iPad Apple Configurator enrollment fails when Wi-Fi is skippedSolved

Participant
Discussion
2 days ago Aug 03, 2026

I was trying to enroll an iPad into Hexnode using Apple Configurator and kept running into an error during the preparation/enrollment flow. The iPad was still on the setup screen, and I started the Apple Configurator process before completing the Wi-Fi step. Is Wi-Fi required before preparing the device, or should Apple Configurator handle that automatically?

Replies (1)

Marked SolutionPending Review
Hexnode Expert
1 day ago Aug 03, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review

Yes, the iPad must have an active network connection during the Apple Configurator enrollment flow. If the device is not connected to Wi-Fi before or during setup, the preparation process can fail because the iPad cannot contact Apple and the MDM server to complete supervision and enrollment.

Try the following:

  1. On the iPad setup screen, go to the Wi-Fi selection step.
  2. Connect the iPad to the required Wi-Fi network.
  3. Continue through the setup prompts until the device reaches the next setup stage, such as Location Services.
  4. Return to Apple Configurator and prepare the iPad again.
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts until the device is supervised and enrolled in Hexnode.

If the iPad does not stay connected or returns to the Wi-Fi selection screen, reconnect it to Wi-Fi and continue the setup flow before retrying the preparation.

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