You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Will an iPad 2 be upgradable to iOS 8?

I have an iPad first gen that only was upgradable to iOS 5.11. I am thinking about getting a refurbished 2nd Gen. Will that be upgradable to iOS 8 when it comes out this Fall, or should I look for a newer refurb gen like a 3rd or Air?

iPad, iOS 5.1.1

Posted on Jun 3, 2014 7:53 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 3, 2014 7:55 PM

I am thinking about getting a refurbished 2nd Gen. Will that be upgradable to iOS 8 when it comes out this Fall,


Apple said yes.

211 replies

Oct 29, 2014 8:56 AM in response to Star Traveler

You keep saying that others have had their issues with the iPad 2 resolved, I have not seen anywhere where that is happening. Please post links where we can see and read about others success at resolving their issues. As I have previously posted, I went to the Genius Bar and they found no hardware issues, I reset my iPad 2 factory default and did not install any backups and I still have the same problems.

Oct 29, 2014 9:03 AM in response to djladd

There were so many, and continue to be, as we speak right now ... that I stopped trying to copy them down ... but ... I do have some initial ones. And from those initial ones (who have presented a variety of problems, which may or may not be related to you or another user) ... the reports have continued saying they are doing good right now.


Here are ones that I copied at the beginning, until the reports of success just got overwhelming ... :-) ...


iPad 2 has major problems with iOS 8 [solved]

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6586844


I am not able to download App updates nor iTunes on my iPad 2 [solved]

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/6590416

Oct 29, 2014 4:16 PM in response to Star Traveler

Star Traveler wrote:


jowik wrote:


The fact that every iPad 2 out there that has updated to iOS 8 have all experienced this problem ...


Well, that's a statement from ignorance ... :-) ... because there have been many iPad 2 owners who have said their iPad 2 is working fine after the update. And then there are others, who have had initial problems, and have had no problems after they reset theirs to factory default and did a clean system install with their iTunes program. At the worst, this is an outright lie, and at the best, it's indicative of ignorance of what the other iPad 2 users have said.


... this problem is indicative of one thing: profitable obsoletion.


Your statement here is ... indicative of one thing ... an imagination that doesn't match reality ... :-) ...


My point still stands. The product iPad 2 has a notable track record of not performing after updating to iOS 8, observable from the volume of comments on the topic, which does not include those who have the same problem and do not comment here or visit the store. Whether or not factory resets fix the problem is not the point. The issue is the software update either by design or incompetence on Apple's part causes noticeable performance problems, enough that some people will rather buy a new one than jump through the hoops to fix it themselves.


As for profitable obsolescence, look it up, it's a practice that has been common since the automobile industry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence.

Oct 30, 2014 6:37 AM in response to Star Traveler

I disagree. I do not believe in any way shape or form should apple have even suggested that the Ipad 2 be on the list let alone have the download for the upgrade so readily available that users would think that it would be "ok". I know so many musicians that have dodged this but there are many that did not. And as far as taking away the possibility for users to run back to 7.1.2 so they can at least use their apps it is a poor misrepresentation. Granted that this could be labeled as a unfortunate mistake but even if that is the case then users should be allowed to roll back to the earlier ios so they can have what they paid for. I am new to Apple and I was impressed in how many things were working so well.....now I am simply in a holding pattern till I see further in how they deal with this.

Nov 1, 2014 12:23 AM in response to rbnflowers

rbnflowers wrote:


I know why, because like me, you trusted Apple. I'm and long time Apple/Mac user and Apple had earned my trust. With this OS upgrade, Apple has lost my trust and probably will lose me as a customer. Since encountering problems after the latest iOS upgrade, I have learned that I am not alone. Buy a new device? Yes. From Apple? No.

Spot on !

Nov 4, 2014 2:33 AM in response to djladd

Hi guys

This is my first post on the apple site. Yep I'm new to this. However my experience with ios 7 to ios 8 and then ios 8.1 was also

a rocky one. At first I updated in increments as usual when the settings icon displayed the red dot indicating the update was available.

I first noticed issues when trying to sync my home videos to the ipad 2. So I then did a complete restore which took about three hours.

Once completed all seemed good. Again this was to level 8.1. I then began to sync back my movies and songs. Here is where I then ran

into further issues. I would tap the music icon and select a song or album. I noticed that the song title scrolling very fast and the song failed

to play. After again being very annoyed I tried this. Goto settings then scroll to the bottom and tap reset then select "Erase all content and settings".

