Can I update ios13 in iPad mini 2

If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.

If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.

A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.

DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free,

We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.

User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.

Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.

So, buyer beware.

If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON

If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.

If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.

You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.

Pass on the device.

If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.

Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.

If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy.

Good Luck to You!

Correct. Update of an iPad mini2 to iPadOS13+ is simply not possible.

The first generation iPad Air, iPad mini2 and mini3 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.4.

Apple ended major update support for these models of iPad in September 2019 - although they since continue to receive “point” security updates - the most recent being released just a few weeks go. These devices cannot be updated to iPadOS 13 (or any later major versions of iPadOS) as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements (CPU and RAM) for newer versions of iOS/iPadOS.

Some App developers have dropped support for iOS versions preceding iOS 13.x for technical reasons (often because APIs or software libraries upon which they rely have been updated in the new version of iPadOS, making their App incompatible with earlier versions). 

Whilst many App titles remain compatible with your iPad, if you want or need to access to Apps requiring the most recent versions of iOS, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model that supports iPadOS14.

Sorry, I appreciate that this may not be what you were hoping to learn.

I hope this information provides helpful clarity as to your available options - and the fundamental limitations of your iPad.

OK....so what are the BEST ways to protect my data. I use it primarily for reading and a few non on-line games. I see no point in tossing a perfectly good iPad just because apple changed it's newer models. Mine works great! I took out the SIM card since I only use the wifi and I turned off location services. What else can I do to protect my data WITHOUT spending hundreds of dollars on a new iPad Mini?

Your older iPad, that is forever stuck on some version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.4, is, currently, NOT affected by any recent security issues.

Currently this security issue does not affect ANY older iPad models still running iOS 12 or earlier.

This security exploit ONLY affects iPad/iPhone models running iOS/iPadOS 13/14.

Apple has been issuing security patches for iOS 12 devices right along and, at times, if needed, for even older devices.

Until Apple is made known of a security issue that affects earlier iOS versions and devices, Apple has no reasons to issue such a security update for its older devices.

Until such an issue is made known to Apple, such a security update would, most likely, be issued by Apple at the appropriate time.

Until then, your year and model iPad running iOS 12 is fine and unaffected by this current security breach.

You can keep using this iPad with little worries.

All of this stated above,

The 2013 iPad Air 1 ( “A” model number A1474/1475/1476 ), iPad Mini 2 ( “ A” model number A1489/1490/1491 ) and the 2014 iPad Mini 3 ( “A” model number A1599/1600/1601 ) cannot upgrade beyond any version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.4.

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 are now 7 and 8-years old, in 2021.

Sorry.

Third party app support, typically, continues for 2-3 years AFTER Apple ends full support of a subset of their devices.

The last major update to iOS 12 was in 2019, with iOS 12.3.

So, it has been nearly two years after, already, and third party app support is already on a downward trend for all iOS 12 supported devices.

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

The immediately above statement is what you really need to worry about.

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.

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

All of these older model iPads below 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, 10.5 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 older iOS devices.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

Thanks!!! I appreciate ALL the information and discussions. I most especially appreciate that the recent security concerns do NOT affect my device. :) I go Apple all the way with devices and was bereft that I might have to let go of this little beauty. I'm 71 years old and can't afford the price of a new one. This one is likely to last longer than me!

I've been an Apple fan since the early 1980s

Your current iPad has ONLY a year left of third party app support, which has been steadily declining and WILL end sometime in 2022.

I gave you plenty of options for older devices that will support iPadOS 15.

Many of these older iPad models can be had for even less than what Apple charges for their current base model iPad.

Apple's newest 2021 iPad 9th gen, WiFi ONLY now comes with a base storage of 64 GBs for $329.00

Older iPad models will sell for less than this and will be up to date with their OS and security updates.

If you can live with that current iPad past 2022, then that, of course, is your decision.

Apps that rely on an outside Internet connection or Internet Website to work, may stop workng anytime after 2022.

It has happened in the past and this will still happen in the future with unsupported devices.

Good Luck to You!

no

iPad Mini 2 - Wikipedia

Current: iOS 12.5.4, released June 14, 2021[1]