How long Apple takes charge of iPads?

If you already have an iPad or plan to take an older one, perhaps a renovated model, you will have to know how long it can always use the latest version of iPados. Apple is generally excellent in this area, often keeping older generations of its products on the latest versions of the operating system or at least with safety updates to keep them safe. But there is a time when the software on an iPad can no longer be updated to a secure version of iPados, and when this happens, you can see that applications and services will no longer work and that your data may be in danger.

Here is a quick guide for how long you need to expect an iPad to remain usable.

What versions of Apple iPados support?

While the latest version of iPados is that with all the latest features, and that that Apple will update with new features throughout the year, the company provides security updates for old iPados versions to ensure the safety of older iPad users, but how long can you expect to obtain these updates?

The crucial thing is whether Apple will update the operating system software that runs on your iPad if it discovers a security defect. You could be at risk if you use an iPad that does not have adequate security measures in place.

This means that the real determining element of the duration of an iPad is security updates. Once they stop, it is not advisable to continue using the device, as it could be vulnerable. Generally, Apple issues security updates for two generations after ending the care of the latest version. For example, when iPados 17 arrived in 2023, Apple has always published updates for iPados 16 and 15 throughout the year. But with iPados 18, Apple ceased to issue regular security updates for iPados 15 and iPados 16. (The last update to iPados 16 took place in August 2024).

Security updates are published relatively frequently and simply update the system code to close potential areas where hackers or malware could access. These appear on your device as “point” versions, such as iPados 18.1, 18.1.1, 18.2, etc., and they provide small iPados adjustments and fix all the security defects that could put your data in danger.

To find out if you have installed the most recent version of iPados, go to Settings> General> Update of the software and check.

Apple

What version of iPados can I run?

The key is to know which version of iPados that your iPad can execute, in this way, you can identify if Apple is always determined to update it with security -related fixes. Apple tends to continue to take care of security for the two or three most recent versions of iPados (Apple tends not to take care of a third version if the same iPad models are covered by the more recent version).

IPados 18

The iPados 18 arrived on September 16, 2024. It operates on the following models:

• iPad pro 11 inch and 13 inch (M4)
• Ipad pro 12.9 inches (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Air (M3, M2, 3rd generation and later)
• iPad (7th generation and later)
• iPad Mini (5th generation and later)

With this iteration of the iPados, Apple abandoned the support for the 2nd generation 12.9 -inch iPad Pro, the 10.5 inch iPad Pro and the 6th generation iPad.

IPados 17

Ipados 17 arrived in 2023 and was updated for the last time in August 2024. It operated on the following models, and Apple issues software updates for this (the most recent was iPados 17.7.5 on February 10, 2025).

• iPad pro 12.9 (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11
• iPad Pro 10.5
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad Mini (5th generation and later)

The iPados 17 abandoned the management of the iPad Pro 2016 9.7 inches (A9X chip), the iPad Pro 12.9 inches (1st generation) (A9X chip) and the 2017 iPad (5th generation) which operates on an even slower A9 processor.

Apple

What iPads are not supported with updates?

With the arrival of iPados 18, Apple abandoned the management of iPados 15 and iPados 16, which means that the iPad Air 2nd Gen and the iPad Mini 4, have been deleted from the list of supported iPads.

Since Apple no longer takes them with security updates, you should avoid iPads that cannot execute iPados 16. This includes these models:

• iPad Air (2nd generation and earlier)
• iPad (4th generation and earlier)
• iPad mini (4th generation and earlier)

Keep in mind that at the end of 2025, the support of iPados 17 could end, how the following iPads will no longer be supported:

• 2016 Ipad Pro 9.7 inch (A9X)
• Ipad pro 12.9 inches (1st generation) (A9x)
• IPad 2017 (5th generation) (A9)

What iPads are supported with full updates?

