Difficulty downloading apps on an older iPad mini

Expanding upon Katana-San’s explanation...

Your iPad mini1 cannot be updated to iOS 10 or later major versions of iOS, as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements for newer versions of iOS/iPadOS. Unfortunately, your iPad mini1 is obsolete - along with the iPad2 and iPad3 - these all being 32-bit architecture devices.

You need to consider that compatible Apps for many obsolete models of iPad are no longer available - as App Developers have dropped all support for 32-bit devices. As older versions of Apps are removed from the Apple App Store, you’ll not be able to (re)download or install them - which may severely limit the usefulness and utility of your iPad. As such, if you want or need to access most current Apps, requiring more recent versions of iOS than your iPad is capable, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model.

For information, 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 15.8.3

iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" 1st generation)* - iPadOS 16.7.10

iPad6, iPad Pro (10.5"/12.9" 2nd generation) - iPadOS 17.7.2

(*) obsolete

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 18.1.1 (17.7.2 optional)

• iPad Pro 13" (M4)
• iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later + M4)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later + M2)
• iPad (7th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later + A17 Pro)

Hello~ You have a very old iPad mini 1st generation that can’t be updated any further than iOS 9.3.6. Most apps currently available in the App Store require much higher versions of iOS to download anything. Sorry but you need a newer device.

~Katana-San~