this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2023

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Is it possible to flash a new OS onto an old iPad 2? (lemmy.d.thewooskeys.com)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

22 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I bought an old iPad2 for the purpose of viewing a Home Assistant dashboard via a web browser. My thinking was that the ability to browse the web was the sole requirement for a tablet for this purpose, but I was wrong: Home Assistant's web pages apparently require a newer version of javascript than iOS 9.3.5 can handle, but the iPad 2 can only be updated to iOS 9.3.5.

So is it possible to flash a newer OS (e.g., linux) onto an old iPad 2? ChatGPT says it's not possible because a bootloader exploit for the iPad 2 isn't known, but ChatGPT is often wrong.

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[–] [email protected] 45 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Hope you didn't pay much.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Nope. You’re hosed. Can’t even put Linux on it. Great piece of hardware still, total trash.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You forgot jailbreaking

[–] [email protected] 24 points 9 months ago

Nope. Won’t work. It did back in the day, but nothing will run on it anymore because the OS version required won’t install. I have an iPad 2, I’ve tried.

No doubt, the hardware could run Ubuntu Touch, alas Apple are dicks like that.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago (3 children)

https://appledb.dev/device/iPad-2.html Select 9.3.5 and choose the jailbreak method you want. After that, download a newer browser with the jailbreak or even just run Linux on it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I finally got around to this and jailbreaking the iPad was as easy as you suggested. Thanks, @[email protected]!

But I don't see how to install a newer browser. Cydia and Zebra seem to be able to install themes and tweaks. How would I get them to install Firefox or Chrome? Also, how would I install linux on the ipad?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 7 months ago

You could 1. download some virtual machine thing and install Linux 2. download build tools and build from source 3. see below

Anyways, all of this may be more suited for searching on r/LegacyJailbreak.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

Thanks. I'll check it out.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Depends on the iOS version it's running

https://www.cultofmac.com/103542/how-to-jailbreak-your-ipad-or-ipad-2-the-right-way-how-to/

And then this might point you in the right direction as far as OS goes

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/06/developers-get-linux-up-and-running-on-old-ipad-air-2-hardware/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Thanks for the resources. I'll check them out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You may try a downloaded browser, they likely ship with a newer version of webkit than what's on the system or in the store but I'm not 💯 and Google didn't reveal any clarity on the matter.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

yeah I was going to suggest something like this but now I'm not sure if other browsers aren't just wrappers around the system WebKit (this is what happens in android with Webview) or if they ship with their own version of WebKit.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

On iOS it's mandatory that other browsers be just a reskin of safari. So this wouldn't help op.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Technically it's not "reskin", but I am pretty sure they are required to invoke the system version of WebKit (aka. Safari's JavaScript) since that saves storage space and makes sense. So indeed it won't help.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Ah, wasn't sure if they shipped with their own version of webkit for compatibility or invoked the system call. Unfortunate that it's the latter.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

I tried all the downloadable browsers. None work in this iOS. :(

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Good news. You can install a newer browser in a virtual machine on some other server you have and then use some Remote Desktop software on the iPad to access the VM which can run a browser to access your Home Assistant dashboard.