Update iPad 2 to iOS 10

No.

The iPad 2, 3 and 1st generation iPad Mini are all ineligible and excluded from upgrading to iOS 10 AND iOS 11.

They all share similar hardware architectures and a less powerful 1.0 Ghz CPU that Apple has deemed insufficiently powerful enough to even run the basic, barebones features of iOS 10 OR iOS 11!

Why would you want to upgrade, anyways?

Since iOS 8, older iPad models such as the iPad 2, 3 and 4 have only been getting the most basic of iOS features.

Older iPad users get none of the newest and coolest cutting edge features that newer model iDevices, with better hardware specs, can handle with more aplomb.

Plus, the iPad 2 and 3 are the only two supported models left that use the much outdated 30 pin dock connector.

The same iPad 2 users who whined and moaned and groaned that both iOS 8 and 9 slowed down the performance of their iPad 2 models would come back, once again, in angry droves, with even more complaints of slowdowns under iOS 10 or iOS 11.

FYI,

Just because your iPad 2 is no longer able to upgrade to the latest iOS doesn't mean your iPad 2 is suddenly useless.

Your iPad 2 will work as it always has and the apps you have installed on it will continue to update and receive some level of app updates relevant to your current iOS.

You have had four years of iOS upgrades and updates.

Your iPad 2 will still do everything it does now and you will, get, at least, another full year, perhaps two, if you decide you want to wait longer to get a new or newer iPad model.

Your iPad 2 is NOT, suddenly, becoming obsolete or useless.

So, your options are really keep using your iPad 2 or purchase a new iPad if you feel you need or want to.

Your current iPad 2 will still work and continue to receive app updates for some time, when, with the current versions of iOS 11, ALL support for older 32 bit iDevices and any iOS 32 bit apps will come to a final end.

Your iPad 2 will still work and function as it always has, but will no longer receive any more app updates some time in the foreseeable future.

The final app updates your iPad 2 will end up receiving will be their last!

Your iPad 2 should STILL be receiving app updates, currently, but look for this to end sometime soon.

This is why Apple introduced the new, lower cost 2017 iPad 5 model, in April

Apple is trying to get older iPad 2, 3, 4 and 1st gen Mini iPad users to upgrade to more modern iPad hardware in anticipation of the recent releases of iOS 11, which WILL render all older 32 bit iDevices obsolete, in time.

So, the decisions are really up to you!

If you decide to stick with your older iPad until it is no longer getting any app updates, I would STOP using that 2-2-1/2 year old Safari web browser, as it is, probably, not safe and secure to use any longer, and seek out a third party web browser that is STILL currently being updated and STILL being supported on iOS 9.3.5.

Here are a few third party web browsers that I know are STILL being updated and supported on iOS 9.

Perfect Web browser

iCab Mobile Web browser

Dolphin Web browser

Aloha Web browser

Maven Web browser

Maxthon Web browser

Opera Web Browser

Good Luck to You!

Your statement is incorrect.

Apple doesn't decide anything for you.

Time and advancements in electronics/computer hardware/software push older technology out over time.

The iPad 2, depending on the data storage size model can be, at least 5 years old and possibly be up to 7 years old.

And compared to even 3-4 year old iPad models, the hardware is really limited in an iPad 2.

An iPad 2 has a clocked down 1.0 Ghz CPU (clocked down to 800 Mhz ) and a paltry 512 MBs ( NOT GBs ) of internal RAM, in a day and age where CPUs are a full 1.0 Ghz or much faster and, at least 1 GB of internal RAM and the majority of iPad models over the last 4 years have 2 GBs of internal RAM.

There were many iPad 2 users whose iPad 2 models were seriously slowed down by iOS 9.

It didn't happen to every iPad 2 model and user, but the iOS 9 slow down was pretty random across all iPad 2 model users. and it was pretty severe for many iPad 2 owners who were very angry and very vocal about it!

My iPad 2 is running OK under iOS 9.3.5, but it slowed somewhat, but not as much as other iPad 2 models had.

The limiting factor of my iPad 2 to do many things simultaneously, is really the lack of enough internal RAM, more than a slower CPU.

iOS 10 and newer wouid have crippled these problem iPad 2 models even further to the point of no longer being usable, at all, and lots of unhappy and angry iPad 2 users would have returned here to rant and complain with no solutions, any longer, to make these iPad 2 and 3 models run any faster under iOS 10 and later.

If you want to try and speed up your iPad 2 somewhat, tap and take a look at my iPad optimisation tips link below.

