Will a factory reset update my iPadOS version?
If a factory reset does update my iPadOS version, will a backup restore the old OS, and am I able to choose what is included in the restoration?
iPad Pro, iPadOS 16
Question marked as
Should you factory restore your iPad, this process will restore the most recent production version of iPadOS supported by your iPad. At the time of writing, for iPadOS 18, this will be iPadOS 18.6. For avoidance of doubt, you can not install an earlier version than the most recent version supported by the device.
When restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup, this will restore the entire backup; you cannot selectively choose which elements of the backup to restore. However, after the restore process is complete, you can remove any Apps that you do not wish to keep. Deleting an App from your iPad will also delete any locally stored data associated with the deleted App.
Remove or delete apps from iPad - Apple Support
These support pages outline the available methods to restore an iPad - either from a backup, or to Factory Settings:
Restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from a backup – Apple Support
Restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod to factory settings – Apple Support
Restore all content to iPad from a backup - Apple Support
