Jump to content

Apple iPad 7 (Wi-Fi) (apple-j171)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Note This device is supported as part of a generic port. Refer to Apple_Generic_iDevice_(apple-idevice) for installation instructions and more information.
Apple iPad 7th Generation
iPad 7 running postmarketos
iPad 7 running postmarketos
Manufacturer Apple
Name iPad 7th Generation
Codename apple-j171
Released 2019
Type tablet
Hardware
Chipset Apple A10 Fusion
CPU 4 (2× Hurricane
2× Zephyr) 2.34GHz
GPU Custom PowerVR GT7600 Plus (6 core)
Display 2,160 × 1,620 px (264 ppi)
Storage 32, 64, 128 GB
Memory 3 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
iOS 13.1
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
iOS 18.7.9
postmarketOS
Category testing
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
yes
pmOS kernel
The kernel version that runs on the device's port.
7.0.4
Generic port Apple_Generic_iDevice_(apple-idevice)
Device package device-apple-idevice
Kernel package linux-postmarketos-apple-16k
Features
Flashing
Whether it is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Broken
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Works
Battery
Whether charging and battery level reporting work.
Broken
Screen
Whether the display works; ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Broken
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Broken
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Broken
Camera
Broken
Connectivity
WiFi
Broken
Bluetooth
Broken
GPS
Broken
Modem
Calls
Broken
SMS
Broken
Mobile data
Broken
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching.
Partial
Sensors
Accelerometer
Handles automatic screen rotation in many interfaces.
Broken

The iPad 7th generation is a tablet that got released in September 25 2019, it's the only checkm8 vulnerable device that runs iOS 18 due to it being powered by the Apple A10 Fusion

Users owning this device

How to enter flash mode

You have to enter DFU mode.

  • Power off your phone and connect it to your computer via USB
  • Hold down Home + Power for 8 seconds
  • Release Power and keep holding Home for another 10 seconds

The screen should stay blank if everything went good.

Installation

No proper flash mode, but kernel can be booted via PongoOS.

Prerequisites

Warning WARNING: Compilation of these tools on Alpine is broken currently. You can get some pre-compiled binaries here.
  • palera1n
  • Computer with an Intel CPU (AMD has issues with checkm8 exploit)
  • PongoOS
  • pongoterm (You need to compile it yourself check the original guide below)
  • m1n1-idevice
  • linux-apple dtbs (You can find them in your pmos directory chroot_rootfs_apple-idevice/boot/dtbs/apple/)
    • Extracted pre-compiled from the linux-postmarketos-apple package.
$ pmbootstrap init
Select 'apple' for vendor and 'idevice' for codename
$ pmbootstrap install
Optionally enable netboot (NVME drivers aren't available for the Apple A10 Fusion so the only way to booting Linux is network boot )
$ pmbootstrap initfs hook_add netboot
Get the linux and initramfs
$ pmbootstrap export
Prep the m1n1 bootloader
$ cat path/to/m1n1.bin \
    path/to/boot/dtbs/apple/*.dtb \
    /tmp/postmarketOS-export/vmlinuz  \
    /tmp/postmarketOS-export/initramfs \
    > m1n1-linux.bin
Use palera1n to boot PongoOS
$ PALERA1N_BYPASS_PASSCODE_CHECK=1 sudo palera1n -p -f -k path/to/Pongo.bin
Boot postmarketOS!
$ printf '/send path/to/m1n1-linux.bin\nbootm\n' | sudo path/to/pongoterm

Now your device should start booting postmarketos after displaying the Asahi linux logo ;)

Netboot

If you enabled netbooting during the flashing setup you can use it to boot a rootfs. To serve the rootfs, run:

$ pmbootstrap netboot serve

If you see a tty and a login screen, that means pmOS is working! Now you can go through the usual procedures. (Using ssh, getting internet, etc.)

See also