Slow iPad on iOS 9, 10 or 11!

Also, I would STOP using that 2-2-1/2 year old Safari web browser, as it is, very probably, not safe and secure to use any longer, and seek out a third party web browser that is STILL currently being updated and STILL being supported on iOS 9.3.5.

Here are a few third party web browsers that I know are STILL being updated and supported on iOS 9 and earlier.

Perfect Web browser

iCab Mobile Web browser

Dolphin Web browser

Aloha Web browser

Maxthon Web browser

Opera Web Browser

Perfect Web Browser JUST had a very recent update to iOS 11, but the older last version update is still available here and had its last older iOS update this past April 2018.

Perfect® Browser+ (Legacy) by AppSimply

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/perfect-browser-legacy/id373916467?mt=8

You could look for “newer“ used iPad models, but think these would still command, at least, a couple of hundred dollars. And you have to be careful not to purchase a used iDevice that has Activation/iCloud lock.

An iPad 4th gen can run iOS 10. The 1st gen iPad Air can run the latest version of iOS.

The technology in an iPad 2 is 7 years old, no matter when that iPad 2 was purchased.

This is my reply to you in a nutshell.

You can keep using a 7-year old iPad 2 and it will continue to work, just not a very ideal or optimum or productive user experience.

So, far older iPad users have been lucky as currently, many app developers are still supporting older iDevicss running older iOS versions, but that support time is quickly winding down.

Good Luck to You!

You can give Apple feedback at Feedback - iPad - Apple , but they cannot wave a magic wand and make old hardware support newer more demanding operating system and software. As said the Apple online store can be accessed directly in a browser from the iPad if required.

But the iPad 2 is now almost 7 years old. It's not surprising at that age its stops having access to everything in the App store.

When do you suspect would be a good time to update to a newer device?

Do you think any other manufacturer will support their devices as long as Apple does?

A 7 year old iPad is like expecting a 25 year old computer to run current applications and operating systems. It's simply not possible.

The iPad has not suddenly stopped doing what its been doing, and you can keep using it if you wish, nobody is forcing you to update at all.

But at some point every device reaches a point where an upgrade is simply necessary if you want to keep running the newer apps and OS. This is not new, its simply faster with mobile devices than other products.

beyondthesky wrote:

Have you even used a computer that shipped with Win 3.1?

As a matter of fact I have. Used them extensively through High School in the early 90s. What does that have to do with anything at all? I have probably used every version of Windows since Windows 3.1

beyondthesky wrote:

An iPad 2's hardware is superior to my first win xp machine, and win xp is only 15 years old at most, on a desktop platform.

It probably is, so? That doesn't mean iOS has the same requirements as Windows XP had 15 years ago.

Note that an iPad 2 has a 1ghz dual core processor and 512MB (that's megabytes not gigabytes) of RAM. Even Windows 7 needs twice that amount of RAM for the 32 bit version, and 4 times that to run its 64 bit version.

If one can assume the requirements for iOS to be similar, the iPad 2 has long since not had enough resources to run the newer versions of iOS since they are 64 bit only.

beyondthesky wrote:

The real reason support gets discontinued is more often logistics, because it costs more money to maintain support for an older platform than simply discontinuing it.

Is that unreasonable?

Note that Apple is still the company that maintains support the longest for its mobile products. Most other companies stop updates to their older products within a year or 2 of release unless they are the flagship units.

I believe my understanding of Hardware is pretty good. I work in IT, and have at this point almost 20 years experience in the field.

The fact remains that an iPad 2 cannot run the 64 bit iOS on its 32 bit processor, anymore than your Windows XP machine can run Windows 10 today satisfactorily.

As has been explained many times in this thread already, mobile device tech moves much much faster than computer tech. As such support life of a mobile product is much less, than a desktop or laptop support life.

beyondthesky wrote:

There is nothing wrong with no longer supporting hardware, especially if the hardware is allowed to behave as normal with its older software...

Then what's the issue here? Old iPads don't stop working because there's no longer iOS updates for them. They continue to function as they have. Apps may stop being available as time goes on, and newer versions of iOS are released, but it does not happen immediately.

In general, iPads have a functional life of several years after they stop getting iOS updates. in general an iPad 2 at this point 7 years old, is only now starting suffer the lack of Apps.

If an app developer chooses to leave an older iOS version of their apps, on Apple’s App servers, yes, but if a developer choses NOT to leave an older app version behind, then, obviously, no!

