How to Erase an iPad Before Selling It (Step by Step)

To erase an iPad before selling it, back it up, sign out of your Apple Account, then go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content and Settings. Signing out first matters: it switches off Find My and Activation Lock, so the next owner can set the iPad up. Erasing without signing out leaves the iPad locked to you.

What should I do before erasing my iPad?

• Back it up. Use iCloud Backup (Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup) or connect it to a Mac or PC.
• Unpair accessories you are keeping. In Settings > Bluetooth, tap the info button next to your Apple Pencil or keyboard and choose Forget This Device.
• Check for device management. If Settings > General > VPN & Device Management lists a profile, a school or employer manages the iPad and must release it first. See removing MDM from a school or work iPad.

How do I sign out of my Apple Account on an iPad?

1. Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap Sign Out.
3. Enter your Apple Account password and tap Turn Off. This turns off Find My.
4. Choose whether to keep a copy of data on the iPad, then tap Sign Out again.

If you no longer have the iPad in hand, you can remove it from your account at icloud.com/find. Our guide to Activation Lock before selling covers that case.

How do I erase all content and settings?

1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad.
2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
3. Enter your passcode and confirm.
4. Wait for the Hello screen. That screen means the iPad is ready for its next owner.

What about the SIM card or eSIM on a cellular iPad?

On a Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad, remove the physical SIM with a SIM tool before shipping. If the iPad uses an eSIM, the erase screen asks whether to keep or delete it; delete it unless you are moving the plan to another device, and contact your carrier if you want the plan cancelled. A cellular iPad also needs a clean IMEI to sell, which is explained in Wi-Fi vs Cellular iPad resale value.

Is erasing enough to protect my data?

Yes. iPads encrypt storage by default, and Erase All Content and Settings deletes the encryption keys, which makes the old data unreadable. At SellYouriPads we also run our own erase on every iPad that arrives, as a second layer, but your sign-out is what releases Activation Lock and keeps the sale moving.

Checklist before you pack it

• Backup completed
• Apple Account signed out and Find My off
• No management profile listed
• Erased to the Hello screen
• SIM removed or eSIM deleted

Then pack it as described in how to ship an iPad safely, or start with the iPad price check if you have not got an offer yet.

What if I cannot remember my iPad passcode?

Erase it in recovery mode. Connect the iPad to a Mac or PC, force it into recovery mode (the button sequence depends on whether it has a Home button), then choose Restore in Finder or the Apple Devices app. After the restore, the iPad still asks for the Apple Account that was signed in, so you need that password or the account must be removed at icloud.com/find.

Do I need to remove my iPad from my Apple Account device list?

Signing out on the iPad removes it from Find My. It can still appear in your account's device list for a while; you can remove it at account.apple.com under Devices so it no longer receives verification codes. This is housekeeping rather than a requirement for the sale.

How long does an erase take?

Usually a few minutes. Because iPad storage is encrypted, erasing removes the keys rather than overwriting every block, so even a 1TB iPad Pro finishes quickly. If the progress bar stalls for more than an hour, restart the iPad and try again or use recovery mode.

Should I update iPadOS before erasing?

It is not necessary. The buyer or refurbisher installs updates during setup. Updating first only helps if the iPad has a known issue fixed in a newer version.