Software update

Your iPad model may be too old to support iOS updates above iOS 10.3.3. Check to see if your device model is on the list below for iOS 11. If it’s not, then your iPad is too old to receive updates above iOS 10.3.3 and there is no way to install updates above iOS 10.3.3 as iOS 10.3.3 was the last iOS 10 update and trying to update to iOS 11 or above with any way you can think of like betas will just not work. Period.

• iPad Air, Air 2 and 5th-gen iPad.
• iPad Mini 2, 3, and 4.
• All iPad Pros.

Update to iOS11 or later isn’t possible.

If your iPad is currently running, or cannot be updated beyond iOS 10.3.3/4, then have an iPad4.

Update support for iPad4 ended September 2017. The final iOS releases for this model were iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only models) and iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular). iPad4 cannot be updated to any later major version of iOS as it lacks the minimum hardware requirements needed to run more recent versions. The 32-bit platform upon which the iPad4 is based is effectively obsolete.

Many App Developers have also dropped support for older devices and iOS versions preceding iOS11/12/13 - and have withdrawn older versions of their Apps from the Apple App Store. Withdrawal of Apps supporting older models of iPad is making their utility and usefulness significantly more limited. Once compatible versions Apps are withdrawn, you’ll not be able (re)download or (re)install them.

If Apps that you need to use now have higher minimum iOS-version requirements, your only option is to replace your iPad with newer model. Of current models, even the entry-level iPad7/4 supports current iPadOS 14.x - and has hardware specifications and that vastly outperform your old iPad4.

I hope this information is helpful - if only in clearly stating the limitations of your iPad4 and your available options.

If your iPad runs 10.3.3, you have an iPad 4th generation. This device is from late 2012. It is simply too old and it’s hardware is just too slow and outdated that it cannot support anything newer.

If you want or need support for more recently iOS versions, you are better off with a more current-gen iPad since your iPad cannot be updated further.