iPad Air 3 (WiFi)
Unsigned iPadOS

iPadOS 16.2 (20C65)

iPad Air 3 (WiFi)

iPad_Spring_2019_16.2_20C65_Restore.ipsw
Device
iPad Air 3 (WiFi)
Identifier
iPad11,3
OS
iPadOS
Version
16.2
Build
20C65
Release Date
2022-12-13
Upload Date
2022-12-03
Size
5.56 GB
Status
Unsigned
SHA1
2469f458b07da38ec9fb1e42faf59c70c526936b
SHA256
382754bb290ce5e28b9b3f638187b1dc444b054409943644ec59815f8106ecab
MD5
123b89bc7ed2c6f590fafe52efd69a83

iPadOS 16.2 Release Notes

Freeform

  • Freeform is a new app for working creatively with friends or colleagues on Mac, iPad and iPhone
  • A flexible canvas lets you add files, images, stickies, and more
  • Drawing tools let you sketch anywhere on the canvas with your finger or Apple Pencil

Stage Manager

  • External display support with resolutions up to 6K available on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Air (5th generation)
  • Drag and drop files and windows from your compatible device to your connected display, and vice versa
  • Support for using up to 4 apps on the iPad display and 4 on the external display

Apple Music Sing

  • A new way to sing along with millions of your favorite songs in Apple Music
  • Fully adjustable vocals let you duet with the original artist, sing solo, or mix it up
  • Newly enhanced beat-by-beat lyrics make it even easier to follow along with the music

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud

  • New option expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected using end-to-end encryption to 23 — including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos — protecting your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud

Game Center

  • SharePlay support in Game Center for multiplayer games so you can play with the people you are on a FaceTime call with
  • Activity Widget allows you to see what your friends are playing and achieving in games right from your Home Screen

Home

  • Improved reliability and efficiency of communication between your smart home accessories and Apple devices

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:

  • Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
  • Tracking Notifications alert you if an AirTag separated from its owner is nearby and has recently played a chime to indicate it is moving
  • Reload and Show IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari
  • News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location
  • Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note
  • AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content
  • Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made
  • Fixes an issue that may cause Multi-Touch gestures to become unresponsive while using the Zoom accessibility feature

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

How to Restore iPadOS 16.2 IPSW

🖥

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

  1. Download the iPad_Spring_2019_16.2_20C65_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_16.2_20C65_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 16.2 (20C65) 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_16.2_20C65_Restore.ipsw
⛔ Warning: Using --latest-sep requires the latest SEP to be compatible with iPadOS 16.2. 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.

⇓ Download IPSW Firmware (5.56 GB)
iPad Air 3 (WiFi)
Other Signed iPadOS Versions
1 items iPadOS 16.2 (20C65)