Marco Arment

Stumped by this one. Setting up an iPad with iCloud restore, and none of the apps are downloading automatically. Tapping one brings this up.

I'm on my Wi-Fi network, other connectivity works… and while this iPad does have cellular, no plan has ever been activated on it yet.

Reboots and Reset Network Settings haven't fixed it. iPadOS 26.1. Tapping "Download" immediately downloads the item over Wi-Fi.

Anyone ever see this? Any ideas?

Nov 17 at 1:28pmIvory for Mac
Show threadJoelNov 17
@marcoarment Any chance "Low data mode" has been activated for this network? (Settings > WiFi > i-Button)
Show threadMarco ArmentNov 17

@joel I hadn't thought of that. Good idea!

But nope.

Show threadGlynNov 17
@marcoarment Wifi-Assist? Probably had some issue with the wifi so was falling back to mobile data.
Show threadMarco ArmentNov 17
@glynd Can't even access the Wi-Fi Assist setting because there's no cellular plan.
Show threadGlynNov 17
@marcoarment Well that is weird then!
Show threadBenRiceMNov 17
@marcoarment no idea what the solution is but this seems like a good omen for Remarcoable
Show threadWarner CrockerNov 17
@marcoarment Saw this when setting up a new iPad for a friend right after iPadOS 26 was released. It resolved overnight. I have no idea why.
Show threadTodd ChapmanNov 17
@marcoarment just the other day a streaming app gave me the same prompt when I was sitting in my home. Might be an iOS bug.
Show threadJasonNov 17
@marcoarment Sometimes if I get some oddball weirdness at the beginning of the restore process I just say 🤷‍♂️ and erase the iPad and try the restore from iCloud again. Usually that has worked.
Show threadJeffNov 17
@marcoarment FWIW, I'm trying to restore my macOS Photo Library on macOS 26.1 and it's just ... restoring. Been since day 1 of the official 26.1 release and I've tried restarting and all that.. I know it's not the same, but just saying.. 26.1 has been wonky for me.
Show threadSteve Troughton-SmithNov 17
@marcoarment think it's a bug, I saw the same a couple times with iPadOS 26 on my cellular iPad
Show threadBrian Gerfort🇺🇦Nov 17
@marcoarment Since you’re a developer: Could Settings → Developer → Network Link Conditioner be on?
Show threadMarco ArmentNov 17
@2ndNatureDev Good idea! But nope.
Show threadNiléaneNov 17

@marcoarment Unfortunately I've had this bug, in the Apple Store of all places (I had opted to buy and set up my new iPhone right there in the store and this happened on the new phone.)

The only way the genius and I could fix it was to reset the iPhone and start over with the iCloud restore

Show threadBenjamin HerrinNov 17
@marcoarment different issue but my iPhone 17 Pro just asked me to get ready for my new iPhone and prompted me to reset so I can recycle it 😵‍💫
Show threadSven A. SchmidtNov 17

@marcoarment I had this happen on my new iPad, same restore situation. I don’t remember what I did exactly to fix it though - this was 3+ weeks ago and is now outside my context window 🤪

Do you have a VPN app? I think it might have been stuck on establishing a VPN connection and I may have had to explicitly disable it.

Also, popping in a SIM might shake things loose.

Show threadMarco ArmentNov 17
@finestructure THANK YOU!
Show threadDane DeasyNov 17
@finestructure i was gonna ask if VPN or Tailscale was enabled. Might interfere.
Show threadAxel HartmannNov 17
@finestructure @marcoarment - Tailscale works like a dream, but when it doesn't, it gives a whole new class of headaches.
Also happens when the authentication runs out after - what - 3 months? - with no intuitive error messages. They should give 1 week's warning rather than just cutting access.
Show threadAndrew WickliffeNov 17
@axel_hartmann @finestructure @marcoarment 💯last week I had a shortcut failing over and over. Reworked the whole thing to discover it was just the Tailscale on the other computer needing a refresh
Show threadHeals Nov 17

[EDIT] NVM it’s weird that iPadOS would try to use a VPN profile without an associated app..

@marcoarment any change if you turn on airplane mode and then WiFi?

Show threadKristofferabildNov 17
@marcoarment Ipad / ios 26 is still kind of a mess.
Show threadFreddyNov 17
@marcoarment Had it on my new iPhone Pro too.
Show threadChancerubbageNov 17

@marcoarment

I think it is a vestige of an assumption that Apple actually prefers to do an iCloud restore using cellular signal; over several days if they can, and if you can tolerate it.

That is the way my iPhone iCloud restores go, and I have actively tried to avoid it ever since the first time.

The assumption is that because you have a device that can connect to cell, that it does have a cell account, and you will be moving around wanting to use it before you have a full restore.

Show threadBrent YorkNov 18
@marcoarment IS IT YOUR NOTE TAKING APPS FAULT