please help factory reset ipad remotely

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Level 1

9 points

please help factory reset ipad remotely

I did a stupid thing — sold my 3rd gen ipad and forgot to factory reset before mailing. It's in transit now, probably arriving to new owner tomorrow.

I need to remotely erase it without locking out the new owner. I can access it via icloud/find my iphone and it has a passcode lock. I don't remember if Find my iphone is loadeded on it or if I set it to delete content after # of incorrect passcode attempts. I suppose that would be the easiest way to fix this situation.

Via icloud, I've set it to erase all content as soon as it is connected to the internet. Then I'm thinking, he can email me that it's been erased, then I remove it from my icloud account and that will allow new owner to start from scratch.

Please let me know if this will work...or what will.

thank you!

iPad, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Feb 19, 2014 7:26 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ellka Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 19, 2014 7:42 PM in response to ellka

looks like this page has all the neccessary info, and that this can be done remotely without locking out the new owner. whew.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4515

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Answer 2

Diavonex

Level 9

67,235 points

Feb 19, 2014 7:30 PM in response to ellka

Remote erase iPad step by step

1. Launch web browser on your computer

2. Sign in to www.icloud.com

3. Tap on Find My iPhone

4. Select the iPad to be erased

5. Tap Erase iPad

6. Message: All your content and settings will be erased. An erase iPad cannot be located or tracked

7. Tap Erase

8. Enter Apple ID and Password

9. Tap Next

10. Enter a phone number where you can be reached. It will be shown on your iPad after it has been erased

11. Enter phone number

12. Tap Next

13. Tap Erase iPad

14. This message will be shown on your iPad after it's been erase "This iPad has been lost. Please call 12345678"

15. Done

16. Erase started

16. OK

17. Remove from Account (this will allow iPad to be activated and used by another person)

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Answer 3

ellka Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 21, 2014 8:55 AM in response to ellka

Well. There's still a problem:

This is a wifi only ipad. Can it be connected to an unknown wifi network without the passcode? Doesn't seem possible, does it? So remote find, erase etc is really only for ipads with 3g/4g.

So I should have the new owner try the wrong passcode until it erases itself? What if I didn't set erase after 10 attempts in the general settings?

Back to needing help here. I know I can give him my passcode after changing all my passwords, but really prefer not to go this route.

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Answer 4

ellka Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 21, 2014 9:50 AM in response to ellka

This question is not solved. Since I can't see how to label it as such, I may need to repost.

Further research indicates that 6 attempts at wrong passcode will only temporarily lock the ipad since I don't think i've set it to erase after 10 attempts. So the 2 options available are give the guy my passcode or ask him to put it in recovery mode.

The problem with giving the new owner the passcode to connect to wifi is...

I've changed my icloud password. My new ipad mini without new password entered, is still giving me access to everything—notes, photos, contacts, calendars.

What I was hoping would happen is new icloud password locks user out of all personal info until new password is entered. Then new owner connects to wifi and previously set remote erase happens. It seems that anything created or stored on that ipad will be accessible. Anything accessed via icloud will be visible but can't be edited.

Still working on it and will post results.

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Answer 5

jeff-4

Level 1

19 points

Sep 8, 2014 12:15 PM in response to ellka

Dear elika:

How was this resolved? I did a similar thing: I sold an iPhone, forgetting to erase it (dho!...). I did enable Find my iPhone on it and can issue a remote erase command via the iCloud website. However, the SIM card was removed, so presumably the phone has to connect to the internet via WiFi. But to do this, the new owner must connect to a WiFi network using some password, so he must open the phone with the passcode to access WiFi settings. Like in your situation, I'd rather not give him access to the phone contents to do this.

I would be very grateful if you could shed some light on this dilemma!

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