How to Install Older Apps on iPad

Sometimes developers make mistakes. They go from having an app that we really like to using one that we really hate using. Or they may increase the compatibility requirements for downloading their app, which means that we can no longer use it with our iPad. However, there are methods to be able to use an older version of an app whose latest version is no longer compatible with our iPad. That way, we can continue to enjoy the app for a little longer, although if the iPad we are using can no longer update to the latest version of iPadOS , it may be a good time to change to a more current device.

Downloading older apps from the App Store

If you turn on an older iPad running a very old version of iPadOS that you can’t update and try to download anything from the App Store, because it has such an old operating system, the installation will almost certainly fail for the vast majority of apps, even if that app is old enough to be running an older version of the OS.

The process conditions that you must take into account

If you want to download an app on an older operating system, you will need to purchase or download the current version of the app from a newer device such as an iPhone in order to access the older version of the app. This is because Apple’s policy is that if you have purchased an app, the app should be available to any device in your personal collection that wants to download it. When an older device requests a new app from its library, rather than from the iTunes Store , it will look for a compatible older version and if it exists, it will get it.

Let’s use the popular video app YouTube as an example for this tip. If you try to download YouTube from an older device, which is currently listed in the App Store and requires a higher operating system than your iPad, you will get an installation error and will not be able to get it.

To get YouTube on your iPad, you’ll need to use a newer device and download an iPad-compatible app. Download this app as usual, but you’ll always need to have the same Apple account on both devices. Once you’ve downloaded it, go back to your old iPad, and go to the “Purchased” tab in the App Store . You’ll be able to download the iPad-compatible version of YouTube from there. Keep in mind that many of the new features you have in the app on a current device won’t be available.

If the app has been removed from the App Store

An old app can also be understood as an app that has been removed from the App Store and can no longer be downloaded. So, if we search for the app from the main interface, it will not appear. This is why we must go to our purchase history and search for this application in question. If Apple has not removed the app because it is not a fraud, malware or a serious security problem, and the reason it is no longer there is because the developer has removed it, we can download it again.

To access your purchase history , go to App Store > Your Apple ID (this location will change depending on the version of iOS you have installed) > Purchased > All Purchases. There you can see all the apps—free and paid—that you have downloaded with your Apple account, so it’s a good place to remember in case there is a charge for a purchase that you don’t immediately locate.

Now, you have to take into account several things:

• Since 2013, all iPad processors have been 64-bit architecture, so if the app you want to download is so old that it is only compatible with processors older than Apple’s A7 chip, it will not be able to be downloaded.
• If your iPad is very old and does not support the latest versions of iOS or iPadOS, the app may need those newer systems to work and, again, the App Store may prevent us from downloading it.

When we download a very old application, there is not only the compatibility factor, but also the optimization factor. And the thing is, with applications designed for older devices, when we want to use the same one on a new iPad, with a larger screen and higher resolution, the screen may show us black borders and low-resolution images. In addition, we may forget about being able to update the app, if it has already been permanently removed, as well as the connections to its servers. If it is very old, and the app needed or offered additional services, these may no longer be available and we may have an app installed and functional in some aspects, but limited in others.

iPad processors and models

When we talk about downloading an old app, knowing whether our iPad has a 32-bit or 64-bit processor is very important. If we are using an iPad with a 64-bit processor and we want to download a very old app that only works with 32-bit, it will not be possible to use it. Therefore, if we want to download a specific version of an app that only works in 32-bit due to age reasons, we will have to do it through a 32-bit device.

Over the years, there have been many iPad models. And, therefore, many have been the processors that we have seen, generation after generation. Therefore, below we are going to let you know the compatible models that have 32 bits and the models that have 64 bits inside:

• iPad: 32-bit
• iPad 2: 32-bit
• iPad 3rd generation: 32-bit
• iPad 4th generation: 32-bit
• iPad 5th generation: 64-bit
• iPad 6th generation: 64-bit
• iPad 7th generation: 64-bit
• iPad 8th generation: 64-bit
• iPad 9th generation: 64-bit
• iPad Air: 64-bit
• iPad Air 2: 64-bit
• iPad Air 3rd generation: 64-bit
• iPad Air 4th generation: 64-bit
• iPad mini: 32-bit
• iPad mini 2: 32-bit
• iPad mini 3: 64-bit
• iPad mini 4: 64-bit
• iPad mini 5: 64-bit

Download old apps from iTunes

Recent versions of iTunes no longer allow downloading applications, as they no longer have the App Store integrated. For this reason, you will have to download version 12.6.4 of iTunes from a website that allows you to do so. Once you have downloaded it to your computer, open iTunes and search for the application you want to download from the bar at the top right. Select it from the list of results and click Get. Sign in to iTunes with your Apple account and wait while the download takes place.

