QUICK ANSWER
If setup will not advance, restart once and retry the tutorial without connecting to Wi-Fi.
Recent owner reports describe the Manta reaching step 3/3 of the initial setup tutorial and then refusing to advance. Some owners say they got through setup by skipping Wi-Fi, then connecting after the setup sequence had finished.
That workaround is worth trying because it does not change the device or require opening it. If the sidebars still do not respond, check the gesture carefully and contact Supernote support rather than repeatedly forcing the setup process.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
The setup screen may be exposing either a software snag or an input problem
One recent owner report describes a new Supernote Manta whose Wi-Fi connection succeeded, but whose setup stopped at the final gesture stage. The screen expected a sidebar action to continue, but the device would not move forward.
That matters because there are at least two different failure modes that can look similar. The setup flow itself can get stuck even when the hardware is fine, or the device may not be registering the required sidebar gesture correctly. Supernote has changed and optimized sidebar reliability across multiple Chauvet releases, so it is reasonable to separate software troubleshooting from hardware troubleshooting before assuming the device is faulty.
TRY THIS FIRST
Use the least invasive troubleshooting order
- Restart the Manta.Use a normal restart if the interface allows it. If the tablet is completely unresponsive, use the power-button restart method described in Supernote support material.
- Run the initial setup again.Move through the tutorial slowly and follow the sidebar gesture exactly as shown on screen. A Supernote support representative responding to the owner report asked the user to retry the gesture before moving on to hardware checks.
- Skip Wi-Fi during setup.If the setup flow offers the option, leave Wi-Fi until later. Multiple owners report that bypassing Wi-Fi allowed them to complete setup and connect to their network afterwards.
- After setup, connect Wi-Fi from Settings.Supernote's current update instructions direct users to connect through Settings > Wi-Fi and then check for system updates under Settings > System.
- Install the latest stable system update.Supernote continues to update Manta and Nomad software, including sidebar reliability fixes and optimizations in earlier releases. Updating removes one obvious source of avoidable input problems.
WHY SKIP WI-FI?
The workaround is plausible, but it is not yet an official diagnosis
More than one owner says a similar setup issue cleared after Wi-Fi was skipped during onboarding. That makes it a useful low-risk workaround, but it does not prove that Wi-Fi itself causes the failure.
The safer interpretation is that the onboarding flow can occasionally get into a bad state. Completing setup first and configuring the network later changes the sequence enough to bypass that state. Supernote's own documentation confirms that Wi-Fi can be configured from Settings after the device is running normally, so there is little downside to trying this route.
This is a community-reported workaround supported by multiple owner comments. Yeinks has not independently reproduced the fault, and Supernote has not published a support article identifying Wi-Fi as the cause.
ESCALATION
If the sidebar still does not respond, involve Supernote support
In the source discussion, a Supernote representative first asked the owner to retry the gesture, then provided a more advanced hardware troubleshooting route involving the Manta's internal connectors. The owner later reported trying that process without success, after which the support representative moved the conversation to direct support.
We would not make opening the device the first DIY step. If a new Manta still cannot complete setup after a restart, a clean retry, the Wi-Fi bypass and an available software update, contact Supernote and follow its instructions for your specific unit. That keeps any hardware work tied to official guidance instead of guesswork.
If Supernote support decides connector reseating is appropriate, use the exact guide they provide and confirm any warranty implications first.
THE YEINKS TAKE
This looks frustrating, but it does not automatically mean the Manta is defective
The important detail in the owner reports is that some apparently dead-end setup screens can be bypassed without touching the hardware. Restarting and postponing Wi-Fi are both sensible first moves because they are reversible and low risk.
If those steps fail, the problem shifts from setup troubleshooting to input or hardware diagnosis. At that point, Supernote support is the right next stop. For a brand-new device, there is little reason to escalate to invasive repair work before the manufacturer has assessed it.
If you are setting up a Manta for the first time, our Supernote getting-started guide covers the wider setup process, while our Supernote Manta evidence review looks at the device beyond first-day issues.