Any way to escape from the ‘Update’ apps that you can’t actually update because your iOS is too old?

There's something strange there.

The App Store itself will never suggest an update for an App if the device cannot actually get that update because it requires a different iOS version. than the one it's currently running.

The Apps themselves may prompt you to update to a newer version upon opening if the version installed is no longer supported by its developer and a newer version is now required. That has nothing to do with the App Store however. Its the App being set as supersede by its developer and requiring the update. If you cannot get the update from the App Store, then that particular app is no longer usable. You would need to delete it and find a replacement that still runs on the iOS version your iPad is running.

Phil0124 wrote:

There's something strange there.

The App Store itself will never suggest an update for an App if the device cannot actually get that update because it requires a different iOS version. than the one it's currently running.

The Apps themselves may prompt you to update to a newer version upon opening if the version installed is no longer supported by its developer and a newer version is now required. That has nothing to do with the App Store however. Its the App being set as supersede by its developer and requiring the update. If you cannot get the update from the App Store, then that particular app is no longer usable. You would need to delete it and find a replacement that still runs on the iOS version your iPad is running.

Indeed, this behaviour is strange - but it does happen.

For example, if Microsoft Teams is installed on an iPad Air1 or mini2, the Apple Store will continuously prompt to update to the current version of the MS Teams App. When the update is attempted, this is what you’ll see:

The last “compatible version” is already installed. This loop will continue for as long as MS Teams remains installed on the iPad.

This is just one example of this strange behaviour.

NB: In this example, the iPad mini2 is running the most recent supported version of iOS - iOS 12.5.5.

Thanks Lotus. Yes that is odd. Thew App Store should not be offering that update at all if it can't be run on the current device.

That is very strange.

@Elixir101, if you can still use the app, then yes, you can continue to use it. The App Store should not be suggesting an update that cannot be installed unless there is something wrong with the versioning there.

Might need to contact the developer of the App and let them know this is happening.