Ipad air 2 no cellular in setting

[Ngoc Dao]

Hi guys, I just bought an used iPad Air 2 for my mom to browse website and read ebook. The iPad is a cellular version with OS 9.2.1 installed, however I can't find the cellular setting within the Settings app. The previous owner also stated in his ad that this is an iPad wifi, so I am not cheated. He told me that when he first bought it, he inserted a sim card and it ran without trouble. Later on he didn't use the cellular since he used this iPad at home only using wifi, so the next time he put a sim card in, it didn't work. I check on Apple activation and the site confirms that this is a cellular iPad

Do you know how to fix this problem? I don't really need the cellular but it bugs me. Thank you.

 

[chrfr]

Do you know how to fix this problem? I don't really need the cellular but it bugs me. Thank you.

Does your iPad have a black panel on the back at the top rear? Also, what is the model number on the back? It should be either A1566 or A1567. If it is A1566, you have a wifi-only iPad Air 2. A1567 indicates cellular capability.

 

[Ngoc Dao]

Does your iPad have a black panel on the back at the top rear? Also, what is the model number on the back? It should be either A1566 or A1567. If it is A1566, you have a wifi-only iPad Air 2. A1567 indicates cellular capability.

Yes, it's a cellular one. After doing some research, I figured out that the iPad had been locked by iCloud before. They have removed the cellular chip to unlock it, thus it becomes wifi only now. Well, lucky me, first time I buy secondhand and I get this

 

[Atreyu25]

Can you just put a new chip into the machine and restore the device with DFU mode?

 

[Teon]

I recommend to update your software

 

[Richdmoore]

Yes, it's a cellular one. After doing some research, I figured out that the iPad had been locked by iCloud before. They have removed the cellular chip to unlock it, thus it becomes wifi only now. Well, lucky me, first time I buy secondhand and I get this

So iCloud activation can be bypassed by removing the cellular chip? (I assume you mean an internal component, not simply the SIM card....)

Any source for this info? I really hope that Apple will be able to fix the problem, as it creates a secondary market for stolen cellular iPads.
[doublepost=1458063557][/doublepost]I just googled it, but won't link it for obvious reasons.

Wow I hope apple can at least design their new phones (and firmware of previous models) to detect and brick devices that have been iCloud bypassed.

 

[Atreyu25]

One cannot bypass iCloud lock under any circumstances. Your iPad isn't locked due to iCloud. You might have device management software installed or it might have faulty software and/or a bad sim but it isn't locked.

 

[Richdmoore]

One cannot bypass iCloud lock under any circumstances. Your iPad isn't locked due to iCloud. You might have device management software installed or it might have faulty software and/or a bad sim but it isn't locked.

That is what I thought as well, until I found some web pages that talk about a hardware mod to do just that. (side effect of losing cell capability, iPad thinks it is wifi only.). Hopefully these pages are bogus, but is very odd.

I found the pages via Google, but I doubt that a direct link is allowed on macrumors. (The instructions I found are in both English and Russian).

 

[Ngoc Dao]

One cannot bypass iCloud lock under any circumstances. Your iPad isn't locked due to iCloud. You might have device management software installed or it might have faulty software and/or a bad sim but it isn't locked.

Apparently, one could. I got several guys confirmed it when I posted this same question on a Vietnamese tech forum

 

[Atreyu25]

Yikes... Be careful, sounds like your device was stolen