Force upgrading older devices due to newer apps requirements

Stopforceupgrade wrote:

I am a consumer and it’s frustrating to deal with high level technical details. I don’t know how things works. Make my YouTube play on older devices or similar apps . That’s all I’m asking

That is something only Google can do and there is nothing preventing them from continuing to support older devices if they want to. Many times it is just a monetary decision on their part to dedicate resources to the largest installed user base. It is the developer of an app, or any software for that matter whether it is for Android or Windows, that chooses the minimum requirements for their software to run.

Whether or not you are able to update your iPad to a newer version of iOS/iPadOS will be dictated by the iPad model - and the currently installed version of iOS. You can find this information here:

Settings > General > About

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

As of 5 November 2025, here is a list of the highest version of iOS supported by the older models of iPad (for simplicity - “generations” are shortened to a number) that are restricted in their ability to be updated:

32-bit devices (obsolete)

iPad1 - iOS 5.1.1

iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 - iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models), iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi+Cellular)

iPad4 - iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only), iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi+Cellular)

64-bit devices

iPad Air1*, iPad mini2* and iPad mini3* - iOS 12.5.7

iPad Air2*, iPad mini4 - iPadOS 15.8.5

iPad5*, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" 1st generation)* - iPadOS 16.7.12

iPad6, iPad Pro (10.5"/12.9" 2nd generation) - iPadOS 17.7.10

iPad7 - iPadOS 18.7.2

(*) obsolete

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 26.1, or optionally if still running iPadOS 18.x to iPadOS 18.7.2

• iPad Pro 13" (M4/M5)
• iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later + M4/M5)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later + M2/M3)
• iPad (8th generation and later + A16)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later + A17 Pro)

If your iPad is not capable of update to a more recent version of iPadOS than is currently installed, should you wish to use Apps or services that require a higher version than your iPad is capable, your only option is to replace your iPad with a much newer or current model iPad. An iPad will only be incapable of update if its internal resources (CPU and RAM) are insufficient to support the demands of a newer version of iPadOS. App Developers may only support the current and perhaps one or two prior major versions of iOS/iPadOS due to internal OS dependencies - such as App libraries that may not be supported in earlier versions.

If your iPad is capable of update to a more recent version of iOS/iPadOS than is currently installed, these support pages outline both the available methods by which the update can be performed - and troubleshooting should you experience difficulties:

Update your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support

If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support

If your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch won’t update - Apple Support

iOS update and restore errors – Apple Support

Stopforceupgrade wrote:

So are you saying I should just buy Android devices just because they have better eco system than apple. This is ridiculous.

I think you misunderstood my post.

• The same thing happens on Android where the Developer of the app chooses the OS version to continue and support.
• The reference to Google in my post is that they are the Developer of the YouTube app, so they are the ones that have chosen to support only iOS 16 for the YouTube app.

If you wanted to compare the 2 platforms, consider that YouTube downloaded from the Apple App Store works on Apple devices as far back as the iPad (5th gen) released in 2017, and the YouTube app on the Google Play Store requires Android 9 OS to run and was released in 2018.

Your ire might be better directed toward the 3rd party app developers who make the “business decision” to drop support for older OSs.

Understand that Apple does not respond here. Everyone here are other end users like you.

If you want to complain to Apple, you have to call or write a business letter:

because they won't see your concern here.

Re: “So are you saying I should just buy Android devices just because they have better eco system than apple.”

That”s not what you’re being told. If you think that the makers of Android phones and of third-party apps for Android phones never abandon support for old phones and old versions of Android, you are in for quite a rude awakening.

Stopforceupgrade wrote:

It’s not what “My IPad” is capable of. It’s more like can I install YouTube on my Old laptop. I don’t care about your versions and all that.

Since your issue is with Youtube, I would recommend contacting them to express your displeasure.

https://support.google.com/youtube/troubleshooter/13572679?hl=en

Google does not provide a Youtube app to install on any Mac, you would access it with a web browser. In any case, Apple is not stopping you from accessing Youtube with your laptop. You can view what Google requires for YouTube access on the web here:

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/78358?hl=en

Re: “I don’t care about your versions and all that.”

What versions the hardware can run, and what versions app vendors choose to require, are relevant whether you “care about” them or not.

Re: “can I install YouTube on my Old laptop”

As far as I know, there are no YouTube apps for laptops. Google expects Windows and Mac users to access YouTube via Web browsers.

just to make it clear, you are not communicating with anyone connected to or on payroll at apple

these forums are user helping other users like yourself, it's sort of going to a

physical apple store and asking other customers their advice