4th Gen iPad and iCloud Authenication Issue.

Getting that nearly 10-year old iPad re-activated/re-authenticated may NO LONGER EVER be possible, in 2022.

Sorry.

Sometime in mid 2021, Apple made changes to its activation servers that now check device activation validation through the Safari Web browser, now.

If you had been using that over 5-year old Safari Web browser to accesss the Internet, I suspect that this was the reason your old, 10-1/2-year old, 2011 iPad 2 went into user activation mode.

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, any longer!

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 9-11-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 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!

Hello Doc_Bob,

Apple has not place any restrictions on accessing iCloud with older iPads.

At this point we would suggest you Contact Apple Support .

They will be in the best position to assist you further.

Have a good day.

Doc_Bob wrote:

So if there is a Apple representative that sees this post perhaps they can shed some official light on the subject.

Remember, we are not mushrooms.

Apple doesn't participate here in any substantive way. Asking for an Apple representative who might see this to comment, just won't happen here on this forum.

I don't know if Apple has made some change to the activation servers myself. Since this is an issue effecting you however, you would be best served by using the Get Support at the top of this page to contact Apple yourself. Or, if you are in the US, call Apple at: 800-MY-APPLE. Or, schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar for direct in-person support.

Also, check this thread out and look at the response from LotusPilot, which the OP came back and said it solved their same issue as you --> 4th gen ipad - Apple Community

Hey there Doc_Bob,

As you mentioned, your iPad is an older 4th gen model, and that is something to keep in mind moving forward with your iPad. Things like app compatibility is one that we wanted to point out. We also wanted to point out your model is under the obsolete models listed for iPad. For more details, check out the section 'iPad products obsolete worldwide' here: Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty

Moving forward with troubleshooting the error message you're receiving, you've tried some very comprehensive steps, including a restore as new(not from a backup). When you restored it, was it done using a computer?

As you mentioned having no issues signing into your Apple ID on the account management website, along with the iCloud website, are you experiencing the same issue on other devices besides this iPad?

Cheers!

I should add, accessing icloud.com from the ipad on 10.3.4 will not load the page properly and allow you to sign into icloud from the browser, it comes up with the prompt simply for iCloud Find My Iphone. It will also not load the page for appleid.apple.com from the same device. It will load Apple.com without an issue

There must be a restriction, I finally found this article after 2 days of the same exact issues. Started on 04/13. Exact same model and OS version as Doc_Bob. Same error message loop with regards to verification failing. Went through Apple Support this morning with no success, full restore, etc. Same apple ID is working fine for other newer devices and the apple icloud websites, etc.

Hard to say what could be going on with a device released 10 years ago. You say you can't hotspot from your iPad to your iPhone X. In one of the screenshots you posted, it says No Sim Card. If you don't have cellular service on your iPad, there won't be hotspot capability. Hotspot is a service provided from your cellular provider. Can you hotspot from your iPhone X to your iPad?

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!

On your iPhone X, have you checked Settings > Cellular > to make sure Hotspot is still enabled?