The wifi/bluetooth chip in my iPad Air 4 appears to have failed. I need to wipe the contents of the iPad but it won't let me do it without an internet connection. Any suggestions?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad Air How do I erase my iPad with no internet connection?
- Thread starter hooptyuber
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Maybe you could go about replacing the wifi chip?
..Edit, there is no iFixit repair manual for this, and the repairability is 2/10. I feel really bad :<
..Edit, there is no iFixit repair manual for this, and the repairability is 2/10. I feel really bad :<
Use a computer to erase it using iTunes/Finder.
Then be sure to go to iCloud.com to remove the activation lock if you were signed into the iPad.
support.apple.com
Erase iPad
Erase all content and settings from your iPad and restore it to factory settings.
support.apple.com
Then be sure to go to iCloud.com to remove the activation lock if you were signed into the iPad.
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support
Learn what to do if you see the Activation Lock screen on your device, or if you're asked to remove Activation Lock on a device that's offline and not in your possession.
Use a computer to erase it using iTunes/Finder.
Erase iPad
Erase all content and settings from your iPad and restore it to factory settings.support.apple.com
Then be sure to go to iCloud.com to remove the activation lock if you were signed into the iPad.
How to remove Activation Lock - Apple Support
Learn what to do if you see the Activation Lock screen on your device, or if you're asked to remove Activation Lock on a device that's offline and not in your possession.
I tried “restore iPad” on one of my macs and got the below message. Catch 22.
First time I hear that any chip on an iPad can be individually replaced, besides Apple of course not selling spare parts either.
Well yes, it'd need internet connectivity to have been disabled.
At this point, there's not much you can do.
You can use a usb-c to ethernet connector for network on the iPad as it has USB-c.
NOTE: this has low chance due to wifi/ethernet is likely broken also. Have you triad just erase to factory defaults?
NOTE: this has low chance due to wifi/ethernet is likely broken also. Have you triad just erase to factory defaults?
If you want to wipe it because you plan to trash it, you can take it to a shredding service that destroys devices.
Or, maybe take it apart and find the SSD and destroy that.
discussions.apple.com
Or, maybe take it apart and find the SSD and destroy that.
How do I do a Factory reset without inter… - Apple Community
It allegedly still has about $250 in trade-in value so I don't want to do that.
Wait, couldn't you put it in DFU or recovery mode and then wipe it using iTunes (after removing it from your iCloud account on the web)?
Yeah, DFU mode should definitely work. I think even Recovery Mode would work as well. Recovery Mode is easier to get into.
If you can't update or restore your iPad - Apple Support
You can put your iPad in recovery mode, then restore it using your computer.
Otherwise, search the web on how to get your iPad into DFU mode. It can be helpful to watch videos on YouTube too.
Yeah, DFU mode should definitely work. I think even Recovery Mode would work as well. Recovery Mode is easier to get into.
If you can't update or restore your iPad - Apple Support
You can put your iPad in recovery mode, then restore it using your computer.support.apple.com
Otherwise, search the web on how to get your iPad into DFU mode. It can be helpful to watch videos on YouTube too.
Looks like recovery mode is doing the trick. Thank you, guys!
It'll be in activation lock after, but that should be removable from the computer.
I am surprised to see someone offering $250 for an iPad Air 4 with failed wifi/bluetooth chip.
As for removing activation lock, I think without proper built-in connection, the chance isn't very high, depending on how robust the fallback design is.
I thought their right to repair program would have some solution to this? If not, that's embarrassing.
Like most computers these days you will be able to swap components in service but the main boards won’t be puzzles that you can freely put other chips onto.
Make sure you plug it in once more afterwards to activate it and verify it's not locked. When you get to the screen on the computer that asks if you want to restore a backup, that means activation was successful. You cannot trade in the iPad with activation lock enabled. All trade-in services refuse to take locked devices.
The process iStorm referenced above removes activation lock, correct? I removed the iPad from my Apple account on my Mac. I ran the recovery process on the iPad a couple of times and get the multilingual “hello” greeting so I'm hoping that took care of it.
It should, but I would try to set it back up through iTunes/Finder (Catalina or Later) and see if it goes through setup as new. Do not login to your Apple ID when doing this, just skip.