automatically opened when you connected the iPad to the computer, close iTunes, and then reopen it.
  • A Recovery Mode screen appears.
  • With iTunes open and the iPad connected to the computer, perform one of the following tasks:
  • iPad with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the top button until the iPad enters Recovery Mode.iPad with Home button: Press and hold the Home button and the top button a the same time until the Recovery Mode screen appears.
  • Locate your iPad on your computer, and then select Update.
  • It may take a long time to download the needed files. If the iPad shuts down during this process, start over.
  • When the update is complete, go through the iPad setup process. This process is similar to when you first set up your iPad.

How to Recover Your iPad Without a Computer

If your iPad is locked and you don’t have access to a computer, use the Find My app to wipe the iPad remotely. If the Find My app is enabled on your iPad, you can wipe your iPad remotely from iCloud or by using the Find My app on your iPhone.

Use the cable that came with the iPad to connect the iPad to your PC or Mac.

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave (10.14) or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes.

If iTunes was open or automatically opened when you connected the iPad to the computer, close iTunes, and then reopen it.

A Recovery Mode screen appears.

With iTunes open and the iPad connected to the computer, perform one of the following tasks:

  • iPad with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the top button until the iPad enters Recovery Mode.iPad with Home button: Press and hold the Home button and the top button a the same time until the Recovery Mode screen appears.

Locate your iPad on your computer, and then select Update.

It may take a long time to download the needed files. If the iPad shuts down during this process, start over.

When the update is complete, go through the iPad setup process. This process is similar to when you first set up your iPad.

The iPad setup process works from any computer. If you don’t own a computer, use this process on a friend’s Mac or PC.

If you backed up your iPad using iCloud or iTunes, you can recover everything up to the point of the backup. If you didn’t back up your iPad, you can recover apps that you previously purchased by downloading those apps from the App Store.

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