"iPad firmware" sounds like a single thing, but which IPSW file you actually need depends entirely on which iPad you own — and Apple has made that unusually hard to pin down. The same marketing name ("iPad Air", "iPad Pro 11-inch") has been reused across many generations, Wi-Fi and Cellular versions carry different codes, and Apple now labels new models by chip ("M4", "A16") instead of a generation number. The one unambiguous way to match an iPad to its firmware is its model identifier — a code like iPad14,3. This guide maps every current iPad family to its identifiers so you can find the exact signed IPSW on its device page.
Quick answer: modern iPads run iPadOS 26.6.1 (build 23G83), the current signed release. Open Settings → General → About and read the Model Number, or match your iPad in the identifier tables below, then open its iPad device page for the live list of signed IPSW downloads.
Why "iPad Firmware" Is So Ambiguous
Three things make iPad firmware harder to identify than iPhone firmware:
- Reused marketing names. "iPad Air" has shipped as at least eight distinct products since 2013; "iPad Pro 11-inch" has five generations. The name on the box does not identify the firmware.
- Chip names instead of generation numbers. Recent iPads are sold as "iPad Air (M2)" or "iPad (A16)" rather than "iPad Air 6" or "iPad 11", so two Airs on a shelf can look identical yet use different IPSW files.
- Wi-Fi vs Cellular split. Nearly every iPad has two model identifiers — one for Wi-Fi, one for Wi-Fi + Cellular — and each has its own firmware build.
Since iPadOS 13 in 2019, the iPad's operating system has been branded separately from the iPhone's iOS, but the two still share a version number and release schedule. When people search "iPad firmware", they are really asking: which signed iPadOS build belongs to my exact model?
How to Identify Your iPad
Apple gives every iPad a Model Number you can read on the device, which maps to a model identifier used by IPSW catalogs:
- Go to Settings → General → About and find Model Number (it looks like
MQ6R3LL/A). Tap it once and it switches to the A-number, such asA2759. - The A-number is also engraved in small text on the back of the iPad.
- Match that model to the model identifier (for example
iPad14,3) in the tables below. Device pages and IPSW files are organized by that identifier.
All model-to-identifier data below is taken directly from the current Apple firmware catalog, not from cached pages.
iPad (Numbered Models) Identifiers
The entry-level iPad line, sold simply as "iPad" with a generation number (and now a chip name):
| Model | Year | Identifiers (Wi-Fi / Cellular) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad (5th gen) | 2017 | iPad6,11 / iPad6,12 |
| iPad (6th gen) | 2018 | iPad7,5 / iPad7,6 |
| iPad (7th gen) | 2019 | iPad7,11 / iPad7,12 |
| iPad (8th gen) | 2020 | iPad11,6 / iPad11,7 |
| iPad (9th gen) | 2021 | iPad12,1 / iPad12,2 |
| iPad (10th gen) | 2022 | iPad13,18 / iPad13,19 |
| iPad (A16) | 2025 | iPad15,7 / iPad15,8 |
For iPads sold before the 2017 5th-generation model — the iPad 2, iPad (3rd generation), and iPad (4th generation) — see iPad 2 Firmware: Final iOS Version & IPSW Downloads and iPad 3 & iPad 4 Firmware: Final iOS Versions & IPSW Downloads. The 6th- and 7th-generation models' final builds aren't listed in the table above either — see iPad 6 & iPad 7 Firmware: Final iPadOS Versions & IPSW Downloads.
iPad Air Identifiers
The most name-ambiguous line — note that recent Airs come in two screen sizes and are labelled by chip:
| Model | Year | Identifiers (Wi-Fi / Cellular) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Air (1st gen) | 2013 | iPad4,1 / iPad4,2 |
| iPad Air 2 | 2014 | iPad5,3 / iPad5,4 |
| iPad Air (3rd gen) | 2019 | iPad11,3 / iPad11,4 |
| iPad Air (4th gen) | 2020 | iPad13,1 / iPad13,2 |
| iPad Air (5th gen) | 2022 | iPad13,16 / iPad13,17 |
| iPad Air 11" (M2) | 2024 | iPad14,8 / iPad14,9 |
| iPad Air 13" (M2) | 2024 | iPad14,10 / iPad14,11 |
| iPad Air 11" (M3) | 2025 | iPad15,3 / iPad15,4 |
| iPad Air 13" (M3) | 2025 | iPad15,5 / iPad15,6 |
| iPad Air 11" (M4) | 2025 | iPad16,8 / iPad16,9 |
| iPad Air 13" (M4) | 2025 | iPad16,10 / iPad16,11 |
iPad mini Identifiers
| Model | Year | Identifiers (Wi-Fi / Cellular) |
|---|---|---|
| iPad mini (1st gen) | 2012 | iPad2,5 / iPad2,6–2,7 |
| iPad mini 2 | 2013 | iPad4,4 / iPad4,5 |
| iPad mini 3 | 2014 | iPad4,7 / iPad4,8 |
| iPad mini 4 | 2015 | iPad5,1 / iPad5,2 |
| iPad mini (5th gen) | 2019 | iPad11,1 / iPad11,2 |
| iPad mini (6th gen) | 2021 | iPad14,1 / iPad14,2 |
| iPad mini (A17 Pro) | 2024 | iPad16,1 / iPad16,2 |
iPad Pro Identifiers
For a deep dive into every iPad Pro generation, see our dedicated iPad Pro Firmware: Model Identification & IPSW Downloads guide.
