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iPad OS

help me update my iPad's OS from 12.5.4 to 14. iPad is stating that iOS12.5.4 and it is up to date.

Posted on Jun 20, 2021 6:08 PM

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3 replies

Jun 20, 2021 6:13 PM in response to 2205betty

Many older iPad models cannot be upgraded to iPadOS 14. The following from iPadOS 14 - Apple is a list of those that can.


iPadOS is compatible with these devices.


iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)

iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation)

iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation)

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)

iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation)

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation)

iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation)

iPad Pro 10.5-inch

iPad Pro 9.7-inch

iPad (8th generation)

iPad (7th generation)

iPad (6th generation)

iPad (5th generation)

iPad mini (5th generation)

iPad mini 4

iPad Air (4th generation)

iPad Air (3rd generation)

iPad Air 2

Jun 20, 2021 6:13 PM in response to 2205betty

Your iPad year and model may not be able to upgrade/update beyond any version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.4.

The 2013 iPad Air 1, iPad Mini 2 and 2014 iPad Mini 3 cannot upgrade beyond any version of iOS 12.


Sorry.


These iPad models have overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of iPadOS.

These iPad models will soon be 7 and 8-years old, in 2021.


Sorry.


There is one last thing you can try/attempt, if you need older versions of apps.

If you own another much newer iOS device that can run iOS/iPadOS 13 and later, you can install the most recent version app/s onto that more recent iOS device.

Then go back to your older iPad, open the iOS App Store, go to the Purchases section of the store app, search for the app/s you wish to try and download to that older iPad and see if an older version of the app is allowed to be downloaded/installed to that older iPad.

These newer iOS/iPadOS devices must use your same Apple ID user account and password.


Failing that OR IF NO joy, then there is nothing more to be done.


It's 2021, now.

If you need/want an iPad with an up to date iPadOS with access to current, updated apps, then you really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted sources, like other Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

There are PLENTY of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.


I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these very old iOS devices.



Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

iPad OS

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