When you have an iPad already or are considering of choosing up an older one, perhaps a refurbished iPad, you’ll need to understand how lengthy it should nonetheless be capable of use the most recent model of iPadOS.
Apple is often wonderful on this space, typically maintaining older generations of its merchandise on the most recent variations of the working system or a minimum of blessed with safety updates to maintain them protected. However there comes a time when the software program on an iPad can now not be up to date to a safe model of iPadOS, and when that occurs it’s possible you’ll discover that apps and companies will now not work and your information might be in danger.
Right here’s a fast information to how lengthy it is best to anticipate an iPad to stay usable.
Macworld says: The 2nd-gen 12.9-inch iPad Professional (2017), the ten.5-inch iPad Professional (2017), and the Sixth-gen iPad (2018) and older, are finest prevented as they gained’t assist the 2025 iOS replace: iOS 26.
Which variations of iPadOS does Apple assist?
Whereas the most recent model of iPadOS is the one with all the most recent options, and the one which Apple will replace with new options via the yr, the corporate gives safety updates for older variations of iPadOS to be able to guarantee the protection of customers of older iPads, however how lengthy are you able to anticipate to get these updates for?
The essential factor is whether or not Apple will replace the working system software program that runs in your iPad if it discovers a safety flaw. You can be in danger should you use an iPad that doesn’t have sufficient safety measures in place.
Because of this the true defining factor of how lengthy an iPad can final is safety updates. As soon as these cease, it’s not advisable to proceed utilizing the system, because it might be weak.
Usually, Apple points safety updates for a couple of generations of iPadOS. For instance, iPadOS 15 and iPadOS 16 each obtained an essential safety replace in March 2025. iPadOS 17 was up to date in Could 2025. These safety updates will be very irregular although, previous to the March 2025 replace the final replace to iPadOS 16 was in August 2024.
Apple might nicely cease assist for iPadOS 15 and 16 with the arrival of iPadOS 26 in late 2025. (The leap from 18 to 26 is as a result of Apple has realigned the numbering of all its working programs to match the yr).
Safety updates merely replace the code within the system to shut any potential areas the place hackers or malware might acquire entry. These seem in your system as “level” releases, corresponding to iPadOS 18.1, 18.1.1, 18.2, and so forth., and so they make small changes to iPadOS and repair any safety flaws that would put your information in danger.
To seek out out if in case you have put in the latest model of iPadOS go to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace and test.
iPadOS 18
runs on iPads launched since 2019.
Apple
Which model of iPadOS can I run?
The hot button is to know which model of iPadOS your iPad can run, that method you possibly can establish whether or not Apple remains to be dedicated to updating it with security-related fixes. Apple tends to proceed safety assist for the 2 or three most up-to-date variations of iPadOS (Apple have a tendency to not assist a 3rd model if the identical iPad fashions are lined by the newer model).
iPadOS 26
PadOS 26 is more likely to arrive in September 2025. It should run on the next fashions:
- iPad Professional 11-inch & 13-inch (M1 and later)
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch (Third gen and later)
- iPad Professional 11-inch (1st gen or later)
- iPad Air (Third gen and later)
- iPad (seventh gen and later)
- iPad mini (fifth gen and later)
Because of this the iPads supported by iPadOS 18 are additionally supported by iPadOS 26.
iPadOS 18
iPadOS 18 arrived on September 16, 2024. It runs on the next fashions:
- iPad Professional 11-inch & 13-inch (M1 and later)
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch (Third gen and later)
- iPad Professional 11-inch (1st gen or later)
- iPad Air (Third gen and later)
- iPad (seventh gen and later)
- iPad mini (fifth gen and later)
With this iteration of iPadOS Apple dropped assist for the 2nd-gen 12.9-inch iPad Professional, the ten.5-inch iPad Professional, and the Sixth-gen iPad.
iPadOS 17
iPadOS 17 arrived in 2023 and was final up to date with a safety repair in Could 2025. It runs on the next fashions.
- iPad Professional 12.9 (2nd gen and later)
- iPad Professional 11
- iPad Professional 10.5
- iPad Air (Third gen and later)
- iPad (Sixth gen and later)
- iPad mini (fifth gen and later)
iPadOS 17 dropped assist for 2016 iPad Professional 9.7-inch (A9X chip), 2015 iPad Professional 12.9-inch (1st gen) (A9X chip) and 2017 iPad (fifth gen) which runs on a good slower A9 processor. These fashions are supported by iPadOS 16, which gained a safety up to date in March 2025, however we advocate that in case you are utilizing a type of iPads you replace quickly.
Apple
Which iPads usually are not supported with any updates?
With the arrival of iPadOS 26 we anticipate that Apple will drop assist for iPadOS 15 and iPadOS 16, which signifies that iPad Air 2nd gen and iPad mini 4, have been dropped from the checklist of supported iPads.
