How To Update to IOS 12, not IOS 14

No workarounds,,whatsoever.

Your ONLY option, at this point, is to upgrade to the very latest iPadOS 14 version or, VERY soon, iPadOS 15.

Your current iPad is waaaay behind in iOS/iPadOS upgrades/updates.

If you have access to a full computer, like a Mac or Windows PC, try either using the Finder on a Mac that has the newest macOS Catalina installed OR with an older Mac with an older Mac OS, download and install the latest iTunes version ( or latest iTunes for Windows PC ), make sure the Mac or Windows PC is connected to the Internet, connect your iPad by the USB charge cable to the computer and let the iTunes application upgrade/update that iPad model, using the iTunes Software Update feature, to its current, maximum OS of iPadOS 14.7.1

Make sure your iPad is, at least, charged to 50% or greater to attempt this.

Also, make sure to do a backup of your iPad's data, prior to upgrading/updating.

Backup to Apple iCloud and/or a full Mac or Windows PC using the same iTunes app OR, if a newer Mac running macOS Catalina, or later, making a backup using the macOS Finder app.

If NO access to a Mac or Windows computer, you will have to seek help from a good friend or family member to help you out

OR

Search online to locate and call contact your nearest, “local” Apple Store location to try/attempt to make an appointment to get your Apple iPad upgraded/updated to its latest iPadOS 14.6.

Apple Store employees will be glad to help/assist you.

Best of Luck to You!

That, of course, is your decision.

You need to know and realise that third party app support, for iOS 11 and 12 is going to be permanently going away.

Look for many more third party apps dropping support for all iOS 12 supported devices as another year progresses.

It has already been hapennng and will continue to happen and eventually, NO MORE APPS for iOS 11/12.

Also, my opinion, for what that is worth to you, I felt iOS 11 AND 12 were complete garbage and DID NOT upgrade my own 2015 iPad Pro model until iPadOS 14

I waited it out for 4 full OS versions and an ever dwindling support for older apps on my, then, 5-year old iPad Pro where I, finally and inevitably, decided to upgrade my iPad Pro to iPadOS 14.

The longer you resist and wait to upgrade that iPad the more third party apps will end their support for that iOS version and, in some cases, stop completely working.

Not sure why you do not wish to upgrade your iPad and increase its functionality and uselfullness, but that is your concern and decision.

Good Luck to You!

iOS/iPadOS upgrades/updates are ONE WAY ONLY! Up.

Once you do an iOS/iPadOS upgrades/update, there is NO going back!

There have never been any way to simply install a new iOS version and if you didn't like it, simply go back to a previous version.

Apple has NO provisions NOR procedures for downgrading/reverting backwards to a previous iOS/iPadOS version.

iOS/iPadOS devices do not work like a Mac/MacOS or Windows PC.

If you are so worried that you may not like iPadOS 14, there are PLENTY of YouTube videos online that have video overviews and tutorials that show you exactly how both iPadOS 14 AND 15 work.

Since you waited this long, you may as well wait for iPadOS 15, which maybe released sometime this September 2021.

No, except for buying an unit incapable of 13 or above. Apple doesn't allow updating to intermediate iOS versions.

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freemyheart wrote:

And resetting to original manufacturer's settings won't work either?

No.