How to skip connecting to WiFi in initial set up

See Get started with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

you cannot skip step 3 - that is actually part of activation lock as only after the device connects to a network can activation continue as long as that device's hardware id is not detected as being activation locked. But with activation lock, no iDevice can be activated without a network connection.

even with enterprise deployment, while you can broadacst a single profile to all devices, every single device will have to connect to a network and check in with, and pass, Apple's activation lock system before that profile would be able to be used.

Years later and I have this question right now. Is there really no way to skip this step?? That is just ridiculous...

I think you can skip this part of the install process.

I have been able to skip this step.

I thought the iOS activation process gives you a prompt if you do not want to setup WiFi, initially.

I thought there was a "setup later" prompt so you can setup up your WiFi network at a later time.

I know you can skip setting up iCloud.

I think iOS gives you a prompt to skip if you input the wrong password more than once.

I believe I was able to skip that activation step by doing that

LV-

I assume you will set all to the same Corporate Apple ID. If not, each user will probably need to do their own setup.

One way for you to do it would be to enter your local Wifi info on the first one. After setup is complete, go to Settings-WiFi-Choose a Network and press the blue arrow at the right side of your WiFi's name. Press "Forget this Network" at the top of the next window.

Then sync that first iPad with iTunes on your computer. After that, you may be able to clone all the others by connecting to iTunes and following directions.

Fred

I don't know how to skip the WiFi setup step either but did you try posting in the "Using iPad in the Enterprise" and see if you can find a solution in there.

These people find themselves in the similar situation of having to set up hundreds of iPads for their companies - maybe one of them will have solution for you.

https://discussions.apple.com/community/ipad/ipad_in_the_enterprise

I have this problem with initial wifi setup for iphone 4s too

You need to be looking at enterprise deployment and mobile device management (MDM) profiles.

sorry, meant to reply to Ryobi_Bunni

you you cannot bypass this if activating a single individual iPad. There are enterprise deployment tools that can, but it cannot be by

assed if simply activating a single decide in hand.

No, you cannot skip this step. As part of Apple's anti-theft activation lock service, every iDevice must connect to the internet during activation to ensure it is free of any previous owner's activation lock. A wifi/internet connection is required for activation.

The connect to Wi-Fi is for"activation" and can only be skipped if the device is either connected to a cellular data connection, it a computer with iTunes installed on it. No other way to bypass it, sorry.

Download and use the iPhone Configuration utility to crate a wifi profile that you can apply to all devices.