Once you’re done, open the App Store on your iOS device. Make sure you’re signed in with the same Apple account you used for iTunes. Next, go to Updates > Purchases . Tap the cloud-shaped button next to the desired app. A window will open, prompting you to download an older version of the app. Confirm the download by tapping the Download button. After downloading and installing, you’ll be able to use the app on your device.

If you have an older iPad, the process is made easier

You may not know it, but  the App Store allows you to download the most up-to-date compatible version for the operating system you are using. However, this option is not very visible, so we will tell you about it step by step.

1. Go to the App Store and make sure you are signed in with your Apple ID.
2. Look for the “Purchased” section at the bottom and click on it.

Once inside Purchased you will have to do the following:

1. Tap All .
2. Use the search engine to search for the app you want to download.
3. Click on the cloud icon with an arrow.
4. It will ask you if you want to download the latest compatible version .
5. Click Download and you’re done.

The download will begin and you can use it on that device. Please note that the app must have been previously associated with your Apple ID . If you downloaded it earlier, you can download it now. If not, you can’t. You should also keep in mind that there will be apps that you cannot download in any way because they have been developed on a later iOS. For example, if an app is made for iOS 15, you cannot download it for an earlier version.

Alternatives to old apps on iPad

There is a very interesting trick to be able to download applications that we have previously purchased and that are not available in the App Store because the developer itself has withdrawn it or Apple has removed the application for not complying with its security measures.

If you have purchased the app, it will appear in your Apple ID. When you tap on it to download it, you will see the iCloud cloud icon. You then tap on it and the download will automatically start. The problem is that the app itself may not be available and therefore the download cannot be completed. However, Apple offers an alternative version that you can download. Of course, the downloaded app will be an “outdated” version of the software in question, but it will still be possible to run it on the older device, although the experience will not be the same as with the newer versions.

What happens if I don’t update my iPad?

If you are unable to download the latest version of the app, it is a clear indication that your device is several years old and may not be updating to the latest version of iOS. In this circumstance, we will briefly highlight the consequences of not updating the iPadOS operating system.

• Potential security breaches: The most obvious of all. All software updates also include security improvements to the OS. If your device does not support the latest version, you run the risk of security breaches. Even though your iPad is no longer compatible with major updates, Apple still releases security updates, so we recommend checking if there are any available to minimize the risk of potential attacks on your device.
• Loss of performance: Every macOS update brings with it an increase in performance and stability. Having an older version prevents you from having the new software features that will improve the user experience.
• Loss of system stability: When a software failure occurs, one of the first recommendations is to update the operating system. If you cannot update, the error may be repeated permanently or sporadically, resulting in a poorer user experience.

Is it advisable to download old apps?

This is without a doubt the best way to keep an old device alive and use it even if it can’t be updated. There are people who use their old iPads so that the little ones in the house have their own device and there are also those who use it as an e-book, a recipe book or a movie or TV show viewer. It’s a great way to give a second life to an iPad that can no longer offer the same features as when it came out, although it’s still a very good device for these more secondary tasks. It’s not the same as a newly purchased iPad, but that doesn’t mean it automatically becomes a paperweight.

However, people who prefer to have older apps on updated devices may experience some minor issues. One of these minor issues may be that the device runs slower, and without a doubt the biggest issue is that by having the older version of an app, you will not be able to enjoy the advances and improvements that have been made. It may also happen that the app closes unexpectedly while you are using it, due to the above. If you want to keep an older app, keep in mind everything we have told you, and you will also have to keep in mind that it is somewhat difficult to get the older versions if you have already updated your device.