TL;DR: To force restart an iPad without a Home button (like the iPad Pro M4 or iPad Air M2), press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Top (Power) button until the Apple logo appears.
What Is a Force Restart?
A force restart (sometimes called a hard reset) is a hardware-level command that cuts power to the iPad's processor and forces it to reboot, bypassing the operating system entirely. It is the only way to restart an iPad that is completely frozen, unresponsive to touch, or stuck in an infinite bootloop.
Why It Matters
For years, iPad users were trained to hold the Home button and the Power button simultaneously to reset their devices. With the removal of the Home button across the entire modern iPad lineup (Pro, Air, mini, and entry-level), Apple fundamentally changed the hardware button combination. If your iPad is bricked during an iPadOS update, knowing this new sequence is the first and most vital step to recovering it.
Practical Steps: The "Up, Down, Hold" Method
This button sequence must be performed relatively quickly. If you pause for too long between button presses, the iPad will simply register them as normal volume adjustments.
- Step 1: Volume Up. Press and rapidly release the Volume Up button (the button closest to the Top button).
- Step 2: Volume Down. Press and rapidly release the Volume Down button (the button furthest from the Top button).
- Step 3: Hold the Top Button. Press and hold the Top button (the Power button). Do not slide to power off if the slider appears. Keep holding the button.
- Step 4: Wait for the Logo. The screen will go completely black. Continue holding the Top button until you see the silver Apple logo appear on the screen. Once the logo appears, you can release the button.
What if the Force Restart Doesn't Work?
If you perform the sequence correctly and the iPad remains stuck on the Apple logo (a true bootloop), a force restart is not enough to fix the corrupted software. You must proceed to reinstall the operating system.
The Next Step: Recovery Mode
To fix a deep software corruption, you need to put the iPad into Recovery Mode and connect it to a computer. To do this, connect the iPad to your Mac or PC using a USB-C cable. Perform the exact same "Up, Down, Hold" sequence, but do not release the Top button when the Apple logo appears. Keep holding it until you see the "Connect to Computer" icon on the iPad screen. From there, you can use Finder or iTunes to download the latest iPadOS IPSW file and update the device.