[ipad] Verifying apps installed with Apple Configurator 2 on iPad with no Wifi

[dsiefers]

I have a classroom iPad that seems to have a hardware problem that is preventing Wifi from working. The Wifi switch in Settings is greyed out and does not respond. I've tried various solutions online, including a Restore to factory settings using Apple Configurator, and it appears the conclusion to reach at this point is that there is some kind of hardware failure causing the wifi antenna to no longer work.

 

The students don't really need a Wifi connection though. the only thing I need the Wifi connection for is to connect to the Internet the first time each app that was installed by Apple Configurator is launched. Without the Wifi connection, the first time you launch an app that was installed by Apple Configurator, you get the following message:

 

Unable to Verify App

A connection to the App Store is required for the first launch of "name of app" on this iPad. Please connect to the Internet and try again.

 

Has anyone ever had any luck getting around this initial launch message without having to provide an Internet connection? If I could just get the apps launched once, the kids would be good to go. I've seen a couple of other postings online where people had this same dilemma, particularly where they were delivering the iPads to a classroom that did not have Internet. I think their eventual solution was that they just had to open all the apps once before delivering the iPads to the classroom with no Internet.

[Brimstone]

There is no way around as Apps have to be signed by the dev so have to connect when first launched. I don’t understand what you expect to do on an iPad with no WiFi connection though...?

[Primus]

You could use the trick of the lightning to USB and USB to Ethernet to get the iPad online then launch each app once yourself?

[dsiefers]

There is no way around as Apps have to be signed by the dev so have to connect when first launched. I don’t understand what you expect to do on an iPad with no WiFi connection though...?

That's what I figured, but I thought I would check before I declared it a loss.

 

The iPad is used by a little kids, so the apps they are using (math facts games, that sort of thing) don't need an Internet connection beyond that initial connection during the first launch. I was hoping to salvage some use out of this iPad as I've been told that there's no budget to repair it.

[dsiefers]

You could use the trick of the lightning to USB and USB to Ethernet to get the iPad online then launch each app once yourself?

Sounds promising, I'll give that a shot. Thanks!