If your iPad has become unresponsive or frozen, perhaps during a software update, and you've tried everything else, it might be time to learn how to put your iPad in recovery mode. When you do this, you will lose any data not stored in a backup, but you will get your iPad back. In this article, we'll teach you all about recovery mode for your iPad. Let's dive in.
What You Need to Know:
- 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 to get to Recovery Mode Screen.
- iPad with a Home button: Press and hold both the Home and the top (or side) buttons at the same time to get to Recovery Mode Screen.
iPad Recovery Mode: iPads without a Home Button
It's very important that before you begin this process, you've backed up your iPad and you have the latest software version available for your Mac or PC, as well as have downloaded the most recent version of iTunes. If you enjoy tips like this about using your iPad, be sure to sign up for our free Tip of the Day!
- Connect your iPad to your computer with a cable.
- In quick succession, press and release the volume up button (the closest to the top button), then press and release the volume down button (the button farthest from the top button), and lastly, press and hold the top button.
![In quick succession, press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, then press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button, and lastly, press and hold the top button.]()
- Keep holding the top button until you see the recovery mode screen—an image of a cable with an arrow pointing to an image of a computer.
![Keep holding the button until you see the recovery mode screen.]()
- On your computer, locate your iPad in iTunes or via the Finder.
- You will see the option to either Restore or Update; choose Update. This tells your computer to download and reinstall the software without erasing your data. If the download takes more than 15 minutes or you get a notification that your iPad cannot be updated, put your iPad in recovery mode again and select Restore.
- Once your iPad is updated or restored, you can set your iPad up.
iPad Recovery Mode: iPads with a Home Button
If you have an iPad with a Home button, here is how to put your iPad into recovery mode. As above, it's very important that before you begin this process, you've backed up your iPad and you have the latest software version available for your Mac or PC, as well as have downloaded the most recent version of iTunes
- Connect your iPad to your computer with a cable.
- Simultaneously, press and hold the Home button and the top (or side) button.
![Press and hold both the Home and the top (or side) buttons at the same time.]()
- Keep holding the two buttons until you see the recovery mode screen—an image of a cable with an arrow pointing to an image of a computer.
![Keep holding the button until you see the recovery mode screen.]()
- On your computer, locate your iPad in iTunes or via the Finder.
- You will see the option to either Restore or Update; choose Update. This tells your computer to download and reinstall the software without erasing your data. If the download takes more than 15 minutes or you get a notification that your iPad cannot be updated, put your iPad in recovery mode again and select Restore.
- Once your iPad is updated or restored, you can set your iPad up.
If you were unable to restore a backup to your iPad, you may now need to set up your iPad again. If you are still experiencing trouble after following these steps, it may be time to contact Apple Support for help.
