My new iPad Air 2 came with iOS 14.8.1. It was already open (no set up invitation). I've started trying to download from my old iPad backed up to iCloud, but I can't figure out how to get there - AND my old iPad (which is frozen and won't respond) was running iOS 17.5.1. Does this mean I cannot do an import/transfer to the new one? Should I do an iOS upgrade first? I am WAY out of my league on this one. thank you
iPad Air 2, 14
You can only transfer or restore data to a target device that has the same or later version of iPadOS as the source. As such, unless the target device is first updated to a compatible version, you'll not be able to restore an existing backup.
Be aware that an iPad Air2 is capable of update to iPadOS 15.8.x; the Air2 fundamentally does not support iPadOS16 or later.
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 15.8.3
iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" first generation) - iPadOS 16.7.10
(*) obsolete
Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 17.6.1
The iPad AIr 2 isn't capable of 16 or above; therefore, you won't be able to restore a backup made from any of those versions to it.
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iPad Air 2 reset
