Is is possible to get a Netflix app for 1st generation iPad, IOS 5.1.1.?

It is possible, a bit of a hassle, but possible. First, you'll need to download the Netflix app through iTunes on your computer, this will make it show up as "purchased" in your library. After that, open up the App Store on your iPad 1 and go to the 'purchased' tab. When you try to install it this way it will tell you that you need iOS 6 or higher, but will also ask if you would like to download an older version of the app.

I searched many sites and contacted netflix, and almost gave up. This worked flawlessly. (I did however have to upgrade my first gen ipad to iOS 5.1 prior to loading netflix). Other sites and blogs said it wasn't possible. Thanks!!

I cannot get Netflix to install on my first gen iPad either. I download it in iTunes, but it never shows up as purchased on the iPad. Perhaps one of a number of factors is interfering with this process, so let me check:

1. Does it matter what version of OS X/iTunes I'm running (I have OS X 10.7.5 and iTunes 11.1.4)?

2. The iPad used to be associated with my Dad's apple ID. While I thought I'd extinguished the account, it sometimes still asks for my dad's account password. Could this interfere?

3. I have an iPhone running the newest iOS on which I have the iPhone version of the newest Netflix app. Could that be interfering with the iPad install?

Here are some screen caps I've taken along the way:

Of course, my first attempt to install via App Store on iPad:

Second attempt to install with iTunes:

Here's what it shows for the iPad in iTunes:

Here's proof it's downloaded:

And here's what I see in the Purchased tab in the App Store on the first gen iPad. Note, Netflix is not there, nor are any of the 35 other apps I tried to install from iTunes. A handful of other apps successfully installed that way, but Netflix and Dropbox are the ones I want the most.

If anyone has some suggestions as to how to work around this issue, I'd appreciate the feedback.

Thanks,

Rob

If you have an iPad 1, the max iOS is 5.1.1. For newer iPads, the current iOS is 6.1.3. The Settings>General>Software Update only appears if you have iOS 5.0 or higher currently installed.

(source: MuaChung)

I've tried this method and I'm still getting the prompt that I need to be on 6.0. I'm clicking on the Netflix icon and it takes me to version 5.0.2 updated Oct 28, 2013. I click on FREE, then Install App, then I get the 6.0 prompt and I don't see anything in the purchased tab. Am I doing something wrong here? Thanks.

I've tried replicating your recommendation however I just can't seem to get it to work. Could someone provide step-by-step process on how to do this?

What I was:

1) Opened up iTunes on my desktop.

2) Went to Store (left hand column)->iTunes Store.

3) Searched for Netflix; downloaded the app.

4) I see it available on Library->Apps as well as Devices->NameOfiPad->Apps

5) Within Devices->NameOfiPad->Apps, I selected "Install" by Netflix.

6) Clicked Apply.

7) Prompted me if I wanted to sync with another iTunes library in which case I hit the Cancel button.

8) Then it started to sync. Waiting for changes to be applied.

9) Finally, I got a dialog box that said "The app Netflix was not installed on the iPad NameOfiPad because it requires it requires a newer version of iPad software.

Double checked my iPad and it wasn't installed. Just wondering what I'm doing wrong. I have the latest version of iTunes (11.1.3) and I'm trying to get this installed on the iPad first generation. Thanks for any help!

What you need to do is:

1) Opened up iTunes on my desktop.

2) Went to Store (left hand column)->iTunes Store.

3) Searched for Netflix; downloaded the app.

4) Open App Store on your IPad.

5) Click on Purchased, you will have to install NetFlix by clicking on it as usual.

App Store will ask you:"Download an older version of this app. The current version requires iOS 6.0 or later, but you can download the last compatible version.", just click on Download and that's it.

You can install any app like that.

Hope it helped.

Thank you for you response. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get it to work. Maybe it's just because I tried installing it previously. When I open App Store on my iPad, click on Purchased, then clicking on Netflix, it brings up the page like you would normally see it after searching for it. The "install" button is quickly disabled, I only assume because of the version of IOS I have as it stats it doesn't support 5.1. Any other suggestions? Oh, I also disabled iCloud thinking it kept trying to install that version. Thanks again.

I am in the same boat as you. Trying to get Netflix reinstalled on an iPad one. It was there and the iPad is mostly used by our three year old but somehow she deleted it. I tried to reinstall by following the directions posted above but the app is stuck in the installing phase. It's been installing for almost an hour and gave no option to install a previous version.

*sigh*

So, after I typedmy previous response I got Netflix to install!

After the app indicated it was installing for an hour or so it quit.

I returned to the purchased app section and clicked to install and then i was asked if I wanted to install an older version.

Be persistent, eventually it will work!

I too am trying to download Netflix for my ipad 1st gen and I did what the advice said and downloaded the Netflix App in Itunes on my laptop, but it does not come in as "purchased"

It shows it in the app store but not in "purchased" therefore I cannot retrieve it in iTunes on my iPad to download like the instructions said.

If anyone has a suggestion, I would greatly appreciate it. Netflix is no help at all. I ended up having to expleain what iTunes is to the tech!

Thank you

Hey, I finally got something to work!! I went to my desktop computer, opened my itunes account and downloaded the netflix app there. When that was finished, I was able go back to my ipad and it now offered me the option of downloading the older version of the ap compatible with the 1st gen ipad. It did not offer that option until I had downloaded the app to my desktop first. I've wasted the entire day on the phone with tech support from apple and netflix telling me there was no way to get this older version downloaded, and here it is!

Joan

Hi Joan,

I did the same thing but when I was trying to upload it from my laptop to the iPad a message came up that said I needed the newest version of the iPad software in order for it to work. I then dumped the app and tried again a couple of times. Am I missing a step? I did exactly what the previous comments said.

Did yours show up in "purchased" because mine would not show up there.

Thank you,

K

Mine showed up as purchased on my desktop computer, but not on my ipad.
It told me to download the most recent version on netflx when i opened it the first time, but it did allow me to use it with the older one when i did not upgrade.

Joan