Best way to change primary user of an iPad?

[Papageno]

I have an iPad (maybe 3-4 years old, I'd have to check) that was my late mother's, who lived with me over 5 years (as her dementia and health worsened).

I think the thing is still fairly usable (she didn't use it much in the last couple of years except for some FaceTiming here and there, and YouTube video watching) but don't know how best to go about changing its user to myself. I suppose I should first snag /back up any photos/videos that may be stored on it locally. I have her Apple ID credentials and all that, thank goodness, as well as those of the email associated with that Apple ID, and for a bit longer, the (flip) cell phone associated with it as well.

I'd rather not have to reset it to factory specs if possible, because that would mean I'd have to redownload all iPadOS updates, right?

 

[EnIgMa]

If you have all her credentials there shouldn't be a problem. Just swap Apple id,s.

 

[cateye]

I'd rather not have to reset it to factory specs if possible, because that would mean I'd have to redownload all iPadOS updates, right?

"Factory reset" is a bit of a misnomer. It's more like "user reset" — it restores the device to a non-configured state, disconnected from Find My and other anti-theft features, ready to accept a new user/Apple account. Whatever version of iOS/iPadOS the device currently has is what will remain, however. There's only ever a short window where you can downgrade from a newer version of iOS/iPadOS to a previous one (for better or worse).

 

[BlueSandbar]

Factory reset is going to be the best way to go, especially since you still have the Apple ID logins to disable find my features. You shouldn't have to redownload any updates.

 

[papadage]

Before you do that, make sure you remove the iPad from Find My.