iPad Air iPad Air 2 32GB lost WiFi after updates to iPadOS (no MAC address, unable to switch on). Anyone else?

[MattYum]

Hi everyone,

One of my iPad Air 2s 'lost' its ability to use WiFi multiple times, starting with the iPadOS 15.4 update (on 15 March), which was performed over the air.

The sequence of events was as follows:

1. iPad with WiFi is working as normal.
2. Perform update to new version of iPadOS
3. WiFi MAC address is lost (showing 'N/A'), and Bluetooth seems to stall (although Bluetooth MAC address is still visible), hence WiFi is unable to be switched on (and doesn't work).
4. Restore/reset/restarts of any kind (e.g., DFU) does not fix the issue. Updating to iPadOS 15.4.1 did not solve this issue.

To get online, I used an Apple Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter (with power passthrough) to connect it to an Ethernet dongle. My experiences were as follows:

• The first time, after attempting all sorts of restores/updates (using a Mac), I left the iPad alone for a while (about a month, around 18 April), and after this time it did not work. However, I decided to request a remote diagnostic session with Apple support, and after this, the WiFi miraculously reappeared.
• The second time, after the next OTA update from 15.4 to 15.5, I tried to do the diagnostic immediately after, and it timed out, with no fix. No restores were attempted. However, after a month or so, the iPad's WiFi started working.

I've since found that with the latest update, done using a Mac, the same loss of WiFi occurred.

I'm curious how many others have had such a thing happen. The issue I have is that Apple stands to gain if the iPad's WiFi systematically stop working and this results in the purchase of a replacement device, since this is what they suggest. The troubleshooting method at Apple was a DFU restore via a Mac.

Has anyone else has experienced a similar issue?

Video of latest 15.6 update (unedited, uncut):

Photos of problem happening earlier in the year (March - April 2022):

iPad Air 2 update issues - No WiFi

28 new items added to shared album

photos.app.goo.gl

Note: I have also attached a screenshot of the "Work Authorisation" from the Apple store in the photos. Their suggested remedy was a "repair" (AKA around the same price as a new iPad 9th Gen 64GB in Australia).

EDIT: After a power off for about an hour or so, WiFi is restored!

 

[Saturn007]

We have two iPad Airs. We had zero WiFi issues updating to iOS 15.4 or 15.5.

I see that your WiFi was restored. Is that a permanent fix — or are you having to power off for an hour every now and then?

If it happens again, my non-techie suggestion would be to first turn off WiFi on the iPad, then turn it back on again. If that doesn't work, then restart the router and all devices — iPads and Macs. If that were to fail, I'd restart the cable modem or whatever device from which you are connected to the Internet.

 

[MattYum]

We have two iPad Airs. We had zero WiFi issues updating to iOS 15.4 or 15.5.

I see that your WiFi was restored. Is that a permanent fix — or are you having to power off for an hour every now and then?

If it happens again, my non-techie suggestion would be to first turn off WiFi on the iPad, then turn it back on again. If that doesn't work, then restart the router and all devices — iPads and Macs. If that were to fail, I'd restart the cable modem or whatever device from which you are connected to the Internet.

It's a permanent fix, and WiFi seems to work reliably, until the next update occurs. The issue is that after an OS update occurs, the WiFi MAC address seems to disappear, and if there's no MAC address, then it refuses to turn on. Somehow, it manages to find it and everything works again. I've complained to Apple about this issue before, so hopefully they've listened.

I filmed the latest update, knowing that it would happen again. The problem isn't that I can't connect to WiFi, the problem is that WiFi seems to disappear and unable to be turned on, period. Nothing wrong with the Access Point / Router, and all my other devices updated fine.

The problem with this kind of thing is that someone may be 'encouraged' to buy a new device when in fact their old one works fine. There might be some code in the update that selects randomly chosen device (based on serial etc.) to hide the WiFi MAC address to 'hide' itself in order to disable WiFi... who knows (it's closed source after all).