The Pro line is where generation numbers cause the most confusion — the 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes of the same year carry different generation numbers, and both map to the identifier:
| Model | Year | Identifiers |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Pro 9.7" | 2016 | iPad6,3 / iPad6,4 |
| iPad Pro 12.9" (1st gen) | 2015 | iPad6,7 / iPad6,8 |
| iPad Pro 10.5" | 2017 | iPad7,3 / iPad7,4 |
| iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd gen) | 2017 | iPad7,1 / iPad7,2 |
| iPad Pro 11" (1st gen) / 12.9" (3rd gen) | 2018 | iPad8,1–8,8 |
| iPad Pro 11" (2nd gen) / 12.9" (4th gen) | 2020 | iPad8,9–8,12 |
| iPad Pro 11" (3rd gen) / 12.9" (5th gen), M1 | 2021 | iPad13,4–13,11 |
| iPad Pro 11" (4th gen) / 12.9" (6th gen), M2 | 2022 | iPad14,3–14,6 |
| iPad Pro 11" / 13" (M4) | 2024 | iPad16,3–16,6 |
| iPad Pro 11" / 13" (M5) | 2025 | iPad17,1–17,4 |
Once you have your identifier, open the matching iPad device page to download its signed IPSW. Examples: iPad Pro M4 11" (iPad16,3), iPad A16 (iPad15,7), iPad mini 6 (iPad14,1), iPad Air 5 (iPad13,16), iPad 10th gen (iPad13,18).
Current iPadOS and Which Build to Install
At the time of writing, the current signed release for supported iPads is iPadOS 26.6.1 (23G83). Apple normally signs only the current build, so install that one and check the live signing status before you download.
Firmware signing changes without notice: Apple stops signing older builds days after a new release, and an unsigned IPSW cannot be restored. Always confirm a build is signed before you download and restore — see how to check IPSW signing status and what a signed IPSW is.
iPads That No Longer Get the Latest iPadOS
Older iPads are capped at the last iPadOS they shipped support for. Their final build usually stays signed because it is the only one available, so it remains restorable. Verified examples:
| Model | Final iPadOS | Build |
|---|---|---|
| iPad Air 2 (iPad5,3 / 5,4) | iPadOS 15.8.8 | 19H422 |
| iPad Pro 9.7" (iPad6,3 / 6,4) | iPadOS 16.7.16 | 20H392 |
| iPad (5th gen) (iPad6,11 / 6,12) | iPadOS 16.7.16 | 20H392 |
For any older iPad not listed here, its device page shows the exact final signed build — for example the iPad Air 2 (iPad5,3) and iPad Pro 9.7" (iPad6,3) pages.
Downloading and Restoring an iPad IPSW
Once you have the right IPSW for your identifier, restoring an iPad works the same way across models: back up first, turn off Find My, connect to a computer, and select the IPSW in Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes. For the full step-by-step process, recovery-mode instructions, and error-code fixes, follow the dedicated iPadOS IPSW download & restore guide.
Whether your iPad will receive the next major release depends on its chip — see iPadOS/iOS 27 supported devices for the compatibility list.
iPad Firmware FAQ
What is the latest iPad firmware version?
The current signed release for supported iPads is iPadOS 26.6.1 (build 23G83). Apple normally signs only the current build — check the live signing status before downloading.
How do I know which iPad model I have?
Open Settings → General → About and read the Model Number; tap it to reveal the A-number (for example A2759). Match that to a model identifier such as iPad14,3 using the tables above.
What is an iPad model identifier?
It is Apple's internal hardware code, like iPad14,3, that uniquely identifies an iPad model and its firmware. Unlike the marketing name, it is never reused, so it is the reliable key for finding the correct IPSW.
Why do the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro have different generation numbers?
Apple counts each screen size separately. The 2021 models, for instance, are the "iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation)" and "iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation)" — the same year and M1 chip, different generation labels. Both fall under identifiers iPad13,4 through iPad13,11.
Which iPads can still be updated to the newest iPadOS?
Broadly, iPad Air 3 and later, iPad mini 5 and later, iPad (7th gen) and later, and iPad Pro models from 2018 onward run current iPadOS. Check the iPadOS 27 supported-devices list for the exact cutoff each year.
What is the final iPadOS version for the iPad Air 2?
iPadOS 15.8.8 (build 19H422) is the last release for the iPad Air 2 (iPad5,3 / iPad5,4), and it remains signed and restorable.
Can I downgrade my iPad to an older iPadOS version?
Only to a build Apple is still signing. Once a version is unsigned it can no longer be restored, so downgrades are limited to whatever currently signed builds appear on your iPad's device page.
Is iPad firmware the same as iPhone firmware?
No. Since iPadOS 13 (2019) the iPad uses iPadOS, a separate build from the iPhone's iOS, though they share version numbers. You must use an IPSW made for your specific iPad identifier."}
