iPad Air 3 (WiFi)
Unsigned iPadOS

iPadOS 14.8 (18H17)

iPad Air 3 (WiFi)

iPadOS 14.8 Release Notes

This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

How to Restore iPadOS 14.8 IPSW

🖥

iTunes (Windows / macOS Mojave and older) & Finder (macOS Catalina+)

  1. Download the iPad_Spring_2019_14.8_18H17_Restore.ipsw file to your computer.
  2. Connect your iPad Air 3 (WiFi) to your computer with a USB cable.
  3. Open Finder (macOS Catalina+) or iTunes (Windows / older macOS) and select your device.
  4. To Update (keeps data): hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and click Check for Update.
  5. To Restore (erases data): hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and click Restore iPhone/iPad.
  6. Navigate to and select the downloaded .ipsw file, then confirm.
  7. Wait for the process to complete — do not disconnect the device.
⚠️ Note: This firmware is no longer signed by Apple. iTunes/Finder may reject the restore. Use a tool like futurerestore if you have saved blobs.
⌨️

idevicerestore (Command Line)

An open-source command-line tool that restores IPSW files without needing iTunes. Useful for advanced users, automation, and custom restore workflows.

  1. Install via Homebrew: brew install idevicerestore
  2. Connect your device and put it into DFU mode.
  3. Run the restore command:
idevicerestore -t iPad_Spring_2019_14.8_18H17_Restore.ipsw
Common flags:
-eErase restore (factory reset) -uUpdate restore (keep data) -dEnable debug output -nDry-run — don't actually restore
🔓

futurerestore (Saved Blobs / Downgrade)

futurerestore allows restoring to unsigned firmware like this one when you have saved APTickets (blobs) from a tool like TSSSaver or shsh.host.

  1. Download futurerestore from github.com/futurerestore/futurerestore.
  2. Ensure you have a saved .shsh2 blob for iPadOS 14.8 (18H17) on your iPad Air 3 (WiFi).
  3. Put your device into DFU mode and run:
futurerestore -t your_blob.shsh2 --latest-sep --latest-baseband iPad_Spring_2019_14.8_18H17_Restore.ipsw
⛔ Warning: Using --latest-sep requires the latest SEP to be compatible with iPadOS 14.8. Always verify compatibility before restoring to avoid a bricked device.
📲

Entering DFU Mode

DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is required for most manual restores. The button combination varies by device:

iPhone 8 / X and later / iPad with Face ID
Press & release Volume Up → press & release Volume Down → hold Side button until screen goes black → hold Side + Volume Down for 5 s → release Side but keep Volume Down for 10 s.
iPhone 7 / 7 Plus
Hold Side + Volume Down for 8 s → release Side but keep Volume Down for 10 s.
iPhone 6s and earlier / iPad with Home button
Hold Home + Sleep/Wake for 8 s → release Sleep/Wake but keep Home for 10 s.

💡 Tip: In DFU mode the screen stays completely black. If you see the Apple logo or a "Connect to iTunes" screen, you entered Recovery mode instead — try again.

iPad_Spring_2019_14.8_18H17_Restore.ipsw
Device
iPad Air 3 (WiFi)
Identifier
iPad11,3
OS
iPadOS
Version
14.8
Build
18H17
Release Date
2021-09-13
Upload Date
2021-09-10
Size
4.88 GB
Status
Unsigned
SHA1
dff7c20da9a637da9402f7ba31ad0d313a73e9de
SHA256
c92f77b8dd048ab4edce02a02d96ba06b33df5c3bfd90bf93bae001e9873405d
MD5
7abbacbfe25669c5d49e01f96c6ad873
⇓ Download IPSW (4.88 GB)