Try and download the recent version of a Microsoft app.

If a pop-up window with a prompt that states that an older compatible version is available, then tap OK to download it.

If no older version prompt, the there is no older app version available.

Good Luck!

If you use an older version of iTunes on a computer (version 12.6.3 or earlier ) you could try accessing the iOS App Store from iTunes, download the recent version of the app on iTunes, then, try redownloading the app on the iPad 2.

IF the old version is still available on Apple"s servers, you"ll get apop-up to redownload the last compatible version.

Good Luck to You.

Downloading Older iOS 9.3.5 Versions of Apps ONLY Available Now for iOS 10 or Later

Your iPad 2, just like my iPad 2, should still be working as it should AND should STILL be receiving app updates under iOS 9.3.5.

My iPad 2 is still getting app updates on a regular, daily basis.

No one is forcing you to go out and purchase a new iPad

You are upset that your 7 year old iPad can’t be upgraded past iOS 9.3.5.

Think about how upset you'd REALLY be if your 7 year old iPad 2 was able to upgrade to iOS 10 or 11 and the performance and operation of your iPad 2 dropped and slowed to a crawl.

Then you'd be REALLY upset and angry and stuck with a slow performing device with no way to revert back to the previous iOS version that worked better on that iPad 2 and coming into these support communities ranting about how iOS 10 ruined the performance of your iPad 2 and how Apple did it "deliberately” to, once again, "force'' you to purchase a new iPad.

I don’t know what your iPad issues were, but while I own an iPad Pro, both my wife and I own and still use iPad 2 and 3 models and both of us STILL get regular, daily app updates under iOS 9.3.5 for more than 85-90% of our installed apps.

My wife and I use our older iPads everyday.

Technology, especially mobile device technology always moves ahead and at a much faster pace than normal computer technology.

iPad 2, 3 and 1st gen iPad Mini models are 6 and 7 year old devices. Some iPhones are close to the same age.

The hardware is simply too old and underpowered to cope with newer iOS versions.

BTW,

There are two distinct procedures for getting older iOS 9 apps for apps that have moved on to iOS 10 and/or 11.

But, since you no longer own any iDevices, I won’t bother posting these steps/procedures.

Here are a few third party web browsers that I know are STILL being updated and supported on iOS 9.

Perfect Web browser

iCab Mobile Web browser

Dolphin Web browser

Aloha Web browser

Maxthon Web browser

Opera Web Browser

Perfect Web Browser JUST had a very recent update to iOS 11, but the older last version update is still available here and had its last older iOS update this past April 2018.

Perfect® Browser+ (Legacy) by AppSimply

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/perfect-browser-legacy/id373916467?mt=8

Good Luck to You!

Your right and having same issue I’m currently experiencing i went to the Apple store and was told same thing i have to upgrade to a newer device if i wish to continue to use the apps

Biggest mistake I made was to reset my kids iPad 2 (like is often suggested to get it all working properly again). Used to have several apps which ran on ios9 but now require ios10 to run. So can no longer install the app.

And as for the comment that expecting a 7yo ipad to run latest apps (and let's be honest here, most apps aren't huge resource drainers - that's the point of an app) is like a 25 yo computer trying to run latest programs, doesn't say much for your opinion of a 7yo iPad. A 7yo computer can still run Windows 10 and Office 2016.

Don't me wrong. I don't hate the iPad. But I do wish I hadn't reset it.

I wish i would came across your info a few months ago my issues was software ever app i use for work and school updated to newer software and no longer uses older as told and explained by Apple support and tech after multiple appointments and store visits i couldn’t access iTunes on laptop or iPad and being i need the apps for work and school use i would have to update to newer devices as told by Apple support and tech at store if i only went online and that’s it o would of been fine but the apps i use have to be updated and no older version can be used as i tried with a few looking on YouTube and re down loading and opening the apps just to have the message i have to update

I only agree to the part of no new apps for an older ipad.

You said "The iPad has not suddenly stopped doing what its been doing, and you can keep using it if you wish, nobody is forcing you to update at all."

This is problematicly wrong.

My iPad 2 (Safari) started recently to inform me that I can't access this or that website because I need to update my web browser. As Safari is integral part of the ios, I can't update my web browser. I also cannot install Firefox as alternative as it prerequisites ios 10 as well.

So my iPad stops doing what it used to, and with time it gets worse.

Apple should at least updating Safari. Without a functioning web browser the iPad becomes obsolete.

Is there a way to download a previous version of an app like microsoft?