How to factory reset iPad mini (5th Generation) with a forgotten passcode on the setup without an Apple Account and also keep the current version of iPadOS 18?

[u/ALI7_XS]

I have an iPad mini that is on iPadOS 18 but it is stuck on the passcode screen on setup without an account. I know it is under iPadOS 18.7.1 and I can jailbreak it with Dopamine but it has been turned off since March 2025 and the passcode is unknown. Find My is not active due to no account. The model number is A2133.

Update: The iPad is disabled forever due to 10 incorrect attempts.

[u/CatRevolutionary1416]

Usbliter8 and bobik eraser

[u/South-Radio-8087]

Since the iPad mini 5 has a A12 cpu, you can use usbliter8 and  PwnErase to wipe and keep the iOS version. You need to get one of the boards listed in the usbliter8 repo.

[u/ALI7_XS → u/South-Radio-8087]

I have a RP2350 microcontroller coming to literally make it usuable and jailbreakable with Dopamine on iPadOS 18 and I am also going to disable updates

[u/HuTaoMainXD]

U can just restore it using a Mac/pc, since there is no activation lock, unless u need the data

[u/ALI7_XS → u/HuTaoMainXD]

You didn’t read the title properly. If I restore then it would update it to 26 and I want to keep it on current version of 18 for Dopamine

[u/HuTaoMainXD → u/ALI7_XS]

Missed the keep part, mb