Updating iPad mini 2

No.

The 2013 iPad Air 1 ( “A” model number A1474/1475/1476 ), iPad Mini 2 ( “ A” model number A1489/1490/1491 ) and the 2014 iPad Mini 3 ( “A” model number A1599/1600/1601 ) cannot upgrade beyond any version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.5.

Sorry.

These iPad models have overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of iPadOS.

These iPad models are now over 7 and 8-years old, in 2021.

Sorry.

Third party app support, typically, continues for 2-3 years AFTER Apple ends full support of a subset of their devices.

The last major update to iOS 12 was in 2019, with iOS 12.3.

So, it has been over two years, already, and third party app support is already on a downward trend for all iOS 12 supported devices.

Look for many more third party apps dropping support for all iOS 12 supported devices as another year progresses.

The immediately above statement is what you really need to worry about.

Sorry.

There is one last thing you can try/attempt, if you need to recover older versions of apps, for old or older, aging iOS devices.

If you own another much newer iOS device that can run iOS/iPadOS 13 and later, you can install the most recent version app/s onto that more recent iOS device.

Then go back to your older iPad, open the iOS App Store, go to the Purchases section of the store app, search for the app/s you wish to try and download to that older iPad and see if an older version of the app is allowed to be downloaded/installed to that older iPad.

These newer iOS/iPadOS devices must use your same Apple ID user account and password.

This does NOT mean that every app in the iOS App Store still has an older version of an app that is still compatible with iOS 12 to be able to download/install, per my previous comments on this.

So, Failing that OR IF NO joy, then there is nothing more to be done.

It's the end of 2021, now.

If you need/want an iPad with an up to date iPadOS with access to current, updated apps, then you really need to seriously consider a purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted sources, like other Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

There are PLENTY of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

If you need OR ONLY able to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older IPads from 2014 and later.

All of these older model iPads below CAN run the latest releases of iPadOS 15.

2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models ( NO Pencil support )

2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models ( NO Pencil support )

2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 10.5 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2018, 11 inch or 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.5 inch screen iPad Air 3rd gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.

I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these older iOS devices.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.

If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.

A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.

DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free!

We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.

User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.

Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.

So, buyer beware!

If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON

If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.

If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.

You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.

Pass on the device!

If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.

Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.

If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy!

Good Luck to You!

There is ONLY a remote app for Logic/Logic Pro and that is it for any major audio software companion apps.

That app may NOT woek with that 8-year old iPad Mini 2.

iOs/iPadOS has its own self contained music making software.

Plenty of third party software DAWs for iPad/iPadOS.

Lots of third software sound and effects modules, as well.

Sound modules from some of the major digital instrument manufactures and other third party software sound module makers

Mostly stuff from Yamaha, Roland and Korg to just name a few.

Many great sound/music modules from other lesser known music software makers for iOS/iPadOS.

You would need to search the Apple iOS App Store for all of this.

Too many apps in all music making related catagories to list and this is NOT a common question that comes up in these user to user Apple product technical troubleshooting community.

You should search YouTube videos to leann about making music with an iPad.

New and newer iPad models are very capable of making and recording music on their own, but can be used to connect to some other iOS/iPadOS compatible external audio gear.

Best of Luck to You!

Music writing/creation/recording and composing/practicing apps on my own 2015/2016 iPad Pro.

I use a highly portable touch/velocity sensitive Korg 61-key Microkey keyboard to play and record music from inside of my iPad Pro.

Here's my own apps

Apple Voice Memos

Apple Music Memos

AVR Pro

Ferrite

Multitrack DAW

n-track

Cubasis

BeatHawk

Real Drums

Rhythm Pads

909 Drums

Korg Module

Korg iM1 ( A Korg M1 synth software moduke )

Korg WaveStation sofware module

Digtial D1 ( A Roland D-series software synth emulator module.

FM Player 2 ( Yamaha DX software synth emulator.

FM Tines

Audiobus 3 ( to route all of this stuff to one of my digital DAWs from inside my iPad for recording

( if you prefer analogue synths, lots of analogue software synth apps, as well )

Dedicated piano apps, as well, too1

Dedicated software effects apps, as well.

Various USB mics and external audio dongles and hubs/intefaces and cables and viarious WIRED heaphones for recording outside audio sources.

You know the drill.

This should get you started in the right direction into what an iPad can and can’t do for making and recording music.

NOT sure any of this will wotk with that older iPad Mini 2, that is forever stuck on iOS 12, though.

Best of Luck to You!

Sorry no. That iPad model cannot support iOS versions past 12.5.5, because of hardware (CPU/RAM) incompatibility.

Regards

Giulio