These are the iPads that obtain the latest version of the iPados – iPados 18. All iPad below do not obtain all functionality, many lack the intelligent Apple features that require a M1, M2, M3 or M4 chip found in the iPad Air or the IPAD PRO, or the A17 Pro Puce used in the iPad Mini 2024.

• iPad Pro (M3, M4)
• Ipad pro 12.9 inches (3rd generation and later)
• iPad pro 11 inch (all)
• iPad Air (M2, M3, 3rd generation and later)
• iPad (7th, 8th, 9th, 10th generation and A17 Pro)
• iPad Mini (5th, 6th generation and A16)

How long does Apple take care of iPads with security updates?

Apple currently supports security updates for iPados 18 and 17. The oldest iPad capable of executing iPados 18 is 2018 and the oldest iPad capable of executing iPados 17 is the iPad Pro of the 1st generation of the 1st generation of 12.9 inches from 2015, the iPad Pro 2016 of 9.7 inch and the iPad 2017 (5th generation). Apple can stop the security updates for iPados 17 at the end of 2025 or 2026, how much it will end these models. Note that the first 12.9-inch iPad Pro is already considered obsolete by Apple (as you will see in the section below!)

This still represents seven to ten years of security support. When buying an iPad, you can assume between eight and 10 years of security updates.

If this is the full version of the iPados you are looking for, you can expect around six years of support – the 3rd generation iPad Pro of 12.9 inches being the oldest iPad which can execute iPados 18, and they were introduced in 2018.

Foundry

How long does Apple take care of the iPads to repair?

Generally, Apple moves devices on the vintage list between five and seven years after it has stopped selling them. About seven years after Apple stops selling a product, it is transferred to the obsolete list, although some countries have different rules.

Once considered vintage by Apple, your chance of being able to obtain replacement parts is difficult, but when a product is obsolete, you will not be able to obtain replacement parts. Consequently, if it has been five years since Apple has stopped selling an iPad, it is unlikely that you can get replacement parts in the event of a problem.

The products considered vintage and obsolete are listed below.

Vintage iPad

• iPad Air 2
• iPad mini 2, iPad mini 4
• 10.5 inch iPad Pro
• Ipad pro 12.9 inches (1st generation, 2nd generation)
• iPad (5th generation, 6th generation)

Obsolete iPad

• iPad Air (1st generation)
• iPad Mini (3rd generation and earlier)
• iPad (4th generation and earlier)
• Ipad pro 12.9 inches (1st generation)
• 9.7 inch iPad Pro (1st generation)

How long should an iPad last?

On the software side, it seems that according to the current examples arranged above that you can expect when taking charge of the security of software up to nine years from the moment an iPad has been put up for sale, however, we do not count on this.

Since Apple considers that a vintage product before five years after having stopped selling it, you can expect at least six years of support (assuming that the product has been sold for a year, although Apple often sends products much longer than that).

Of course, the material is the other side of the equation and which can be more random because the parts deteriorate or fail. Let's say that the life of your battery falls from a cliff, you will always have to be in your one -year warranty period to have it repaired for free. Apple has a battery replacement service, which generally costs $ 99 /99 £ 99 for a replacement and a connection, which could prolong the material side of things for a while (mainly until it was moved to the vintage list five years after Apple has stopped selling it).

Apple offers a equipment service and parts for a range of older iPads, all at a cost of course. On its site, the company declares: “owners of iPhone, iPad, IPOD, Mac or Apple TV products can obtain services and parts of Apple service providers, including Apple Store locations and independent repair suppliers, for at least 5 years from the time Apple distributed the product for sale”. This is later clarified in the text, saying that you can have the iPad repaired up to seven years after their last Apple sale. So if you want to know if your iPad is qualified, it is just Google when it was interrupted by Apple.

Naturally, a 10 -year -old iPad is an impressive feat of sustainability, but it will not be as fun or powerful as it is new. So take a look at our iPad buying guide to see what is currently offered. After all, you could use it for a very long time.

You want to know how long Apple takes care of iPhones and how long Apple takes care of Macs, we have also covered it.