Due to this, we advocate that it is best to keep away from any iPads that may’t run iPadOS 16. That features these fashions:
- iPad Air (2nd gen and earlier)
- iPad (4th gen and earlier)
- iPad mini (4th gen and earlier)
Needless to say in late 2025 iPadOS 17 assist may also finish, at which level the next iPads will now not be supported:
- 2016 iPad Professional 9.7-inch (A9X)
- 2015 iPad Professional 12.9-inch (1st gen) (A9X)
- 2017 iPad (fifth gen) (A9)
Which iPads are supported with full updates?
These are the iPads that get the most recent model of the iPadOS – iPadOS 18, and when it arrives iPadOS 26. Not each iPad beneath will get all of the options, many miss out on the Apple Clever options that require an M1, M2, M3 or M4 chips discovered within the iPad Air or iPad Professional, or the A17 Professional chip used within the 2024 iPad mini.
- iPad Professional (M3, M4)
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch (Third gen and later)
- iPad Professional 11-inch (all)
- iPad Air (M2, M3, Third gen and later)
- iPad (seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth gen and A17 Professional)
- iPad Mini (fifth, Sixth gen and A16)
How lengthy does Apple assist iPads with safety updates?
Apple at present helps safety updates for iPadOS 18, 17, 16 and 15. Nonetheless, the replace to the iPad OS15 and 16, which got here in March 2025 was resulting from an exploited zero-day vulnerability, so a really obligatory replace for older iPads and a transparent indication as to why it’s finest to keep away from utilizing the older fashions.
The oldest iPad in a position to run iPadOS 18 is from 2018 and the oldest iPad in a position to run iPadOS 17 is the decade-old 1st gen 12.9-inch iPad Professional from 2015, the 2016 9.7-inch iPad Professional and the 2017 iPad (fifth gen). Apple might cease safety updates for iPadOS 17 in late 2025 or 2026, at which level it should finish assist for these fashions. Be aware that the primary 12.9-inch iPad Professional is already thought-about out of date by Apple (as you will notice within the part beneath!)
That’s nonetheless seven to 10 years of safety assist. When shopping for an iPad, you possibly can assume between eight and 10 years of safety updates.
If it’s the complete model of iPadOS you might be after, you possibly can anticipate about six years of assist–the Third-gen iPad Professional 12.9-inch being the oldest iPad that may run iPadOS 18, and so they had been launched in 2018.
Each iPadOS model and the iPads supported by it.
Foundry
How lengthy does Apple assist iPads for restore?
Usually, Apple strikes units onto the Classic checklist between 5 and 7 years after it stops promoting them. Round seven years after Apple stops promoting a product it’s moved into the Out of date checklist, although some nations have totally different guidelines.
As soon as thought-about Classic by Apple, your likelihood of with the ability to get substitute elements is tough, however when a product is Out of date you won’t be able to get substitute elements. Due to this fact if it has been 5 years since Apple stopped promoting an iPad you might be unlikely to have the ability to get substitute elements if one thing goes flawed.
The merchandise thought-about classic and out of date are listed beneath.
Classic iPads
- iPad mini 4
- iPad Professional 10.5-inch
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch (2nd gen)
- iPad (fifth gen, Sixth gen)
Out of date iPads
- iPad Air (1st gen)
- iPad Air 2
- iPad mini (Third gen and older)
- iPad (4th gen and earlier)
- iPad Professional 12.9-inch (1st gen)
- iPad Professional 9.7-inch (1st gen)
How lengthy ought to an iPad final?
On the software program facet of issues, it appears from the present examples laid out above which you could anticipate software program safety assist as much as 9 years from when an iPad went on sale, nonetheless, we wouldn’t depend on that.
As a result of Apple doesn’t think about a product classic till 5 years after it stopped promoting it, you possibly can anticipate a minimum of six years of assist (assuming the product was offered for a yr, although Apple typically sells merchandise for for much longer than that).
After all, {hardware} is the opposite facet of the equation and that may be extra random as elements deteriorate or fail. Say your battery life falls off a cliff, you’ll have to nonetheless be inside your one-year guarantee interval to have it repaired without cost. Apple does have a battery substitute service although, often costing $99/£99 for a substitute and becoming, so this might delay the {hardware} facet of issues for an excellent whereas (primarily up till it was moved to the classic checklist 5 years after Apple stopped promoting it).
Apple gives {hardware} servicing and elements for a variety of older iPads, all at a value in fact. On its website, the corporate states, “Homeowners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac or Apple TV merchandise might receive service and elements from Apple service suppliers, together with Apple Retailer places and Impartial Restore Suppliers, for no less than 5 years from when Apple final distributed the product on the market”. That is clarified later within the textual content, saying which you could get iPads repaired as much as seven years after they had been final on sale from Apple. So, if you wish to know in case your iPad qualifies, merely Google when it was discontinued by Apple.
Naturally, a 10-year-old iPad is a formidable feat of sturdiness, nevertheless it gained’t be as enjoyable or highly effective as a brand new one. So, check out our iPad shopping for information to see what’s at present on supply. In spite of everything, you possibly can be utilizing it for a really very long time.
Need to know how lengthy Apple helps iPhones and how lengthy Apple helps Macs, we’ve got that lined too.
