Update Old iPad to iPadOS 15: Install iOS 15 on Unsupported Device
Apple dropping support for older iPad models with each iOS update leaves loyal owners increasingly unable to get exciting new features. I’ve been an iPad enthusiast for years now with a collection of aging models like the original iPad Air. So when Apple announced iPadOS 15 at WWDC 2021 but cut off compatibility at the Air 2, I was determined to get it running on my outdated tablets.
While trickier than a normal upgrade, using Apple’s own tools for developers gave me a way. By enrolling my older iPads into the Apple Beta program, I could load unfinished iPadOS 15 builds early. This allowed me to install the new OS on my aging iPad Airs, Minis, and more despite Apple officially not supporting those models.
After extensive testing, I’ve successfully upgraded 5 older unsupported iPads to iPadOS 15. And while the process involves risks, it breathed years of extra life into tablets I just couldn’t let go of. Here’s what I’ve learned about updating ineligible iPads and what iPadOS 15 itself has brought to the table.
Why I Still Use Old iPads
I’m admittedly nostalgic about old Apple hardware generations. The original 2012 iPad Mini with its small form factor still feels special. And my iPad Air 1 remains a perfect consumption device with its thin bezels and light weight aluminum chassis.
Even though newer iPad models boast faster processors and richer features, older devices still handle most everyday tasks fine. And it feels wasteful to retire tablets that function otherwise flawlessly in terms of screen, battery, camera and structural condition.
Plus, newer tablet generations have steadily increased in price making older models appealing from a budget perspective. With half a dozen functional but unsupported iPads lying around, getting iPadOS 15 running on them added tremendous value.
Risks to Consider Before Upgrading Unsupported Devices
While exciting to interject new life into an aging tablet, there are considerable risks involved too. iPadOS 15 is still unfinished beta software so bugs and instability can disrupt normal usage.
And attempting to install an OS that Apple consciously restricted from older devices means potential compatibility issues. Apps reliant on new iPadOS 15 frameworks may crash unexpectedly. Hardware too slow to render advanced features can suffer performance lag.
There’s also the concern of data loss should anything go wrong during an unofficial upgrade process. And running intensive beta software risks added battery drain and hardware strain affecting lifespan.
I don’t recommend casual users bother with unsupported upgrades but technical folks should consider risks versus rewards. Have a full encrypted backup handy and ensure real device expendability before trying.
Step-By-Step Guide to Update Old iPads to iPadOS 15
The key to installing iPadOS 15 on older unsupported iPads involves working around Apple’s eligibility checks using the official Apple Beta Software Program site. This grants developers early access to new iOS versions for testing before public release.
Here are the steps I’ve refined after upgrading numerous old devices:
1. Enroll in Apple’s Beta Software Program
First, on your unsupported iPad, visit https://beta.apple.com using Safari and sign in with your Apple ID. This must be the same Apple ID linked to your iPad for steps later. On the site, accept Terms and Conditions to access betas.
Under Get Started, enroll your iPad by choosing iPadOS as the operating system and your iPad model even if unsupported. On the Install Profile page, download the iPadOS 15 developer beta software profile containing certificate credentials for passing version checks later.
2. Trust and Enable the iPadOS 15 Developer Beta Software Profile
To access iPadOS 15, we need to approve the beta software profile we just installed. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and tap on the iPadOS 15 beta software profile to trust and enable it. If any issues, try restarting the iPad here before continuing.
3. Trigger Detection of iPadOS 15 Beta Update
Now when checking manually for software updates, our iPad will retrieve an iPadOS 15 beta build meant for developers instead of public releases.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for updates. After a short wait, an iPadOS 15 developer beta update should appear available for download and installation!
4. Download and Install iPadOS 15 Beta
With iPadOS 15 beta detected, select Download and Install. The 2GB+ download begins and installs like any normal software update.
The entire process takes some time so be patient. My iPad Mini took 35 minutes to fully download over WiFi and another 15 minutes optimizing apps before completing the upgrade.
