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IOS update on iPad Air

My iPad Air says my software is uptodate at 12.4.8. My iPhone 7 has been updated to version 14.1 Shouldn't they be the same? TY

iPad Air Wi-Fi

Posted on Oct 31, 2020 8:46 AM

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Posted on Oct 31, 2020 9:14 AM

Thank you for this information. I know my iPad Air is old and has a capacity of 16GB. In the settings, the Model # begins with the letter/numbers MD788. I see no numbers on the back. Someday, I hope to upgrade. In the meantime, thank you for confirming that my iPad software is as uptodate as possible.

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Oct 31, 2020 9:14 AM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you for this information. I know my iPad Air is old and has a capacity of 16GB. In the settings, the Model # begins with the letter/numbers MD788. I see no numbers on the back. Someday, I hope to upgrade. In the meantime, thank you for confirming that my iPad software is as uptodate as possible.

Oct 31, 2020 8:51 AM in response to kaefte

Your iPhone and iPad will not necessarily have the same version of System Software.


A first generation iPad Air can only be updated to iOS 12.4.8. If instead you have an iPad Air2, or the current Air3, these do support the current version - iPadOS14.1.


Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.


Apple ended update support for iPad Air1 in September 2019. An iPad Air1 cannot be updated to iPadOS 13 (or any later major versions of iPadOS) as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for new versions of iOS/iPadOS.


Some App developers have dropped support for iOS versions preceding iOS 13.x for technical reasons (often because APIs or software libraries upon which they rely have been updated in the new version of iPadOS, making their App incompatible with earlier versions). 


Whilst many App titles remain compatible with your iPad Air1, if you want or need to access to Apps requiring the most recent versions of iOS, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model that supports iPadOS14.


If you do have an Air2 or Air3, it should be possible to simply update your iPad, without a PC/Mac, from Settings:

Settings > General > Software Update


Sorry, I appreciate that this may not be what you were hoping to learn if you do, indeed, possess an iPad Air1.


I hope this information provides helpful clarity as to your available options - and the limitations of your existing iPad Air.

IOS update on iPad Air

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