Erase iOS device with recovery mode without updating to latest iOS version?

I have an iPad 3 (A1430, on iOS 9.0.2) that I lost the passcode for. I know the iCloud/Apple ID account that iPad has and I can see an iCloud backup of it online (on the iCloud website). I tried following the recommended recovery options for a lost passcode but it seems my computer was never used to backup this iPad. Find My iPhone also doesn't work because the iPad doesn't seem to be connected to the WiFi network.

From instructions, my option is to use Recovery Mode to reset everything.

My problem is that it seems it will also update to the latest iOS version which I don't want do to.

Is there any way to unlock this device or do the recovery mode reset without updating the iOS version?

Solution 1:

You can try to download the IPSW file and hold down Option key on your Mac (for Windows its Alt) on restore to open the link to restore from downloaded IPSW file.

I know it can be done with update but I'm not sure it can with restore.

You can get the IPSW file for your iPad on IPSW Homepage.