Q: how to fix 1970 bug on iPad mini 2

It is not a bug. It is the result of intentional action by the user. However, some have reported that DFU will restore, if that does not work, then you need to make an appointment at the Genius Bar of the nearest Apple Store to have it taken care of. Apple is working on an update that will prevent users from doing it again. If you changed the date to May 1970 or earlier and can’t restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

rtcraft33 wrote:

 

how to fix 1970 bug on iPad mini 2

Just don't do it. And if you did, read the post just above this.

1) Press and hold the Power/sleep button and home button for 30 seconds (or until you see iTunes icon).
2) When iTunes logo appears, plug iPad Mini 2 into a computer with iTunes installed on it.

3) It will ask to "restore" or "update" iPad. Click "restore."

PLEASE NOTE: Doing this will wipe out your ENTIRE drive. All saved data on storage will forever be gone. If you do not wish to have this happen, I recommend making an appointment and visiting an Apple Store: Genius Bar. Hopefully they have better resources that may be available for restoring your device.

Hope this helps!

~Lord Thalius

I've got an IPad air 2 I did this to and so far Apple hasn't done anything helpful. Gave me the run around on the phone and had me drive an hour in rush hour about 40 miles in rush hour traffic for them to tell me what I already knew, that they couldn't fix it in the store. They told me to let the battery completely drain and it would reset. No idea on how long that could actually take. Needless to say I'm a little disappointed. Yes I feel stupid but hiensight is 20/20 and who would have thought that you could do catastrophic damage without even downloading something. Not everyone is a computer genius. I'm surprised that I was not somehow notified by Apple that this was an issue.

The fix?

DON'T DO IT!!!

That's how to fix that issue!

That is an interesting response, as I've not heard Apple tell anyone that. Apple's advice is to contact them, or to make an appointment at the Genius Bar to have it taken care of. If you changed the date to May 1970 or earlier and can’t restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

A far as notification from Apple, there was no way that someone would decide in 2016 to change the date on their iOS device to the start of UNIX time o see what it could do.

What is wrong with you peoples?

Apple and the main news media report a serious issue with the current iOs and tell you, seriously and STRONGLY,  NOT to do something with your iDevice that will permanently brick or disable your iDevice.

Then ask for help after you intentionally did something to your iDevice that you were told NOT to do?

What ARE you?  10 years old?

Not quite sure who is talking about what. Placing it in DFU mode does fix the issue, or even still putting it into restore mode. There are plenty of Youtube videos that go step by step on resetting the iOS device. Search for "infinite startup loop iOS" or "stuck in recovery mode iOS" and videos will easily be found with regard to fixing the corrupt iPad.

Do not do this to an iPad Pro, though, as DFU and Recovery mode will not fix it. The 1970's bug works, but DFU mode will not fix it, and waiting for the battery to die... Well... Is not exactly the easiest thing to do.

OK. Why would the genius bar not tell me to do this.

Restoring did not work....

tried it again appears to have worked

A special version of IOS 9.2.1 was released to resolve the issue. When you did the DFU restore you got the version of IOS that resolves the issue.

raymond73 wrote:

 

A special version of IOS 9.2.1 was released to resolve the issue. When you did the DFU restore you got the version of IOS that resolves the issue.

The iOS release was for the Error 53 issue, not the 1970 issue. That one is due soon.

OK. Both were about the same time and I apparently got them confused.