Can You Use an iPad Without Wi-Fi or Cellular? What You Need to Know

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The internet-free iPad guide you didn’t know you needed
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The iPad is an amazing piece of technology, but many of its features require a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection to work. If you’re going to be someplace where you can’t access the internet, you might be wondering if you can use your iPad at all–and, if so, what you can do with it. Fortunately, there are still quite a few things you can do on the iPad even without a connection. In this article, we’ll explain what’s possible and what isn’t, plus some workarounds if you’re out of range of Wi-Fi.

What to Know About Using an iPad Without Internet

If you don’t have an internet connection, you can still use a lot of your iPad’s built-in apps and features. This includes your camera and Photos app, Apple productivity apps like Freeform and Notes, and more. When you do have internet access, download apps, movies, and music so you can access them offline later.

Section 1 of 5:

Can I use my iPad without an internet connection?

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  1. 1
    Yes, to a certain extent. Your iPad has a lot of features you can use without being connected to the internet. Many games and apps will run without any kind of data connection, although you won’t be able to update apps or download new ones until you’re online again. You can also use built-in features and utilities like your iPad’s camera and photo gallery, calculator, clock/timer, and more.
  2. 2
    You’ll need to connect to the internet for certain essential functions. Without an internet connection, you won’t be able to do things like download new apps, wirelessly update your iPad, sync your data with the cloud, make FaceTime calls, or access the online features of many apps. Needless to say, you also won’t be able to browse the internet or use social media.
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Section 2 of 5:

What can I do on my iPad without the internet?

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  1. 1
    Access basic built-in apps on your iPad. Your iPad comes with a variety of apps that you can use even when you aren’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. This includes things like your Clock app, Notes, Reminders, Calculator, Voice Memos, and Freeform (a creative app that lets you draw, take notes, and more on a whiteboard-like surface).
    • Some built-in apps, like the App Store, FaceTime, and Weather, need an internet connection to work at all.
    • Many of these apps have certain features that won’t work without the internet. For example, if you want to share a whiteboard you created in Freeform, you need to be online.
  2. With the Camera app, you can take photos or record videos and store them on your iPad until you have an Internet connection or are able to sync with your desktop. You can also edit photos and videos offline with Photos or iMovie.
    • If you are able to install third-party photo or video editing software on your iPad at some point when you have an internet connection, you should be able to use at least some of those apps even when you’re offline.
  3. Many iPad games do not require an Internet connection for play. However, you will need an internet connection to download those games from the App Store in the first place! To see a selection of such games, open the App Store app while you’re connected to the internet, tap Search , then start typing "offline games" in the search bar. Tap "offline games" when it appears as a search category. Scroll down to see the selection of suggested offline games.
    • Although you need to be connected to the internet to download these games, you can play them while your iPad is offline once they’re installed.
    • Check out this list of the best offline games compiled by the Apple App Store’s editorial team!
  4. 4
    AirDrop files to and from other Apple devices. Believe it or not, you don’t need to be connected to the internet to use Apple’s AirDrop feature. AirDrop allows you to instantly share photos, documents, and other files between Apple devices. Simply choose the item you want to share, tap the Share icon, and select the AirDrop option. Then, choose an available Apple device.
    • Even though you don’t need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network to use AirDrop, Wi-Fi has to be enabled. This is because AirDrop works by creating its own mini Wi-Fi network between two devices. To enable Wi-Fi on your iPad, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle on the switch next to Wi-Fi at the top of the menu. [1]
    • If AirDrop still isn’t working even with Wi-Fi enabled, here are a few fixes to try .
  5. Many productivity apps, such as the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Docs, Notes, and Pages can be used offline. Some cloud services allow you to store and edit documents locally on your iPad until you have an Internet connection.
    • Again, you will need an internet connection to initially download any third-party productivity apps. This includes apps like Word and Google Docs that are not developed by Apple and don’t come preloaded on your iPad.
    • If you have no access to the internet to download third-party apps, you can use your iPad’s built-in apps. This includes apps like Notes, Freeform, Pages, and Keynote.
  6. 6
    Be creative. Your iPad likely came preloaded with some creative apps that you can use offline, such as iMovie and GarageBand. If you’re able to get online at some point, you can download additional creative apps that can be used without an internet connection, like Clips (a free video-editing app from Apple), My Sketchbook, Procreate, and more.
  7. When you do have internet access, you can download shows or movies from a variety of streaming apps and watch them offline later. For instance, if you have an Apple TV+ account, you can open a favorite show in the Apple TV app and tap Download to save it to your device. Go to Library > Downloaded in the Apple TV app when you’re offline to find it. Other apps, such as YouTube Premium , Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video, allow you to download certain content and watch it offline with the proper subscription.
    • Videos use a lot of your iPad's storage capacity, so be aware of your available storage as you download.
  8. You can download or sync music to your iPad from your iTunes library even without an internet connection. You just need to be able to connect your iPad to a computer with a cable and transfer the music using Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC). Once the music has been downloaded, it will be available for listening without an Internet connection.
    • Some streaming services, such as Spotify, also allow offline listening. However, you’ll need to download the music while you do have an internet connection to listen to it offline later.
  9. You can read ebooks or listen to audiobooks on the iPad's built-in Books app, or third-party apps like Kindle . Many libraries also lend eBooks and audiobooks that you can read with apps like Books, Kindle, Overdrive, or Bluefire Reader. However, you’ll need an internet connection to initially download the books. Download or sync the books you'd like to use before you go offline, and you'll be able to use them without an Internet connection later.
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Section 3 of 5:

