Restore Mode

Connect your iPad to a computer with a Lightning or USB-C cable.
Open Apple Devices on a Windows PC.
Press and hold both the Home button and the top (or side) button at the same time.
Continue holding until the restore screen comes up (it will shut down and restart before the restore screen appears).

DFU Mode (iPad)

DFU = deepest restore mode. Screen stays black the whole time. Finder/iTunes will pop up “iPad in recovery mode” (yep, it says recovery even when it’s DFU—don’t fight it).

iPads without a Home button (Face ID models)

Plug into Mac/PC.
Quick press: Volume Up → Quick press: Volume Down.
Hold Top (Power) until the screen goes black.
The moment it’s black: hold Top + Volume Down together for 5 seconds.
After 5s, release Top but keep holding Volume Down for 10 more seconds.
Screen should stay black. Your computer should detect the iPad in recovery/DFU.

Exit DFU: Quick Up, quick Down, then hold Top until you see the Apple logo.

iPads with a Home button

Plug into Mac/PC.
Hold Top (Power) + Home together for 8 seconds.
After 8s, release Top, keep holding Home for 10 more seconds.
Screen stays black. Your computer should detect the iPad in recovery/DFU.

Exit DFU: Hold Top + Home until the Apple logo appears.

Pro tips so DFU doesn’t make you rage-click

Timing matters. If you see the cable/computer icon, you’re in regular Recovery, not DFU. Start over and shave a second.
Use a known-good cable/port. Cheap USB cables = mysterious error 4013/4014.
Power & network. Keep the iPad charged and the computer on a stable internet connection—IPSWs are big (several GB).
Try “Revive” (Configurator 2) first if firmware is flaky; if that fails, DFU+Restore is the bulldozer.
Activation Lock check. After restore, if it asks for an Apple ID, you’ll need the user’s creds or your ABM/MDM bypass code.