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How to Upgrade to a New iPad

What to do when you want a new tablet

By Daniel Nations Daniel Nations Writer University of Texas at Arlington Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on October 25, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple iPad Macs

What to Know

Open Settings on the old iPad. Tap your name at the top of the left panel. Select iCloud > iCloud Backup.Move the slider next to iCloud Backup to the On position. Tap Back Up Now.Turn on the new iPad. Select Restore from backup during the initialization process. Sign in with your Apple ID and select a backup.
This article explains how to back up your old iPad and restore that backup onto your new iPad. It also covers how to erase your information from an iPad.

The Quickest Way to Upgrade Your iPad

While it is tempting to pull out that shiny new iPad and start playing with it, the first thing you need to do is back up your old one. The iPad should do regular backups to iCloud, but it is a good idea to do a backup right before upgrading to a new tablet. Then you can restore that backup on your new iPad.
Open the Settings app on your iPad. Tap your name on the left side of the screen. Tap iCloud. Tap iCloud Backup. Tap the slider next to iCloud Backup to On (green). With this option on, your iPad will automatically back up if it's locked, plugged in, and Wi-Fi is available. To do a manual backup, tap Back Up Now. The iPad will give you an estimate of how long the backup will take. After the backup, you can begin the setup process on the new iPad. Apple embedded this into the initial setup. After you log in to your Wi-Fi network, you will be asked during the initialization process if you want to restore your iPad from a backup, set it up as a new iPad or upgrade from Android. Choose Restore from backup and sign in to your Apple ID. You'll see a list of every backup you've made, along with the date and time you created them. You can use this information to verify that you are picking the correct backup file. Restoring from a backup is a two-part process. The iPad restores data and settings and then apps and music.

Do You Even Want to Restore Your iPad

As you use your iPad, it might fill up with apps. If you have pages and pages of apps you no longer use, you might want to think about starting from scratch. As long as you sign into the same Apple ID/iCloud account, you can access the information you have backed up to the cloud. You can also get at any document stored on iCloud Drive. Apps like Evernote store documents on the cloud as well, so you can get to them from any device with an internet connection. Once you purchase an app, you can download it again on any new device. The App Store even has a "previously purchased" list that shows you everything you've installed in the past. You can set up your iPad as a new one and then restore it from an earlier backup if you change your mind. Or, to start over later: Open Settings. Tap General. Tap Reset. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. Confirm your choice. You can still restore your iPad from a cloud backup even if you delete everything.

What Should You Do With Your Old iPad

Many people upgrade to a new device with the idea that the old hardware will split some of the costs. The easiest way to pay for part of your new iPad is to sell your old one through a trade-in program. Most trade-in programs won't get the full value for your device. The alternatives are online marketplaces like Craigslist, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace. You can also check the App Store for less popular selling platforms. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Change Phones Without Losing WhatsApp How to Restore an iPad to Factory Default Using iTunes How to Transfer Messages from iPhone to iPhone How to Set Up a New Android From an Old Phone How to Restore Your iPhone From a Backup How to Transfer Data from iPad to iPad How to Set up and Use iCloud on the iPad How to Pair and Connect an Apple Watch With a New iPhone iPad iCloud: How to Back Up and Restore How to Restore Your iPod Touch to Factory Settings How to Set up a New iPhone How to Factory Reset an iPhone (All Models) How to Transfer Contacts From iPhone to iPhone How to Fix an iPad That Won't Update How to Recover Deleted Text Messages on Any Phone How to Back Up iPhone 5 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies