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How to update an old iPad from 9.3 to at least 10

how idate a old ipad from 9.3 to at least 10 some i can get certain apps



​[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on May 18, 2020 12:24 PM

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Posted on May 19, 2020 8:29 AM

If you currently have an iPad running iOS 9.3.x, then it is very likely that you have an iPad2, iPad3 or original first generation iPad mini. These very old iPad models can only be updated to iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models) or iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular models).


Apple formally ended update support for iPad2/3/mini1 in September 2016. They cannot be updated to iOS 10 or later major versions of iOS, as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for new versions of iOS/iPadOS. This limitation cannot be bypassed - in addition to which, iPad2 is a 32-bit architecture device, whilst all recent versions of iOS/iPadOS are designed for 64-bit hardware platforms.


You may wish to consider that compatible Apps for your iPad are increasingly difficult to find - as third-party developers are increasingly dropping support for older versions of iOS preceding iOS11/12. As older versions of Apps are removed from the Apple App Store, you’ll not be able to (re)download or install them. As such, if you want or need to access most current Apps, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model.


Even the most basic current iPad7 will massively outperform you current iPad - and is compatible with the vast majority of current Apps.


I hope this information provides helpful clarity as to your available options - and the limitations of your current iPad2

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Question marked as Best reply

May 19, 2020 8:29 AM in response to hubert191

If you currently have an iPad running iOS 9.3.x, then it is very likely that you have an iPad2, iPad3 or original first generation iPad mini. These very old iPad models can only be updated to iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models) or iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular models).


Apple formally ended update support for iPad2/3/mini1 in September 2016. They cannot be updated to iOS 10 or later major versions of iOS, as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for new versions of iOS/iPadOS. This limitation cannot be bypassed - in addition to which, iPad2 is a 32-bit architecture device, whilst all recent versions of iOS/iPadOS are designed for 64-bit hardware platforms.


You may wish to consider that compatible Apps for your iPad are increasingly difficult to find - as third-party developers are increasingly dropping support for older versions of iOS preceding iOS11/12. As older versions of Apps are removed from the Apple App Store, you’ll not be able to (re)download or install them. As such, if you want or need to access most current Apps, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model.


Even the most basic current iPad7 will massively outperform you current iPad - and is compatible with the vast majority of current Apps.


I hope this information provides helpful clarity as to your available options - and the limitations of your current iPad2

May 19, 2020 9:03 AM in response to hubert191

It will NOT even matter now, in 2020, whether your old iPad can upgrade to iOS 10, or not!


These old iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are nearing 8 and 9-years old, now.

The amount of older, compatible, available apps for these old iPad models has dwindled significantly since the beginning of 2020!

Getting older versions of apps for these old iPad models, initially from Apple’s iOS App Store is getting very difficult and very problematic and this issue is getting, painfully, much worse, now, in 2020!


As of the beginning of 2019, many, MANY third party app developers are all more quickly and completely permanently dropping older app support for all old 7, 8 and 9-year iPads that are running 2-3 year old and earlier iOS versions ( iOS 10 and earlier ).

Third party app developers are removing all of their older, legacy versions of their apps from Apple's App Store servers, now.

Third party app developers no longer want to support these 8 and 9-year old or older iOS devices, any longer!

Older versions of apps are, soon, going to be gone for good, now!

These old iPads are now reaching their complete end of life and support.

So finding older versions apps for older iPads, while still possible, currently, will be a very tough challenge, now, in 2020.


Old iPads that can no longer be upgraded/updated will have NO MORE APPS AVAILABLE for initial download, at all, soon, from the Apple iOS App Store, for such old iOS devices in the very near future.

Older versions of apps for these older iPads will be completely gone, at some point, in the very foreseeable future.


Old 8 and 9-year old iPads will be pretty much obsolete by the end of the 2020 year!


Again, it is what it is, today, in the year 2020!


You will never get any more older versions of popular apps for these old iPads, any longer.


The apps that these old iPads already have on them, and still work, will be the apps these iPads will be stuck with!


Basically, these old iPad models are just good for FaceTime and somewhat limited Web browsing via some other, more up to date third party Web browsers and NOT using that nearly 4-year old iOS Safari Web browser.


So, this is REALLY NOW the time to seriously consider a new or discounted, refurbished iPad from Apple or other Apple authorised resellers.


You need to truly consider a purchase of a new iPad from Apple or a discounted, refurbished iPad from Apple’s Refurbished & Clearance section of Apple’s Website or a new or refurbished iPad from an Apple authorised, third party retail or online reseller OR other trusted sources for new or used Apple products.

A lot has happened with iPad and iOS in 7-9 years and in the past 2 to 3-1/2 years since iOS 9 and 10.


As an example and compared to your older iPad model,

The cheapest, baseline 2019, 10.2 inch screen 7th gen Apple iPads have a 1/2 inch larger retina screen, newer, more powerful and nearly 2-1/2 times faster 2.3 Ghz, A10 Fusion processors, AT LEAST, 3-4 times the internal RAM, with the 2019, 7th gen iPad having 3 GBs of internal RAM, iPadOS 13 support, with much better and improved multitasking features, Apple Pencil and Apple Smart keyboard cover support and have better audio speakers and better/improved built-in cameras.


In addition, if you search online and look at various, reputable online Apple device resellers, you can usually find this 2019, 7th gen iPad at discounts of between $60 U.S.D and $100 U.S.D. depending on storage size and whether it is a WiFi ONLY model or a WiFi/cellular data model.



Sorry & Good Luck to You!

How to update an old iPad from 9.3 to at least 10

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