Will GPS work on my iPad with no internet connection?

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  1. That depends on your iPad model. If you have an iPad with Wi-Fi capabilities only (no cellular service), you must be connected to the internet to use GPS-reliant apps like Apple Maps or Google Maps. However, iPad models with Wi-Fi + Cellular have a built-in GPS receiver, allowing them to receive GPS data even when you aren’t connected to the internet via a Wi-Fi or cellular network. [2]
    • Not sure if your iPad has cellular? This guide from Apple will help you identify your model and figure out if it has cellular (and GPS) capabilities.
    • As an alternative, you can use apps like Organic Maps to look at maps, directions, and travel routes offline.
Section 4 of 5:

Can I make calls on an iPad without the internet?

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  1. You need some kind of internet connection to make calls. If your iPhone has Wi-Fi only, you’ll need to connect to a Wi-Fi network to make FaceTime calls or use other video/voice calling apps (like Zoom or WhatsApp). If you have an iPad with Wi-Fi + Cellular, you can place calls when connected to cellular data.
    • If you’re not sure whether your iPad has cellular capabilities, check out this guide from Apple to find out.
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Section 5 of 5:

How can I connect to the internet without Wi-Fi?

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  1. 1
    Use cellular data if your iPad is a Wi-Fi + Cellular model. If your iPad has cellular capabilities, you can talk to your cellular provider about adding it to a line on your account. The right way to set up cellular service on your iPad depends on your carrier and your iPad model. Check out this article from Apple for detailed instructions.
    • Not all iPads support cellular data. Learn more about which models have cellular capabilities here .
  2. 2
    Try connecting to a mobile hotspot. Even if you’re not in range of any Wi-Fi networks, you might be able to use another nearby device (like an iPhone or Android phone) as a mobile hotspot for your iPad. The hotspot option will have to be enabled on the other device. You can connect to a mobile hotspot on your iPad the same way you’d connect to any Wi-Fi network:
    • Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and look for the name of the device with the hotspot in your list of available Wi-Fi networks. Tap the name of the device’s hotspot to join. You may be prompted to enter a network password to connect.
  3. 3
    Connect your iPad directly to a router with an Ethernet cable. If you want to create a direct, wired connection to the internet on your iPad, you can do so with an Ethernet cable . However, you’ll need some kind of adapter or USB hub to do so. Most newer iPad models have a USB-C port, so you’ll need a USB-C to Ethernet adapter or a USB-C hub with an Ethernet port . Use the cable and adapter to plug your iPad directly into a modem or router.
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  • Question
    How can I download books to read without needing the Internet to open them and read?
    Community Answer
    You'll need the internet to download the book, but you won't need it to read the book after it's been downloaded, just open the book with your reading app, Kindle, etc.
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  • Question
    Do I need Internet for the GPS app on an iPad?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you do. You can test this by turning off Wi-Fi and trying to open the map. It will be able to tell you where you are, but not how to get somewhere (unless you loaded the map beforehand).
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    Do children's games require internet?
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    Some do. But there are plenty that don't. Games like Flappy Bird, Angry Birds and Don't Shoot Waldo do not need internet.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/119857
      2. ↑ https://ipadpilotnews.com/2024/08/should-you-buy-an-ipad-with-a-built-in-gps-pilot/

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