Available iPad updates not showing on MacBook Air being used to update it

iPadOS 17.7.3 and 18.2 are now current having superseded 17.7.2/18.1.1 on Wednesday 11th December.

However, be aware that iPadOS 17.7.3 is not available for devices capable of running iPadOS 18.2. All available updates are digitally signed, and can only be installed on devices for which the digital signature is valid. Any earlier versions of iPadOS will no longer be usable with your iPad8; if already downloaded, the update package will fail to verify and will not install.

In summary, the only update now available for your iPad8 is iPadOS 18.2.

Regrettably, you are always going to struggle with an iPad that has so little internal storage. The 32/64GB devices are primarily intended for use in Educational settings, or in environments where the ability to store local data on the device is not required.

It is generally recommended that you maintain at least 4-6GB of free space at all times - as your iPad needs some temporary space to complete many tasks. When performing system software updates, you may temporarily require more...

A system software update requires sufficient space to be downloaded, unpacked and verified prior to installation - major version updates (such as updating from iPadOS 17.x to iPadOS 18) requiring considerably more space than an incremental point-update. After the update is successfully completed, temporary files are automatically deleted - returning free space.

If your internal storage is full, or is insufficient for the task that you need to perform, your only option is to better manage the storage that you have - and delete unused Apps or unneeded data. 

These support pages should prove to be helpful:

About storage on your device and in iCloud – Apple Support

What's the difference between device storage and iCloud storage? – Apple Support

Manage your iCloud storage – Apple Support

How to check the storage on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – Apple Support

Clear Other storage on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

“Offloading” Apps can be a helpful method of creating temporary space for a software update:

https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/21/how-to-offload-apps-in-ios-to-save-space-without-deleting-their-data/

Additional information about creating sufficient space for installation of a software update can be found here:

If you need more space for an update on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

External storage options can often help with managing limited internal storage. Depending upon your iPad model, the iPad will either have a Lightning or USB-C port - and may therefore require either an Adapter or USB hub to connect the USB Storage device. If your iPad has a Lightning port, you’ll need an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter:

• Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter

https://store.apple.com/uk/xc/product/MK0W2ZM/A

Using a Mac computer or Windows PC can help with system software updates - as the update package is initially downloaded to the computer, unpacked and verified by the computer, prior to the computer installing the updated system software on the target device.

As is, perhaps a workable remedy is to ensure that you have either an iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPad - and then completely erase the iPad. With no user-data present, you should be able to update the iPad; once updated, you can restore your backup to the iPad.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Erase all content and settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Erase All Content & Settings

After the reset, set-up the iPad with your AppleID - but do not restore the backup. Perform the system software update using whichever method works for you.

Finally, restore the backup to your iPad:

Restore all content to iPad from a backup - Apple Support

I've been having the same issue on my iPad 7th gen 32gb for the last few updates I've done. Previously I was able to somehow get enough space freed up by deleting text pics/vids in Messages. This time, just not enough. I disabled iCloud photos and told it to remove all photos from the iPad(was set to Optimize space already). This did not work, at least it hadn't yet. I'm an impatient person. I ended up putting the iPad in DFU mode and doing a restore. Now my Mac is downloading 18.2... Hate doing it this way really, but only thing I use this for is watching TV and Netflix etc. and for sheet music at church singing. It's restoring now. I'll restore the backup once it's running. Hopefully it will finish fine. I haven't done this on an I device since my ip6s+..lol.

Update: iCloud restore went fine.. All good now. Have about 14.5gb free. Seems to be working fine. Sucks I had to update it that way, but oh well. Just make sure you have a good iCloud backup or other means if you decide to update/restore it this way.

I have got exactly the same issue -

Ipad(Gen8) 32GB connected to MacBook Air M3.

I only have 16GB free on IPad so connected to MacBook Air to update .

In Finder on the MacBook Air select the connected IPad .

It shows IPadOS 17.7.2 as the current software

it states underneath

“Your IPad software is up to date”

Pressing the Check for Update tab

You can see the connecting to server progress bar then it completes

and pops up a window stating -

“This version of the IPad Software (17.7.2) is the current version”

I know the current version is now 18.2 as I have a message on the IPad.

How can we update the IPad to the latest software whilst connected to a MacBook Air ?

I have 16.5 GB free on the IPad(8) but this is not enough for a major upgrade from 17 to 18 .

The OS 18.1 install App is successful downloaded but there is not enough space to install - It runs out of space.

So connected IPad to my MacBook Air(M3)

In Finder on the MacBook Air select the connected IPad .

It shows IPadOS 17.7.2 as the current software .

There is not option to update the IPad to 18.1 18.2 etc

So why does the latest IPad OS update not show up in Finder on the MacBook Air when showing on the IPad ?

Is there anyway to force the IPad update whilst it is connected to MacBook ?