Putting an iPad into Recovery Mode

Information

How to put an iPad into Recovery Mode to "reimage" it.

 

Environment

  • Apple iPadOS
  • MacOS
  • Apple Configurator 2

 

Process

Put your iPad in recovery mode and set it up again

  1. Make sure that your Mac is up to date. If you're using iTunes, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes.

  2. On a Mac with macOS Catalina, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a PC, open Apple Configurator 2. If Apple Configurator 2 is already open, close it, then open it again.

  3. Keep your iPad connected and wait until the recovery mode screen appears:
    • For an iPad without a Home button: Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button. Press and hold the top button.
      recovery mode ipad face id ipad mini animation
    • For an iPad with a Home button: Press and hold both the Home and the top (or side) buttons at the same time. 
      ipad home button force restart
  4. Keep holding the button (or buttons) until you see the recovery mode screen:
    recovery mode ipad pro face-id
  5. Locate your iPad on your computer.
    • When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Restore.
    • Your computer will try to reinstall the software with erasing your data. Wait while your computer downloads the software for your iPad. 
    • f the download takes more than 15 minutes and your iPad exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then repeat step 3.
  6. After the Update or Restore completes, set up your iPad.

Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212787

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