How to Download & Install iPadOS 13 - iPadOS 13.7 on iPad - iPhone Hacks

How to Download & Install iPadOS 13 – iPadOS 13.7 on iPad

BY Gautam Prabhu

Published 24 Sep 2019

Apple has released iPadOS 13 – iPadOS 13.7 for iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad Air. Here’s how to download iPadOS 13.7 and install it on your iPad to enjoy the hundreds of new features such as Dark Mode, widgets on the Home screen, ability to open multiple windows of the same app, new Photo & Video editor, new Reminders app, performance improvements and lots more.

Before you download the iPadOS update on your iPad, let us go through the steps required to install the update on your iPad.

iPadOS Compatible Devices
Backup iOS Device
How to Download & Install iPadOS 13 Wirelessly Over the Air (OTA)
How to Download & Install iPadOS 13 Using iTunes

iPadOS Compatible Devices

iPadOS supports the following iPads:

12.9-inch iPad Pro
11-inch iPad Pro
10.5-inch iPad Pro
9.7-inch iPad Pro
iPad (7th generation)
iPad (6th generation)
iPad (5th generation)
iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad mini 4
iPad Air (3rd generation)
iPad Air 2

Backup iPad

It is always a good idea to take a backup of your iPad before updating it with the latest iPadOS software update. (Note that if you choose to encrypt your backup using iTunes, along with normal data, secure information like passwords, etc. are also backed up.)

You can back up your iPad using iTunes or iCloud. If you need help, follow our step-by-step guide by clicking on the appropriate link below.

How to backup using iCloud

How to backup using iTunes

Note: Since this is a major software update, I would strongly recommend taking an iTunes backup so you have the option to restore back with iOS 12 compatible backup data.

How to Download & Install iPadOS 13.7 on Your iPad Wirelessly Over the Air (OTA)

Before you start the download, connect your device to a power source so that the battery doesn’t drain during the update process. It can take anywhere from a few mins to an hour for the update to download and install, depending on how Apple’s servers are handling the load and your internet connection. You may also want to connect your iPad to your local Wi-Fi network, so you don’t get charged for downloading the update over your cellular connection.

STEP 1: Once you are plugged in and connected via Wi-Fi, open the Settings app, and tap on General > Software Update. iPad will automatically check for available updates and will inform you that iPadOS 13.5.1 software update is available.

Note: If you’re interested in jailbreaking then you should install the update using iTunes, as OTA updates are known to give problems while jailbreaking.

STEP 2: You will be presented with a screen that provides the details about all the new features and improvements in iPadOS. Tap Download and Install to download iPadOS 13.5.1 update and install it on your iPad.

If you get tired of waiting for the download to finish (it could take a while) then go do something else. Your iPad will continue to download the update and will send you a notification when the update is ready. Go back to Settings > General > Software Update and then tap Install Now to install iPadOS on your iPad.

How to Download & Install iPadOS 13.7 on Your iPad Using Computer

If you’re not getting the iPadOS 13.7 software update via over-the-air (OTA) as mentioned above, then you can install it manually by downloading the software update from the official download links provided below and use iTunes to manually update your iPad. You may also need to install the update using iTunes if you don’t have enough storage space on your device for the OTA update.

Before you plug in your iPad. take a moment to make sure you are using the latest version of iTunes. Click on iTunes in the menu bar and then click on Check for updates.

Once iTunes is all squared away, it’s time to turn your attention to your iPad and follow these instructions:

STEP 1: Connect your iPad to your computer using a USB cable. Wait for iTunes to open and connect to your device.

STEP 2: Click on the device button to the left of the iTunes Store button in the top right corner in iTunes.

STEP 3: Click on the Check for Update directly without using holding down on the Option key or the Shift key. If the iPadOS 13.7 update is available it will automatically download and update your iPad.

STEP 4: You will get a popup message informing you the new update is available. Click on Download and Update button. At times it takes some time for the software update to be rolled out on all the servers, so if it says the older iOS version is still the latest version then download the appropriate firmware file using download links provided in step 5.

STEP 5: Skip this step if iPadOS 13.7 was available in Step 3 and 4.

Download the firmware file for your device by clicking on the iPadOS IPSW Download link on your computer [Note the download file is around 2.0 GB depending on your device].

Note: If you’re downloading the firmware file using Safari then ensure that auto unzip feature is disabled or use Chrome or Firefox.

After downloading the firmware file, hold the Option key (Mac) or the Shift key (Windows) and click on the “Check for Update”. Important: Remember to click on the Check for Update button, and not the Restore iPad button to avoid restoring your iPad and setting up your device all over again.

STEP 6: You will get a popup message informing you that iTunes will update your device to iPadOS 13.7 and will verify with Apple. Click on the Update button.

STEP 7: It will then show you the release notes for iPadOS 13.7. Click on the Next button. Then click on the Agree button for the terms and conditions.

STEP 8: iTunes will now download the firmware file (which can take a long time depending on your internet connection as it can be as big as 2.0 GB). After downloading the file, it will process it, extract the software, prepare the device for the software update, and install the update.

STEP 9: Do not disconnect your device until the update has finished. It can take a few minutes. Your device will be updated to iPadOS and reboot once or twice during the process. You will see while Hello screen after it is successfully updated. Follow the on-screen instructions to start using the device.

If you are looking for the older version of the iPadOS 13 firmware file to downgrade, then you can check our iPadOS firmware page for the direct download links.

You can check out our post for the list of all the new iPadOS features and improvements for iPad, iPad Pro, and iPad Air so you can make the most of the iPadOS software update.

Let us how it goes in the comments. If you need help or have any questions, please free to drop us a line in the comment section below, and we will revert back to you as soon as possible.

This post was last updated on September 4, 2020.

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