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On your iPad, open Settings, tap your name, scroll down, and tap Sign Out. Choose whether to keep information on the iPad or erase it, review the prompts, then follow the on-screen steps to confirm. Before continuing, check that your iCloud data is synced and backed up if you need it.
Before signing out, check your iCloud data
Information stored in iCloud remains there after you sign out, but its local copy is removed from the iPad unless you choose to keep a copy when prompted. Apple also notes that not everything on an iPad is backed up to iCloud, so make sure you can access anything important that is not synced or backed up.
- Check that your iCloud backup is up to date.
- Make sure recent changes have finished syncing. Look under Settings > [your name] > iCloud, then check iCloud.com or another device to confirm the changes arrived.
- If the iPad warns that information has not synced, check Wi-Fi, available iCloud storage, and sync status. Wait for syncing to finish or make a separate copy of anything you need before signing out.
Apple’s guidance on unsynced information recommends checking those items before proceeding.
Sign out on your iPad
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top of the screen.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Sign Out.
- Choose Sign Out But Don’t Erase or Erase this iPad. Read the prompts to see what information will remain or be removed.
- Enter your iPad passcode or Apple Account password if requested, then confirm. For Sign Out But Don’t Erase, tap Confirm and Sign Out. For Erase this iPad, tap Sign Out, then tap Sign Out again.
These are Apple’s current iPad steps; the exact prompts determine what is kept or erased. Apple Support’s sign-out instructions cover iPad, iPhone, and Apple Vision Pro.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Choose whether to keep information or erase the iPad
| Choice | What it does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Sign Out But Don’t Erase | Signs out of the account while allowing you to keep selected information on the iPad. | Review the prompts to see which items can stay. If the iPad flags unsynced data, verify its status and make a copy if needed before confirming. |
| Erase this iPad | Offers an erase option within the sign-out flow. | Read the prompts to see what will remain or be erased, then confirm by tapping Sign Out twice. |
Signing out by itself does not mean the iPad is erased: Apple presents keeping selected information and erasing as separate choices. Do not assume every local item will remain if you choose not to erase; use the iPad’s prompts to check what applies to your data.
What signing out changes
Signing out removes this iPad’s access to iCloud, the App Store and other Apple media services, iMessage, and FaceTime. It also turns off iCloud-linked features on this device, including Find My, iCloud Backup, iCloud Drive, iCloud Keychain, iCloud Mail, iCloud Notes, iCloud Photos, Shared Albums, Messages in iCloud, Reminders, and iCloud-backed data for third-party apps.
Rank #2
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Other affected services and features include Apple Pay, Game Center, Home, shared iWork documents, contact, calendar and bookmark syncing, Safari tabs, and Continuity. For iCloud+ users, signing out also removes access on that iPad to Private Relay, Hide My Email, HomeKit Secure Video support, and a custom email domain. Availability of these features varies by country or region. Apple Cash and Apple Card are linked to the Apple Account and cannot be transferred to a different account or accessed through one.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
If you only want to stop particular iCloud features, change the iCloud settings instead of signing out. See Apple’s list of services affected by signing out.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Smart Connector. 3.5 mm headphone jack. Stereo speakers. On/Off - Sleep/Wake. Home/Touch ID sensor. Dual microphones. Volume up/down. Nano-SIM tray (cellular models). Lightning connector
- A10 Fusion chip.
- Touch ID fingerprint sensor,
- 8MP back camera, 1. 2MP FaceTime HD front camera.
- Stereo speakers.
Rank #4
- WHY IPAD PRO — iPad Pro with the Apple M5 chip delivers extraordinary performance for effortless productivity on a stunning display. Take on pro workflows with Neural Accelerators for AI and a redesigned iPadOS with game-changing capabilities.*
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — iPad Pro with M5 brings next-generation speed and the power of on-device AI to all your tasks.* Featuring up to 2TB of storage, 16GB of memory, and Neural Accelerators for next-level AI performance.*
- IPADOS — Run pro apps and get more done with iPadOS 26 with Liquid Glass design and game-changing capabilities.* With an intuitive and flexible windowing system, you can control, organize, and manage your workflows like never before.
- APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you communicate, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly with groundbreaking privacy protections at every step.*
- 11-INCH ULTRA RETINA XDR DISPLAY — The world’s most advanced display, featuring extreme brightness, precise contrast, ProMotion, P3 wide color, and True Tone.* Nano-texture display glass available in 1TB and 2TB configurations
Rank #3
- WHY IPAD — The 11-inch iPad is now more capable than ever with the superfast A16 chip, a stunning Liquid Retina display, advanced cameras, fast Wi-Fi, USB-C connector, and four gorgeous colors.* iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
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