iPad Won't Load Web Pages. I Can't Figure Out Why

[PGB1]

Hello All,
Suddenly my wife's iPad won't load web pages. iPad Pro 2018
iOS Was Version 16.7.1 when trouble started Now is 16.7.2

The WiFi signal is fullb ar on all 4 networks I tried. (She has no cellular connection. it's WiFi only)

Here is what I've tired:

Clear History Web Site Data for Safari

Check For Updates:
One available from 16.7.1 to 16.7.2
It was hard to do, but finally succeeded after these steps-
Would not update. Progress bar got stuck in the same place at Preparing Update each time.
Stayed stuck for perhaps 20 minutes until pop up shows “An error occurred while
checking for update.”
Turned off Private IP Address & tired again.
This time it got to “Verifying Update” and stayed there for a few minutes and iPad shut
itself off. (50% battery).
Restarted the iPad
It shut off again. Plugged in charger & restarted it
It started & went to the normal home screen
About now shows 16.7.2

The problem with Safari is now worse. No web pages will load. Software Update says it can't check for updates

Next...
Made sure that
The iPad has No Anti Virus
The iPad has No VPN

The WiFi Icon is full of bars.
Tried all 4 of our networks

Mail works. It sends & receives

Tried WiFi On & Off, then On again

Rebooted iPad

Rebooted modem and router

Turned Airplane Mode On & Off & On again

Java Script was on. Turned it off, Then On

Private IP Address-
Was On
Tried Off
Turned it back on after software update.

Mail still works. Safari still does not work

Do you all have any suggestions for my next thing to try?


Thank You Very Much For Helping!
Paul

 

[Rod]

I hate to ask but is the device backed up to iCloud or a computer locally?
If not you will need to do that first.
Or;
If so, I would suggest that you erase the iPad (Reset to Factory settings), then Restore it from your backup.
This is time consuming I know but if the device is unusable in it's current state you have nothing to loose.

If you would like references with instructions on how to do this please ask.

 

[ferrarr]

Did you look in Settings > Apple ID for Private Relay? Turn it off if it is enabled.

 

[PGB1]

Thank You Rod & Ferrarr for helping and for advice.
I checked for Private Relay and can't find it. I think the iPad is supposed to have iCloud+ to get Private Relay, but I could be wrong.

At this point, I think I'll have to to the reset that Rod mentioned.

Backing up is a challenge:
I wanted to send the iPad files to an external drive, but don't have the Lightning to USB cable.

I can't connect to my MacBook Pro to transfer files because it has 10.11.6 & Apple article said that's too old.

Right now, the device is backing up to iCloud and, if the iPad cooperates, I'll install iDrive and back it up there, too. (I have an account for my computer & iDrive allows unlimited extra devices on the account.)

Do you think iCloud will be the best one to use for restoring & putting things back where my wife had them? Do the added apps go back as well?

Thanks Again,
Paul

 

[IWT]

I think the iPad is supposed to have iCloud+ to get Private Relay,

Yes, that's correct.

I know that you have restarted/rebooted your iPad; but have you also tried a Forced Reboot?:

Force restart iPad

If iPad isn’t responding, try forcing it to restart.

support.apple.com

Ian

 

[Rod]

iCloud can be slow but generally works well for backups and restores. I have all my portable devices set to backup at night when charging so I'm generally unaware of them. Restoring can take a while especially for purchased apps but it will happen.
User data comes from iCloud eg Contacts, Notes, Photos ect while apps come from the app store. Once user data is loaded you can start using the device; sign in with Apple ID, set up email, security and so on then apps will download and update.

 

[PGB1]

Thank You Ian for telling me about Forced Restart. I never knew it existed. Forced Restart will be a good tool to have for such situations.

Thanks Rod for explaining what to expect with iCloud back up and restore, plus things to do once user data is loaded.

Yesterday evening, I was preparing to do the factory reset by setting up iCloud to backup the iPad and also sending to iDrive. I had to interrupt while the backups uploaded. Meanwhile, my wife noticed that she had, if I remember correctly, 3,700 unread e-mails on the iPad. She used my computer to go to the server and marked them all as "Read" and deleted probably a thousand e-mails.

Today, she reports that the iPad is working fine.

I wonder if having too many e-mails or too many un-read caused the problem, or if the fact that the iPad works today is a coincidence.

If it stops working again, I'll try the Forced Restart, then a factory reset if needed.

Signed,
Confused In Detroit

 

[Rod]

It's not a bad idea to have iCloud backups enabled even if you never use it, providing you have the space on iCloud of course. It's always comforting to know ot's there if needed.
I backup my iPad and iPhone locally to my laptop as well which is preferable because restore, if needed, is not dependent on network connections or speed. I'm not sure if you said you were able to do this?

 

[PGB1]

Thanks, Rod for the good idea about leaving iCloud backups on. If needed, additional space is pretty inexpensive.

I won't leave iDrive on. If anyone gains access to the iPad, they only have to pass a 4-digit code and they are into all of our backed up devices on iDrive. The mobile app security is awful. The web based is great. Beats me why the unbalance.

My Macbook Pro is limited to 10.11.6, so it can't be cable connected to the iPad. When I get a new computer I'll do the local backup. For the meanwhile, I think, but am not sure if, an external hard drive would work for local backup- once I figure out how to power it.
Paul
PS: I was wrong about the number of e-mails in my previous post. One account had > 37,000 (thousand!) un-read. The other had about 22,000 unread. Hopefully my wife will continue trashing what's left.

 

[pm-r]

I can't connect to my MacBook Pro to transfer files because it has 10.11.6 & Apple article said that's too old.

And why cannot you connect that 2018 iPad Pro to your 2007 MacBook Pro, and lots of applications can support it for file transfers and backups even if Apple says it cannot do so?


- Patrick
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[PGB1]

And why cannot you connect that 2018 iPad Pro to your 2007 MacBook Pro, and lots of applications can support it for file transfers and backups even if Apple says it cannot do so?


- Patrick
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Thanks Patrick!
I never thought to go outside the Apple Crate and look for an application to do this task. So simple, yet so elusive!

 

[pm-r]

I never thought to go outside the Apple Crate and look for an application to do this task. So simple, yet so elusive!

As the saying goes, it's a good idea to think outside the box sometimes and regardless of what Apple might think about itself sometimes, it's not the only one.



- Patrick
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