Unable to download apps on iOS 9.3.6 iPad: How to update software?

The iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 can only be updated to iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models) or iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular models). You will have one of these three models of iPad.

Apple ended update support for these models in September 2016. These models of iPad cannot be updated to iOS 10 or later major versions of iOS, as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for newer versions of iOS/iPadOS. This limitation cannot be bypassed; these are 32-bit architecture devices, whilst all recent versions of iOS/iPadOS are designed for 64-bit hardware platforms. iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 are obsolete.

You need to understand that compatible Apps for these older models of iPad are no longer available - as App Developers have dropped all support for 32-bit devices. As older versions of Apps are removed from the Apple App Store, you’ll not be able to (re)download or install them - which may severely limit the usefulness and utility of your iPad. As such, if you want or need to access most current Apps, requiring more recent versions of iOS than your iPad is capable, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current 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 15.8.4

iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" 1st generation)* - iPadOS 16.7.11

iPad6, iPad Pro (10.5"/12.9" 2nd generation) - iPadOS 17.7.6

(*) obsolete

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 18.4.1

• iPad Pro 13" (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later + M4)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later + M2/M3)
• iPad (7th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later + A17 Pro)

What model / generation of iPad is it exactly?

click here ➜ Identify your iPad model - Apple Support

If it's actually running iOS 9.3.6 , then it's a pretty old iPad model, iPad 2 (2011) or iPad 3 (2012) and it would be unable to update to anything newer, as such, it would be unable to download apps at this point as most would require a newer iOS version.

Those models are very much obsolete at this point.

I'm sorry to say, you are very limited in what software can be downloaded to your device. If that is the current iOS version on your device, then you probably can't update the OS any further and you are limited in options.

I have an iPod Touch v5 which maxxed out at iOS 9.3. You might be able to find an app that will run on it, but they're few and far between. There are two apps that I was able to download in 2024 that would run on it - an alarm that plays through headphones (as an alarm clock) and an app that lets me use it as a security camera. You might be able to find a game or two that are compatible, but that is about it.