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Obsolete iPad? What now?

I have an older iPad that is on version 9.3.5 (13G36) but won't update any higher (software update = software is up to date). The back says that it's Model A1416 and in settings it says Model MC706LL/A.


Any apps that I try to put on it receive the message: Unable to Purchase: xxx is not compatible with this ipad. They all need 10.0 or higher.


Is there anything I can do to update this iPad to go higher than 9.5? If I'm stuck here, does anyone have suggestions for stuff to do with it other than youtube (on safari since the app can't install). Is there a way to find apps that don't require higher than 9.3.5?


Thanks for your help.

iPad, iOS 9

Posted on Jul 10, 2021 7:21 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Jul 10, 2021 8:43 AM

No.

You don’t.

Upgrading/updating that iPad any farther will never, ever be possible.

That iPad model cannot ever upgrade beyond iOS 9.3.5/9.3.6.

Your iPad is, at least, 9-years old and is too old, now.


Sorry.


Apple ended support for all 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 5 years, ago, in 2016.

Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.

There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!

Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2021.

This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices!


AND, that nearly 5-year old default iOS Safari Web browser is too old, not secure and not safe to use to access the Internet, any longer.

There are virtually NO MORE third party Web browsers left for 8-10 year old iPads!

Available and more popular third party Web browser choices are pretty much GONE, now.

If you must use these old iPad models, here is what is left for still updated Web browsers.


Pickins’ are slim, now!


ALook Web browser ( A fairly new Web browser primarily designed for old iOS device versions, but is still available to newer iOS/iPadOS devices, as well )


Dolphin Web browser

Maxthon Web browser

TOR private browser

TOR + VPN private browser

Turbo VPN private browser


This is pretty much it for iOS 9/10 compatible, up to date, third party Web browsers today.



Simply put, your iPad model is too old and obsolete now.


Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 8-10-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now in 2021!



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

If you own much newer iOS device that can run either iOS 12 and.or iOS/iPadOS 13 and later, you can install the most recent 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 as the older device you ard trying to get an older app for.


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 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 less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older IPads from 2014 and later.


All of these older model iPads CAN run the latest iPadOS versions and the up and coming iPadOS 15.


2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models

2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models

2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2016 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models (1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )


Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has expandable storage.


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!

4 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Jul 10, 2021 8:43 AM in response to RomeoFranchise

No.

You don’t.

Upgrading/updating that iPad any farther will never, ever be possible.

That iPad model cannot ever upgrade beyond iOS 9.3.5/9.3.6.

Your iPad is, at least, 9-years old and is too old, now.


Sorry.


Apple ended support for all 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 5 years, ago, in 2016.

Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.

There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!

Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2021.

This includes apps for both iOS 9 AND iOS 10 devices!


AND, that nearly 5-year old default iOS Safari Web browser is too old, not secure and not safe to use to access the Internet, any longer.

There are virtually NO MORE third party Web browsers left for 8-10 year old iPads!

Available and more popular third party Web browser choices are pretty much GONE, now.

If you must use these old iPad models, here is what is left for still updated Web browsers.


Pickins’ are slim, now!


ALook Web browser ( A fairly new Web browser primarily designed for old iOS device versions, but is still available to newer iOS/iPadOS devices, as well )


Dolphin Web browser

Maxthon Web browser

TOR private browser

TOR + VPN private browser

Turbo VPN private browser


This is pretty much it for iOS 9/10 compatible, up to date, third party Web browsers today.



Simply put, your iPad model is too old and obsolete now.


Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 8-10-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now in 2021!



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

If you own much newer iOS device that can run either iOS 12 and.or iOS/iPadOS 13 and later, you can install the most recent 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 as the older device you ard trying to get an older app for.


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 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 less expensive, newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older IPads from 2014 and later.


All of these older model iPads CAN run the latest iPadOS versions and the up and coming iPadOS 15.


2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models

2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models

2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2016 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models (1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )


Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has expandable storage.


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!

Jul 10, 2021 7:59 AM in response to RomeoFranchise

A1416 is iPad 3rd generation with Wi-Fi, from 2012.


There are no hardware upgrades, only replacement with a newer or new iPad.


Any recent iPad will be vastly more capable.


iOS 14 is current, with iOS 15 in beta.


Pretty much no app will support iOS 9, past the built-in apps.


YouTube can be displayed on the website, though the available and older secure connections from iOS 9 can be rejected at sites requiring moderate network connection security.


Log some feedback with the folks at Apple about that search enhancement, too > https://www.apple.com/feedback/


Donation to a youngster and recycling are among the usual paths.

Obsolete iPad? What now?

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