"Setup as new" - will it erase it?

Question

Level 1

8 points

"Setup as new" - will it erase it?

I am sure I'd previously connected my iPad Mini to this laptop, but iTunes is giving me the "Welcome to your new iPad".

I've spent ages googling this and...

Half of the Internet says that 'Setup as new' does nothing but tell it you don't want to use a backup to set it up. Which makes sense.

The rest of the Internet is adamant that it will wipe everything and that you should right click and transfer purchases (however, this is not an option if its wanting you to set it up as new - just Eject or Restore from Backup).

I'm tempted to go with Setup as new, but there are even people on this board who say it wipes it blank...

iPad Mini-OTHER, iOS 6.1.4

Posted on Oct 19, 2013 6:46 PM

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Answer 1

Bunny92 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 9:24 PM in response to Bunny92

Just a heads up for anyone else in my position - selecting Setup as New does NOT erase your iPad. I just tried it because I'd read enough people online saying they'd done it without consequence to give it a go.

When I did that, the first thing it did was back up the iPad. Then it transferred everything.

All good. Nothing lost, nothing reset.

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Answer 2

Bunny92 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:17 PM in response to Bunny92

Sorry, I can't seem to edit my posts :(. I had meant to ask...if Apple tells you to go to erase before setting it up as a new iPad (if you are wanting it blank), why the need for that extra step if setting it up as new does the same thing?

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Answer 3

Bunny92 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 21, 2013 4:05 AM in response to Demo

However, there was no previous backup to restore from and nothing was transferred back. It seems items were only transferred from the iPad to my computer with nothing happening the other way.

When you click Setup New, it automatically moves to the next step, which is creating a backup afterwards. I couldn't see a way to stop the backup or the sync, so it doesn't seem like there was an option to say no.

Thanks for your help though.

I just want to make sure that anyone else in my situation knows that choosing to set it up as new (without a backup) will not erase it.

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Answer 4

Bunny92 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:09 PM in response to Diavonex

What is the difference between Erase All and Setup as New then?

Also, unrelated to this reply, but I've also turned off auto sync which is apparently should stop something..?

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Answer 5

Bunny92 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 19, 2013 8:01 PM in response to Demo

So there is absolutely no way to keep what I have on my iPad and get other files across to it?

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Answer 6

Diavonex

Level 9

67,259 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:25 PM in response to Bunny92

Setup as New

1. Settings>General>Reset>Erase all content and settings

2. You'll be asked twice to confirm

3. You'll see Apple logo and progress bar

4. You'll see a big iPad logo on screen

5. Configuration start

6. Set language

7. Set country

8. Select Network and input Password>Join

9. Enable Location Service>Next

10. You'll be given 3 options (a) Setup as New iPad (b) Restore from iCloud Backup (c) Restore from iTune Backup

11. Select Setup as New iPad

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Answer 7

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:34 PM in response to Bunny92

Erasing all contents and settings does exactly what it sounds like it does. It will totally erase everything on the iPad. It is simply a means to get a fresh start either as a "new" iPad with only the preinstalled apps and factory settings on it - or by restoring from a backup and downloading and syncing all of your previous settings and content back onto it.

After you erase the device you have to activate it all over again. During the activation process, you are given the option of setting up as a new iPad - or restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup. When you restore from a backup, you are not setting up as a new device now, you are using a backup to restore content to your iPad.

If you choose the Set up as new option, nothing is downloaded or restored to the iPad. You start all over again with a "clean" device.

To answer the inital question that you asked - yes - setting up as new will erase all of the content that you had downloaded or synced to the iPad.

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Answer 8

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Oct 20, 2013 4:45 AM in response to Bunny92

I'm very happy that you resolved your issue, but the fact remains that if you do not restore from the backup and sync with iTunes - you DO erase the device. You even stated yourself that it transferred everything back. If you had said no to that, the iPad would have been erased completely.

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Answer 9

Jul 23, 2014 1:48 PM in response to Bunny92

Just because it took me a while to find a definitive answer, I can confirm that I've just this minute clicked "set up as new" and it deleted NOTHING, the iPad is identical to how it was before I clicked "set up as new".

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Answer 10

Diavonex

Level 9

67,259 points

Oct 19, 2013 9:35 PM in response to Bunny92

Setup as new will erase everthing on your iPad but you can restore your data from iTune or iCloud Backup.

Backup and Restore

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766

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Answer 11

Diavonex

Level 9

67,259 points

Oct 19, 2013 6:52 PM in response to Bunny92

Settings>General>Erase>Erase all content and settings = like new out of the box

Setup as new wipes everything.

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Answer 12

Diavonex

Level 9

67,259 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:12 PM in response to Bunny92

"Erase all content and setting" and "setup as new" is the same thing.

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Answer 13

Diavonex

Level 9

67,259 points

Oct 19, 2013 7:14 PM in response to Bunny92

Turn off auto-sync: iPad will not sync automatically when you connect iPad to computer.

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Answer 14

Dec 7, 2013 9:42 PM in response to Bunny92

Yep when I selected the 'set up as new' option, it didn't erase anything. And I then had the chance to back the device up.

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Answer 15

Jul 6, 2014 7:04 PM in response to bladderbach

I can confirm that's still the case -- with iOS 7.1.2 and iTunes 11.2. After choosing "set up as new", the first thing it does is back everything up before it even asks you to go further.

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