User profile for user: Bob Weaver
Bob Weaver Author
User level: Level 2
195 points

Question about connecting MacBook Air to iPad.

I have a MacBook Air M1 (2020) which currently has Mac OS Sequoia 15.7.3. I feel that I am not ready to upgrade to MacOS Tahoe 26.2 yet.


I also have an iPad A16, which has iOS 26.2.1. I am trying to connect this iPad to my MacBook with a USB-C cable.


When I connect them with the cable, my MacBook gives me the message, "A software update is required to connect to iPad." It won't connect the two devices unless I download and install that update on my MacBook. It doesn't specify exactly what the update is.


My question is: if I do that update, will it upgrade my MacBook to MacOS Tahoe 26.2?


Or will it be just a patch to Mac OS Sequoia 15.7.3, to make it compatible with the iPad?


Thank you for your help.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.7

Posted on Feb 1, 2026 1:50 PM

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User profile for user: Bob Weaver
Bob Weaver Author
User level: Level 2
195 points

Posted on Feb 3, 2026 9:47 AM

Hello. I'm not sure what version of MacOS you will be able to upgrade to. But I can tell you that yesterday, I did the update that Apple wanted, to make the iPad connect properly. I plugged in the iPad to the MacBook, and the message "A software update is required..." came up, so I went ahead and did that update.


What I ended up with is still the same MacOS Sequoia 15.7.3, no change in that, just updated so that the iPad will connect. It did not upgrade me to Tahoe.


So for your iMac, if you get the same message "A software update is required...", I believe you can do that and end up with the same version of MacOS that you currently have, just patched so that the iPad will connect. At least that's how it worked for me.

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User profile for user: Bob Weaver
Bob Weaver Author
User level: Level 2
195 points

Feb 3, 2026 9:47 AM in response to SimonGM

Hello. I'm not sure what version of MacOS you will be able to upgrade to. But I can tell you that yesterday, I did the update that Apple wanted, to make the iPad connect properly. I plugged in the iPad to the MacBook, and the message "A software update is required..." came up, so I went ahead and did that update.


What I ended up with is still the same MacOS Sequoia 15.7.3, no change in that, just updated so that the iPad will connect. It did not upgrade me to Tahoe.


So for your iMac, if you get the same message "A software update is required...", I believe you can do that and end up with the same version of MacOS that you currently have, just patched so that the iPad will connect. At least that's how it worked for me.

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Question about connecting MacBook Air to iPad.

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