If You're Retiring an Old iPad, Make Sure you Back it up First

[RaduTyrsina]

If you plan on getting a new iPad, this means you'll probably want to sell the older on. But before you do that, you need to make sure that all of your data is off the tablet and none of it is left behind before giving your tablet away. Nobody wants to see his private data getting in the wrong hands.

Before putting your iPad on sale or donating it to someone, you need to make sure that your data is off the device and that it has been restored to factory settings.

The first and easiest solution would be to make use of Apple's automatic iCloud backup. However, if the total of your iPad's photos, videos, documents, and settings exceed the 5 GB of space you get for free, then you'll have to pay more to get a better storage plan or exclude some items.

Backing up your iPad with iTunes is slower, but safer. You need to update iTunes to the latest version, then plug in your iPad or iPhone, select it from the left-hand column in iTunes, click the "Encrypt backups" checkbox and then click "Back Up Now." Here are some more details of how this can be done, via USAToday:

You'll be asked if you want to transfer any purchases from the iDevice that aren't saved in iTunes already; click yes, just in case. Then you get to wait: A backup of a 16-gigabyte iPad Mini that had last been backed up a few weeks ago took about 20 minutes.

When that's done, unplug the iPad, open its Settings app, tap General, then Reset, then "Erase All Content and Settings." After you enter the device's passcode, confirm twice that you want to nuke its contents and type in your iCloud password to remove it from the service, it will reboot into its setup screen.

That bit with your iCloud password ensures that the device is disconnected from the persistent Activation Lock feature that will otherwise ensure that nobody else can use the device. And it's why you can't leave it to the next user to reset the device.

The existence of Activation Lock should also be all the reminder necessary never to buy a used iPhone or iPad without first seeing it powered on and unlocked. If the seller says the device's battery is dead, insist on charging it first.

So, remember, if you want to retire your old iPad, make sure you have backed-up the data properly and that it is just as good as new. Leave your comment below and let us know if you have had any experiences with this before.

Source: USA Today

 

[n4uau]

And then? You connect the new ipad to itunes and ?? Tell it to restore to the new device ??

 

[J. A.]

Disable "Find my iPad", delete the iCloud account and erase all content and settings. You don't need iTunes to do that.