If your iPad gets stuck during setup on iPadOS 26.2, the most common fixes are resetting the iPad using a Mac or bypassing the Apple Pay setup screen by temporarily disconnecting Wi-Fi. These issues appear to be bugs affecting some devices during the initial setup process.
Below are the most effective troubleshooting steps.
Why Is My iPad Stuck During Setup?
Some iPads running iPadOS 26.2 may enter a setup loop, where the device repeatedly cycles through setup screens and never finishes initialization.
This issue typically occurs on brand-new iPads during first-time setup and appears to be related to software bugs in the operating system.
How to Fix an iPad Stuck in a Setup Loop
If your iPad keeps restarting or looping during setup, resetting it through a Mac often resolves the problem.
Steps to Reset an iPad Using a Mac
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Connect the iPad to a Mac using a USB cable
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Open Finder
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Select the iPad from the device list
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Click Reset iPad
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Allow Finder to download and reinstall iPadOS
After reinstalling the operating system, the setup process should continue normally.
⚠️ Note: Resetting the iPad will erase all data. However, if the device is new, there is usually no data to lose.
How to Fix Apple Pay Setup Freezing on iPad
Another issue seen with iPadOS 26.2 is the Apple Pay setup screen becoming unresponsive.
When this happens, you may not be able to continue the setup process.
Workaround to Bypass the Apple Pay Screen
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Return to the Apple Pay setup screen
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Disconnect your Wi-Fi router or move out of Wi-Fi range
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Wait for the device to detect no internet connection
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Tap Set Up Later
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Continue the rest of the setup process
You can configure Apple Pay later in Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay.
Is iPadOS 26.2 Buggy?
Based on recent device deployments, iPadOS 26.2 appears to contain setup-related bugs affecting some iPads.
Apple released iPadOS 26.3, but some users reported power-related issues after updating. A future update, such as iPadOS 26.4, may fully resolve these setup problems.
Keeping devices updated to the latest stable iPadOS version is recommended.
When to Contact IT Support
If your iPad still cannot complete the setup process after resetting or bypassing Apple Pay, the issue may require advanced troubleshooting or device management tools.
Businesses deploying multiple Apple devices often benefit from professional IT support to streamline setup, security, and device management.
ADS Consulting Group helps organizations manage Apple devices, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure, allowing teams to stay productive without dealing with technical issues.