RESETTING APPLE DEVICES FROM WINDOWS 11

In case anyone is like me and has spent months trying every combination of iTunes, factory reset settings, and more, I finally figured out how to reset devices when locked out (like the tablet I got from my mother that was connected to her now-deleted icloud account) and I want to save people the headache if at all possible because I couldn't find it on here.

So first, most of the guides I found were right when it comes to recovery mode. You turn the device off, have the cord in your PC, and then hold the home/lock button while plugging it in until recovery mode. That was probably the most clear information I had. What DID change was what comes next.

Almost every guide I found said that you want to connect to iTunes, but that isn't the case. At least not for me on Windows 11. What you really want is to use the Microsoft app Apple Devices. When the program is open and you have it in recovery mode, it will offer to restore or update the device. It will completely reset to factory settings, so please only do this if you don't have anything you need on there.

I'm sure some people have found this already, but I have spent about a year trying different combinations and happened on this one by chance, so whatever works to save others from getting the same headache.