HT201274: Erase all content and settings on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch

Learn about Erase all content and settings on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch
neilfrommb

Q: "Erase all content and settings'??!!

Trying to recover some videos and pictures that were accidentally erased from our ipad. Found a suggestion on the internet to "erase all content and settings' but am afraid I will "ruin" the ipad, erase everything and not be able to figure out how to set it up again!!

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Dec 29, 2013 6:52 PM

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Q: "Erase all content and settings'??!!

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Dec 29, 2013 6:53 PM in response to neilfrommb
    Level 10 (271,691 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 29, 2013 6:53 PM in response to neilfrommb
  • by Demo,Helpful

    Demo Demo Dec 29, 2013 6:56 PM in response to neilfrommb
    Level 10 (95,862 points)
    iPad
    Dec 29, 2013 6:56 PM in response to neilfrommb

    That suggestion is made if you want to restore from the iCloud backup that may contain the videos and pictures that were erased from your iPad.

     

    Before you erase the device - are you sure that you backed up the iPad after you took those erased pictures and videos? If you did not backup the iPad to iCloud after you took them, they will not be in the backup and erasing toe iPad so that you can start over again with the iCloud backup will be an exercise in futility.

     

    If you are sure that the erased items are in the iCloud backup, go ahead and erase the iPad and the. When you go through the setup assistant again in order to activate the iPad, choose the option to restore from the iCloud backup when prompted and that will restore the erased items to your iPad.

    iCloud: Restore your iOS device from iCloud - Support - Apple

  • by neilfrommb,

    neilfrommb neilfrommb Dec 30, 2013 7:12 AM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 7:12 AM in response to Demo

    I am not sure I backed the pictures up. The last back up was done on Dec 17, the pictures/video were taken before that, does that mean they were backed up?? Sorry, I must sound like a complete idiot!

  • by Demo,Helpful

    Demo Demo Dec 30, 2013 7:33 AM in response to neilfrommb
    Level 10 (95,862 points)
    iPad
    Dec 30, 2013 7:33 AM in response to neilfrommb

    If you took the photos prior to December 17th, then they are - or should be - backed up in iCloud. When you backup, everything that is on the iPad at that point and time is contained in that backup. So if you took the photos in November at some point and then you backed up in mid December, then the photos are in the backup.

  • by neilfrommb,

    neilfrommb neilfrommb Dec 30, 2013 5:02 PM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 5:02 PM in response to Demo

    Hello again Demo

    Ok, so have decided to try to get the photos and videos back but when I go into "Erase all content and settings" I need a 4 digit passcode, have no idea what that could be. Any suggestions where I could find that info?

  • by Diavonex,

    Diavonex Diavonex Dec 30, 2013 5:11 PM in response to neilfrommb
    Level 9 (66,730 points)
    Dec 30, 2013 5:11 PM in response to neilfrommb

    When you want to erase all content, you need to enter Apple ID and Password before you are allow to do so.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Dec 30, 2013 6:17 PM in response to neilfrommb
    Level 10 (95,862 points)
    iPad
    Dec 30, 2013 6:17 PM in response to neilfrommb

    As Diavonex stated, you do have to provide your Apple ID and password when you try to erase all content and settings - if you have Find my iPhone enabled on the device, but the 4 digit passcode would be the passcode that you set to unlock the iPad.

     

    From your response, I gather that you do not remember setting up a passcode, or you didn't set one, but the iPad is looking for it anyway. There is no way to recover that code from anywhere and the only way around that would be to restore the iPad which is what you are basically trying to do anyway.

     

    I don't think it ever heard of having to provide the passcode in order to erase all content and settings.

  • by neilfrommb,

    neilfrommb neilfrommb Jan 4, 2014 7:26 AM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2014 7:26 AM in response to Demo

    Well it won't let me go any futher without this magical 4 digit passcode and I have racked my brain trying to think of what it could be. I've signed in with  my Apple ID but it wants more. Guess I will have to contact Apple to see what to do.

    Thanks so much for your help!

    Heather

  • by neilfrommb,

    neilfrommb neilfrommb Jan 4, 2014 11:14 AM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 4, 2014 11:14 AM in response to Demo

    So tried to contact apple but see I do not have any coverage so it's going to cost me at least $35 just to talk to someone. I am soooo frustrated! I've signed in about 100 times into my Apple ID account but that's as far as I get. I'm supposed to answer security questions which I can't remember the answers to but when I check online on how to bypass this my screen doesn't have "resend to my alternate email address" option which according to the Apple site is how I can reset these questions.

    And, I still am no closer to attempting to get my pictures back!