IPSW · iPadOS
iPadOS 18.2.1 IPSW Download (22C161)
Build 22C161, released January 6, 2025 — restore images for 22 iPads, straight from Apple's servers.
Choose your iPad
22 devices. Each row is one file on Apple's CDN.
iPad16,1, iPad16,2 8.99 GBiPad16,1,iPad16,2_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 a40b320510620a5b70c2403bedba6930bf1fe6080f0ee715b39fbdef38ed3ecc 
iPad14,8, iPad14,9 8.69 GBiPad_Air_M2_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 a1664e6c535ac2bad5192640ab5f2835ed3fc7809b75185605456e4b5d4c3061 
iPad14,10, iPad14,11 8.69 GBiPad_Air_M2_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 a1664e6c535ac2bad5192640ab5f2835ed3fc7809b75185605456e4b5d4c3061 
iPad16,3, iPad16,4 9.21 GBiPad_Pro_M4_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8ce2b93ea12a347bd60d26323b73e11a31daf11105a85a53545d959f0a547f49 
iPad16,5, iPad16,6 9.21 GBiPad_Pro_M4_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8ce2b93ea12a347bd60d26323b73e11a31daf11105a85a53545d959f0a547f49 
iPad13,18, iPad13,19 8.55 GBiPad_Fall_2022_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8b5ad594b920e9bb3cb60d88b66b31743f4d28ebbfb905e1466943238d6c604b 
iPad14,3, iPad14,4 8.67 GBiPad14,3,iPad14,4,iPad14,5,iPad14,6_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 aec87dd3947436fbf9f76f705e79a45a14ed676457d4b2cde968dfe57f99536f 
iPad14,5, iPad14,6 8.67 GBiPad14,3,iPad14,4,iPad14,5,iPad14,6_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 aec87dd3947436fbf9f76f705e79a45a14ed676457d4b2cde968dfe57f99536f 
iPad13,16, iPad13,17 8.55 GBiPad_Spring_2022_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 23a2d33f7d54e5c9857fbc90aba4e220bfff23405dc2795af46cec8ccb6baf39 
iPad12,1, iPad12,2 8.08 GBiPad_10.2_2021_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 b4fdd699c6d17cad1c6b457ed944d0190aa2c7874b901a46e63960abc66b5e72 
iPad14,1, iPad14,2 8.55 GBiPad_Fall_2021_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8e1fba4923ca5413add19819aed6f1d0418c83f5cded0b71b1e058d5d45d4543 
iPad13,4, iPad13,5, iPad13,6, iPad13,7 8.67 GBiPad_Pro_Spring_2021_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 f4d3a124a9b6fac1b0d7d102cc2eb005ecdae62d2d6d68ee1e7de53fb2272e0b 
iPad13,8, iPad13,9, iPad13,10, iPad13,11 8.67 GBiPad_Pro_Spring_2021_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 f4d3a124a9b6fac1b0d7d102cc2eb005ecdae62d2d6d68ee1e7de53fb2272e0b 
iPad13,1, iPad13,2 8.42 GBiPad_Fall_2020_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 9e55553292c4d1d3dd9341507119248b5b30b5568824640de13a5b643f22dc63 
iPad11,6, iPad11,7 8.27 GBiPad_10.2_2020_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 b8d67f73e377b72247cc4a3c1ac3c34a8cb6cb4b81a546161111acea0fcb9272 
iPad8,9, iPad8,10 8.58 GBiPad_Pro_A12X_A12Z_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8eaab88138ff6720c0e4296041da3a9e226312ba4bd1d3bb4e13796c268a8bf1 
iPad8,11, iPad8,12 8.58 GBiPad_Pro_A12X_A12Z_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8eaab88138ff6720c0e4296041da3a9e226312ba4bd1d3bb4e13796c268a8bf1 
iPad7,11, iPad7,12 7.66 GBiPad_10.2_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 e62dc80e228470524a9b185b95adf30fb3a8526fc809a65547c9bb7e660786f4 
iPad11,3, iPad11,4 8.29 GBiPad_Spring_2019_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 d703f79cf9979cce04ab02c6a158fad4960ca568c96b955357b802a997525a75 
iPad11,1, iPad11,2 8.29 GBiPad_Spring_2019_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 d703f79cf9979cce04ab02c6a158fad4960ca568c96b955357b802a997525a75 
iPad8,1, iPad8,2, iPad8,3, iPad8,4 8.58 GBiPad_Pro_A12X_A12Z_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8eaab88138ff6720c0e4296041da3a9e226312ba4bd1d3bb4e13796c268a8bf1 
iPad8,5, iPad8,6, iPad8,7, iPad8,8 8.58 GBiPad_Pro_A12X_A12Z_18.2.1_22C161_Restore.ipsw SHA-256 8eaab88138ff6720c0e4296041da3a9e226312ba4bd1d3bb4e13796c268a8bf1 No device matches.
22C161How to install iPadOS 18.2.1 from the IPSW
Four steps, and the one that matters most is the first.
Back up first
A restore erases the device. Make an archived backup in Finder or the Apple Devices app — an iCloud backup taken on a newer version cannot be restored onto an older one. Our backup guide covers the difference.
Get the file for your exact model
Check Settings → General → About → Model Name, then download the IPSW for that device. The download shows the file size; compare it with the SHA-256 under Details if you want to be certain the file is intact.
Restore in Finder or Apple Devices
Connect with a cable, select the device, then hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and click Restore to choose the .ipsw. Update keeps your data but only works upward; Restore erases and is how you downgrade.
Set up or restore your backup
After the restore the device starts fresh. Restore the backup you made — only if it came from the same or an older version than the one you just installed.
Questions? Answers.
Can I restore iPadOS 18.2.1 today?
Not at the moment — Apple has stopped signing 22C161, so a restore will be rejected at the final step. The files remain here for reference and for signed re-releases.
Which is the right file for my device?
Match the identifier in Settings → General → About (or under the model's name here) against the one on each row. Wi-Fi and Cellular iPads share a file; different generations never do. Restoring the wrong device's IPSW simply fails — it cannot damage the device.
What does "signed" mean?
Apple's servers must approve a firmware before a device will accept it, and Apple only approves the builds it is currently shipping. A signed file can be restored today; an unsigned one is rejected at the end of the process, however you obtained it. Signing status changes without notice, usually within days of a newer release, which is why this catalogue rechecks it automatically.
Will I lose my data?
A Restore erases the device — that is what makes a downgrade possible. An Update with an IPSW keeps your data, but only when moving to a newer version. Either way, make an archived backup on a computer first; an iCloud backup taken on a newer version will not restore onto an older one.