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Hi, i have an old iPad 2 (GSM) so it has a slot for the SIM card. My question is can this model of iPad work without the SIM card in it? I know the device can access the internet via wi-fi, but my question is; can this iPad work without having a SIM card?
You may not be able to activate/re-activate these very old iPad models, any longer.
Sorry.
If you own a very old iPad model, like almost 9 to 11-year old 2011 iPad 2, 2012 iPad 3, 4 or 1st gen iPad Mini,
Sometime in mid 2021, Apple made changes to its activation servers that now check device activation validation through the Safari Web browser, now.
That old Safari Web browser is over 5-years old, now, and is NOT safe and secure to use to accesss the Internet, any longer.
I, also, suspect with this new device activation method, that old Safari Web browser may no longer be able to negotiate getting by Apple's new activation authentication server processes/protocols and allowing that old iPad to be re-activated.
I, also, suspect that Apple didi this to silently and permanently end use of these over 9-10-year old iPad models on their networks, pretty much completely ending the use of these very old iOS devices.
Apple's own procedures, my own procedures, as well as those from others, may no longer be effective to re-activate these very old iPad models.
You need to realise that the iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini are all very old and obsolete, now.
Sorry.
Apple ended support for all 9-11-year old iOS devices nearly 5 years, ago, in 2016.
Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.
There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!
Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2022.
This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices and, throughout 2022, ALL iOS 12 ONLY devices!
AND, NO WAY to initially install any older, compatible, third party apps into this old iPad.
NO MORE SUPPORT! NO MORE APPS!
All 2011-2012 iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are fully and completely unsupported AND obsolete!
Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 8-10-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now, in 2022.
In addition, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.
Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.
It's March 2022, now.
You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.
There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.
If you need OR ONLY able to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older iPads from 2014 and later.
All of these older model iPads below, CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 15.
2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017,10.5 inch screen iPad iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )
2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.
I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.
Please recycle these old devices properly and responsibly.
Sorry & Best of Luck to You!
You may not be able to activate/re-activate these very old iPad models, any longer.
Sorry.
If you own a very old iPad model, like almost 9 to 11-year old 2011 iPad 2, 2012 iPad 3, 4 or 1st gen iPad Mini,
Sometime in mid 2021, Apple made changes to its activation servers that now check device activation validation through the Safari Web browser, now.
That old Safari Web browser is over 5-years old, now, and is NOT safe and secure to use to accesss the Internet, any longer.
I, also, suspect with this new device activation method, that old Safari Web browser may no longer be able to negotiate getting by Apple's new activation authentication server processes/protocols and allowing that old iPad to be re-activated.
I, also, suspect that Apple didi this to silently and permanently end use of these over 9-10-year old iPad models on their networks, pretty much completely ending the use of these very old iOS devices.
Apple's own procedures, my own procedures, as well as those from others, may no longer be effective to re-activate these very old iPad models.
You need to realise that the iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini are all very old and obsolete, now.
Sorry.
Apple ended support for all 9-11-year old iOS devices nearly 5 years, ago, in 2016.
Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.
There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!
Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2022.
This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices and, throughout 2022, ALL iOS 12 ONLY devices!
AND, NO WAY to initially install any older, compatible, third party apps into this old iPad.
NO MORE SUPPORT! NO MORE APPS!
All 2011-2012 iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are fully and completely unsupported AND obsolete!
Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 8-10-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now, in 2022.
In addition, the internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads are, also, running on borrowed time.
Not worth the costs to replace these old internal, rechargeable batteries in these old iPads, any longer, either.
It's March 2022, now.
You really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.
There are PLENTY of less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.
If you need OR ONLY able to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older iPads from 2014 and later.
All of these older model iPads below, CAN, currently, run the latest releases of iPadOS 15.
2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models ( NO Pencil support )
2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017,10.5 inch screen iPad iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )
2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )
2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )
Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.
I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.
Please recycle these old devices properly and responsibly.
Sorry & Best of Luck to You!
If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.
If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.
A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.
DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free!
We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.
User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.
Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.
So, buyer beware!
If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON
If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.
If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.
You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.
Pass on the device!
If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.
Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.
If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy!
Good Luck to You!
Hi, thanks for all the information. The iPad belongs to my mother and all she uses it for is to see her emails, and to surf the web on Safari. I was able to remove the activation alert by restoring the iPad to factory settings. During the setup we did not log in with my mother's Apple ID seeing that she does not need 3rd party (or other Apple) apps, besides the native ones to the operating system. Eventhough in the past she had Skype installed on the device, but she no longer video calls on the iPad. Glad i was able to sort this issue out for her in view of her usage of the device.
Yes, it can. It just uses wifi connection.
Regards
Giulio
Thanks. i was asking because the iPad for the last few days keeps asking to activate, even though it has a wifi connection visible by the wifi "fan" symbol in black.
Can iPad 2 (GSM) work without SIM card?
