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hope you all doing well, in my iPad Air just today I have updated iOS 12.5.7 and its says your software is up to date, when some particular software when I going to download its saying that software will support only iOS 15 or later one, so question is why I can’t update iOS latest version? It’s because my iPad it’s too old? I am using iPad Air 2013 model.. please advice me
iPhone 5s, iOS 12
With iOS 12.5.7 installed, you have one of three iPad models - these being a first generation iPad Air, iPad mini2 or mini3. All of these models can only be updated to iOS 12.5.7.
Apple ended major update support for these models of iPad in September 2019 - although they continue to receive occasional “point” security updates, the most recent being released January 2023. 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 capabilities and available 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 iPadOS16.
Whether or not you are able to update any iPad to a newer version of iOS/iPadOS will be dictated by the iPad model - and the currently installed version of iOS. You can find this information here:
Settings > General > About
Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.
For information, here is a list of the highest version of iOS supported by the older models of iPad (for simplicity - “generations” are shortened to a number) that are restricted in their ability to be updated:
32-bit devices (obsolete)
iPad1 - iOS 5.1.1
iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 - iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models), iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular)
iPad4 - iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only), iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular)
64-bit devices
iPad Air1, iPad mini2 and iPad mini3 - iOS 12.5.7
iPad Air2, iPad mini4 - iPadOS 15.7.3
Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version, iPadOS 16.3
You hit the nail on the head. The iPad is too old to support any higher OS. It probably doesn't have the hardware to do it.
That unit doesn't have enough RAM for 13 or above. It's not upgradable.
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Software update
