iPad 3 & iPad 4 Firmware: Final iOS Versions & IPSW Downloads

The iPad (3rd generation) and iPad (4th generation) look nearly identical and were sold only seven months apart, but they run different final iOS versions. If you're restoring either one, here's exactly which build applies to your identifier.

For the identifier system used across every current iPad, see iPad Firmware: IPSW Downloads for Every iPad Model. Both generations predate that guide's tables, which start at the 2017 5th-generation iPad. For the generation before these two, see iPad 2 Firmware: Final iOS Version & IPSW Downloads.

Direct Answer: The iPad (3rd gen) tops out at iOS 9.3.5 (build 13G36) on Wi-Fi, or iOS 9.3.6 (build 13G37) on cellular models. The iPad (4th gen) goes one version further: iOS 10.3.3 (build 14G60) on Wi-Fi, or iOS 10.3.4 (build 14G61) on cellular models. These are genuinely different ceilings, not a typo — the 4th gen's A6X chip supported one additional major iOS release.

iPad (3rd Generation) Model Identifiers

iPad (4th Generation) Model Identifiers

Confirm your identifier at Settings → General → About → Model Number.

Why the Wi-Fi and Cellular Builds Differ

In both generations, the cellular models received one more patch than their Wi-Fi counterparts — iOS 9.3.6 for the 3rd gen, iOS 10.3.4 for the 4th gen. Both patches were narrow, cellular-related releases issued years after the devices' main update cycle ended. If you own a Wi-Fi model, your correctly-final build is one version behind the cellular model of the same generation — this is not a sign you're missing an update.

Telling the 3rd and 4th Generation Apart

The two devices are easy to confuse: both are called "the new iPad" or "iPad" without a generation number on the box, both look identical externally, and both use a 9.7-inch Retina display introduced with the 3rd gen. The model identifier is the only reliable way to distinguish them — iPad3,1/3,2/3,3 is the 3rd generation (2012, released March), while iPad3,4/3,5/3,6 is the 4th generation (2012, released November, same year). If your device shows any iPad3,4/5/6 identifier, it is the 4th gen and can run one iOS version higher than a 3rd-gen device.

What EOL Means for These Devices

• No 64-bit apps, ever: both generations use 32-bit chips (A5X for 3rd gen, A6X for 4th gen). The App Store's 64-bit requirement excludes the overwhelming majority of current apps regardless of iOS version.
• One generation, one iOS version apart: the 4th gen's extra iOS version (10 vs. 9) bought it a modestly longer window of app compatibility in the years after release, but both are now equally distant from current app requirements.
• Security patching ended years ago: unlike iPads still on active security-patch branches (iOS 15.8.x, iOS 16.7.x), these final builds are themselves years past any further updates.
• Realistic use case: both function as basic media players, e-readers, or offline app devices today, not as devices for current software.

Currently Signed Builds (Verify Live)

Because both generations reached end-of-life years ago, their final builds have remained the only signed options for a long time and are unlikely to change. Confirm current status on your identifier's device page before restoring — see how to check IPSW signing status.

Restoring an iPad 3 or iPad 4 Using an IPSW File

1. Back up any data you need — restoring erases the device.
2. Download the IPSW matching your exact identifier (iPad3,1/2/3 for 3rd gen, or iPad3,4/5/6 for 4th gen). Confirm it is signed.
3. Disable Find My iPad: Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → Find My iPad → Off (or Settings → iCloud → Find My iPad on older iOS builds).
4. Connect the iPad to a Mac or PC using the Lightning cable (both generations use Lightning, not the older 30-pin connector).
5. Open Finder (recent macOS), Apple Devices, or iTunes and select the iPad.
6. Hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows), click Restore iPad, and select the downloaded IPSW file.

If the device gets stuck during restore, see Boot Loop Fix: Recover Without Losing Data for DFU-mode recovery steps — the same DFU process applies to iPad.

For the full range of iPad models and their identifiers, see iPad Firmware: IPSW Downloads for Every iPad Model. For the generation before these two, see iPad 2 Firmware: Final iOS Version & IPSW Downloads.

FAQ

What is the last iOS version for the iPad (3rd generation)?

iOS 9.3.5 (build 13G36) on Wi-Fi (iPad3,1). Cellular models (iPad3,2 CDMA, iPad3,3 GSM) received one additional patch, iOS 9.3.6 (build 13G37).

What is the last iOS version for the iPad (4th generation)?

iOS 10.3.3 (build 14G60) on Wi-Fi (iPad3,4). Cellular models (iPad3,5 CDMA, iPad3,6 GSM) received one additional patch, iOS 10.3.4 (build 14G61).

How do I tell my iPad 3 apart from an iPad 4? They look identical.

Check the model identifier at Settings → General → About → Model Number. iPad3,1 / iPad3,2 / iPad3,3 is the 3rd generation. iPad3,4 / iPad3,5 / iPad3,6 is the 4th generation. External appearance will not tell them apart.

Can I install iOS 10 on an iPad (3rd generation)?

No. The iPad (3rd gen)'s A5X chip is not supported by iOS 10 or any later version. This is a permanent hardware limitation. The 4th gen's A6X chip is what enabled its extra version.

Why does my cellular iPad show a different final build than a Wi-Fi model of the same generation?

Both generations received one extra, cellular-only patch beyond their main update cycle — iOS 9.3.6 for the 3rd gen, iOS 10.3.4 for the 4th gen. Wi-Fi-only models never received these patches, so a Wi-Fi model's final build is correctly one point release behind.

Are the iPad 3 and iPad 4 still useful in 2026?

Only for narrow, offline-friendly uses like an e-reader or basic media player. Their 32-bit chips cannot run the vast majority of apps currently on the App Store, regardless of which final iOS build is installed.