Cannot connect to updates

Try following this guide: If your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch won't update - Apple Supporthttps://support.apple.com › en-us.

LWalsh78

Can you confirm your iPad model - and the currently installed version of iOS/iPadOS?

The tags appended to your post suggest that you have a first generation iPad mini - with iOS9.

If you have a first generation iPad mini, it can only be updated to iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models) or iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular models).

Apple ended update support for iPad mini in September 2016. It 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, iPad mini 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 older models of iPad are increasingly difficult to find - as third-party developers are increasingly dropping support for older versions of iOS preceding iOS11/12/13. As older versions of Apps are removed from the Apple App Store, you’ll not be able to (re)download or install them - which may severely limit the usefulness and utility of an older iPad if you should you ever need reset or restore it. In such cases, if access to the most current Apps is needed, requiring more recent versions of iOS, you’ll need to consider replacement with a newer or current model.

Of current models, even the entry-level iPad7 has specifications and capabilities that will massively outperform you current iPad - and is compatible with the vast majority of current Apps. Other models are more powerful still.

I hope this information provides helpful clarity. If you have a newer model of iPad, these support pages may be helpful:

Update your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support

If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support

iOS update and restore errors – Apple Support

Is this actually a new iPad or a “new to you”, used iPad model?

What iPad kind/model did you purchase and what iOS/iPadOS is it currently running?