How To Fix iPad Pro 12.9 1st gen Bootlooping Every 10 to 15 Seconds

This article is a stub. You can help Repair Wiki grow by expanding it

How To Fix iPad Pro 12.9 1st gen Bootlooping Every 10 to 15 Seconds
Device	IPad Pro 12.9 1st Gen
Affects part(s)	Software
Needs equipment	PC, Internet Connection, IPSW File
Difficulty	◉◌◌◌ Easy
Type	Software Flashing"Software Flashing" is not in the list (Soldering, Teardown, Part replacement, Cleaning, Software, BGA, General) of allowed values for the "Repair Guide type" property.

Problem description

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (A1584) intermittently reboots every 10–15 seconds. When connected to diagnostics tools, the panic log reports consistent watchdog resets caused by SpringBoard failing to check in.

iPad Pro 12.9" 1st Gen - Panic Log

Symptoms

• iPad restarts in a loop every 10–15 seconds.
• Unable to reach the Home Screen long enough to interact.
• Panic log contains repeated lines such as:
  • “userspace watchdog timeout: no successful checkins from SpringBoard”
  • “SpringBoard last successful checkin: 0 seconds ago”
• System may show additional services not checking in (backboardd, mediaserverd, wifid), which is normal when SpringBoard fails first.
• Unplugging all flexes also doesn't fix the issue.

Select Restore Option in Finder

Select Clean Flash in 3UTools

Diagnostic Steps

1. Read Panic Log

Open the panic log from the iPad or using 3UTools:

Look for:

• userspace watchdog timeout
• no successful checkins from SpringBoard
• last successful checkin: 0 seconds

Interpretation:

This is almost always a software-layer failure, not a hardware issue. SpringBoard isn’t responding, so watchdog forces a reboot.

2. Rule Out Hardware

Check:

• No signs of liquid or board short
• Battery level stable
• Device boots and displays Apple logo normally before reboot
• Unplug all flexes which may cause reboots.

If these conditions are normal, hardware is not the cause.

3. Perform Clean Flash

Use:

• Apple Configurator / Finder
• 3uTools, etc.

Select Clean Flash in 3UTools and Restore in Finder so system partitions fully rewrite.

Repair Steps

1. Put iPad into DFU Mode
   • Connect to Mac/PC
   • Hold Home + Power
   • Release Power after 10 sec while holding Home
2. DOWNLOAD Load IPSW Firmware
   • Choose latest signed IPSW for A1584 FROM IPSW.ME
   • Select Restore on Finder (not Update) & Clean flash on 3UTools
3. Erase & Flash
   • Allow full system erase
4. Allow Full Boot
   • After restore, device should remain stable without rebooting
5. Verify Functionality
   • Let it idle for 5–10 minutes to confirm loop is resolved