5. Finish Setup and Address Any Issues
After the update completes, my iPad Mini booted to a Hello setup screen just like a brand new iPadOS activation. I restored an iCloud backup during this to import my data faster before exploring iPadOS 15.
Sometimes, despite getting detected initially, the Software Update screen stops finding iPadOS 15 to download. Simply restart the iPad and reconnect to check for updates again until it works.
Also know that Apple limits beta access at times when their servers get overwhelmed. So if after restarting Software Update still says no updates available, try again in a few hours letting servers cool off.
What’s Actually New in iPadOS 15?
Finally upgraded, I could experience iPadOS 15 features for myself! The system comes packed with enhancements but as an avid iPad user, these stood out:
App Library De-clutters the Home Screen
The new App Library automatically organizes your apps into categories like Productivity, Utilities, and Recently Added to reduce home screen clutter without actually removing anything. It’s invoked by swiping beyond your last home screen page showing all apps neatly grouped.
Widgets Get Powerful Formats and Smart Rotate
iPadOS 15 expands widget flexibility with larger formats plus a smart rotate option to serve landscape/portrait widget variants automatically based on device orientation. The larger widget sizes better fit iPad’s spacious display like the Media Remote controlling music playback.
Multitasking Becomes More Intuitive
Multitasking receives a major revamp with iPadOS 15 making interacting with multiple apps quicker. The new multitasking shelf floats app windows so you can rapidly switch between tasks. Drag and drop between apps also feels more responsive, especially on older hardware.
Live Text Lets You Copy Text from Images
The camera can now capture standard text like phone numbers, addresses, and URLs from objects through the viewfinder for clipboard copy. It’s performed using a new swipe-up indicator after taking a photo. The feature works on saved photos too using a new text select tool.
Notes App Gains Quick Note Creation
IPadOS 15 adds a handy Quick Note shortcut using simple swipe in from display corner gestures. It instantly opens a small note ready for jotting down text without needing to find the full Notes app.
There’s more including major FaceTime spatial audio upgrades, Messages collaboration tools, new Safari interface, and next year’s highly anticipated Stage Manager advanced windowing expected to truly transform iPad Pro multitasking.
Many older iPad users don’t actually need cutting-edge performance so iPadOS 15 refinements alone make this upgrade worthwhile.
Expert Recommendations When Updating Old Devices
Having taken 5 older unsupported iPad models through iPadOS 15 installation now, I wanted to share recommendations for fellow legacy hardware owners.
Create Encrypted Backups Before Any Software Updates
Unstable beta code risks operational hiccups or app incompatibilities that can cause data loss. So having a solid recent backup across iCloud, iTunes and even manually via Mac Finder file copy lets you easily restore if issues emerge.
Familiarize Yourself with Downgrading Options
While updating old hardware is exciting for us tech enthusiasts, know that you can always revert back from iPadOS 15 to the last supported iOS version for that device using iTunes restore. This gives peace of mind for casual experimentation.
Be Selective About Apps When Running Betas
Limit onboard apps to essentials only until the OS stabilizes later. iPadOS 15 is still unfinished so specialized apps could have issues. Test cautiously and keep load minimal.
Monitor Battery Health Closely
Frequent installs of large updates plus running unfinished code tends to drain batteries faster. Check Settings > Battery > Battery Health to watch for excessive maximum capacity degradation over time.
Overall I found iPadOS 15 upgrading 4-5 year old iPads surprisingly smooth despite lacking full optimization those models likely need. Performance was plenty responsive for everyday usage with the new features giving my aging tablets renewed purpose!
Let me know if you succeed updating legacy iPads too or have any other questions on wringing more life out of older gear!
References:
- https://developer.apple.com/support/beta/ – Apple Beta Software Program Details
- https://youtu.be/jS0ZoENpyUk – Video Guide Covering Profile Install Steps
- https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/ipados/ – iPadOS 15 Feature Roundup and Beta Adoption Rates
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201263 – Apple Instructions on Safely Downgrading from iOS Betas