You need DFU Mode, not Recovery Mode. This is screen-off state.
If you are still holding onto the original iPad Air (Model A1474, A1475, or A1476), you are part of a unique club. You own a device with a beautiful 64-bit A7 chip that Apple declared obsolete years ago. However, in early 2023, Apple shocked the community by releasing iOS 12.5.7 specifically for legacy devices like yours.
This update fixed security exploits but also closed some software doors. For users looking to breathe new life into their aging iPad, the question remains: Can you jailbreak iPad Air iOS 12.5.7? How To Jailbreak Ipad Air Ios 12.5.7-
The short answer is yes, but with specific caveats. Because 12.5.7 is the final, "sunset" update for the A7 chip, traditional semi-untethered tools (like unc0ver) do not work directly. Instead, the community relies on a powerful, checkm8-based bootrom exploit.
Here is the definitive guide to jailbreaking your iPad Air on iOS 12.5.7 using Palera1n (the only viable tool as of 2025). You need DFU Mode , not Recovery Mode
Now for the moment of truth.
It is theoretically possible to jailbreak this device by downgrading the OS to a vulnerable version, such as iOS 12.5.6 or 12.5.5. However, this method relies on "SHSH Blob" saving. You own a device with a beautiful 64-bit
For iOS 12.5.7, the most reliable and stable jailbreak tool is Chimera by the CoolStar development team. Unlike other tools, Chimera is a "semi-untethered" jailbreak, meaning you will need to re-run the app whenever you restart your device, but it offers a clean, stable environment without a messy mix of 32-bit and 64-bit code.
Note: Ensure your device is actually on iOS 12.5.7. You can check this by going to Settings > General > About > Version.
Chimera supports iOS 12.0 up to 12.5.6. It does not support 12.5.7.