why can’t i use pages on my older ipad air2

The version of Pages available in the App Store requires iPadOS 16 or later. The iPad Air 2, released by Apple nine years ago, cannot use an iPadOS version greater than 15.

So either you use an older version of Pages that was retained on your iPad or you’re out of luck on this device.

Well, we’ve already discussed the fact that your iPad has issues because of its age.

But you mentioned an iPhone for the first time without providing any information about its model, iOS version, or the Pages version involved. So we know nothing about any age issues that may apply here.

You said your documents are “backed up” to iCloud, but Pages does not access an iCloud backup. We don’t know where your documents are stored, nor do we know the method you might be trying to access them (Wi-Fi, cellular data, Hotspot).

Your iOS version, although now seven or eight versions behind the current version, is still recent enough to use the current Pages version. (Settings > Pages > Version should reveal that is 13.2.)

We still don’t know your access method. If it’s Wi-Fi, be certain it has no anti-virus, no VPN, and is not a Hotspot. If all these conditions are true, try a different Wi-Fi network.

Try Wi-Fi. If you don’t have it easily available, use it at a coffee shop, library, Apple Store …

Njm0627 wrote:

thanks but how can i get an earlier version of pages?

That is not possible.

Excellent!

Enjoy your Apple gear.