This obviously cleared all previously synced media. But this has rendered great results. I have had very good results with this. I will agree my ipad2

has suffered in performance with a lock up here and there but If I was patient it did pull out of it. The music is now playing a ok. The ipad works

better than before caching up Youtube videos faster than ios7 and the same but playing on my Apple TV which has also done a firmware update. So in closing yes I m happy I updated but I'm once bit twice shy and haven't gone for ios 8.2 as yet. These devices are awesome but I do agree with other

people who have had issues. Apple could have definitely done this one better. I cant see Steve Jobs being very impressed about these issues.

Nov 15, 2014 6:45 AM in response to pphelps2006

My problems related IPAD 2, IOS 8.1 are now solved. No more issues whit jammed screens, slow responses, extremely slow WLAN, battery performance. All those come after I updated from brilliant IOS 6 to to 8.1. 8.0 was under any evaluation which was made better at 8.1 but like I said no problems anymore.


As experience was what it was I jumped out from IOS / IPAD world and I'm now happy customer other platforms where I don't believe that any manufacturer keeps customers as stupid than apple does. Thanks apple it was wonderful ride but now it's over and I may come back when you understand value of customer once again.

Nov 15, 2014 7:03 AM in response to szetek

szetek wrote:


Granted that this could be labeled as a unfortunate mistake but even if that is the case then users should be allowed to roll back to the earlier ios so they can have what they paid for.


Apple moving to iOS 8 is not a mistake, but what Apple has done from the time of the beginning iOS and iPhone (now iPads) 7 years ago, to now. Apple has NEVER gone backwards in their iOS upgrades and they never will. Look forward and not backward.

Nov 15, 2014 7:12 AM in response to datsun240k

datsun240k wrote:


After again being very annoyed I tried this. Goto settings then scroll to the bottom and tap reset then select "Erase all content and settings".

This obviously cleared all previously synced media. But this has rendered great results. I have had very good results with this.


Although this his has given you good results, it doesn't give you a "clean system install". That's what you get when you reset your iPad to its factory default state. What you did was to LEAVE your OLD SYSTEM IN PLACE and just erase the user data. What you can find though, is that the system you currently have is corrupted with bad files and garbage in the system folder, which can be the source to the problems. Cleaning it out by doing a reset to factory default condition is what gives you the clean starting point again, just like when you got it brand new!


Here are some Apple Support documents on backups so you know what is saved and what is NOT SAVED. Then, the last link is for resetting your iPad to factory default condition, using your iTunes program on your desktop computer. Be sure to turn off your anti-virus software during this procedure.


Choosing an iOS Backup Method (Should I Use iTunes or iCloud to back up ...)

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT5262


Back up and Restore your iOS Device with iCloud or iTunes

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766


iTunes: About iOS Backups

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946


Create and Delete iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch Backups in iTunes

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946


iOS: Troubleshooting Encrypted Backups

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5162


Use iTunes to Restore your iOS Device to Factory Settings

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414

Nov 15, 2014 7:16 AM in response to Star Traveler

Another 'cool aid' merchant - of course Apple have made a mistake.


they have walked away from millions of their Customers who made them who they are today by not acknowledging that this latest upgrade has destroyed millions of IPad 2.


Trust me , any Customer that has an arrogant disregard for Customers as this WILL NOT SURVIVE - WATCH OUT...They are failing


Too late with large screen cell phone

****** off millions of loyal customers and not acknowledged IOS 801.2 does not work

Got the launch completely wrong - The phone did not work

Etc

Etc


Oh Steve , you must be turning in your grave!


I'm off to Samsung...I'll slam the door on my way out AND SEE YOU LATER.

Nov 15, 2014 7:22 AM in response to jowik

jowik wrote:


The product iPad 2 has a notable track record of not performing after updating to iOS 8, observable from the volume of comments on the topic, which does not include those who have the same problem and do not comment here or visit the store.


I've kept up on the tech news reports on iOS 8 and there is no such track record evident from any segment of iOS devices. What you see here is a very tiny segment of the installed user base, barely registering as a "blip" on the radar. It's like walking into a hospital and after seeing rooms filled with sick people, and then saying, "OMG! The entire country is sick! It's an epidemic!" ... LOL ...


While there are a few here with problems, there are also those who have fixed their problems, and others who are here who have never had any problems to begin with. What we do here is like what is done at a hospital, we "attend to the sick" ... we don't wring our hands and say, "Everyone is sick!" from the few who are in the hospital ... :-) ...

Will an iPad 2 be upgradable to iOS 8?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.