Can I run the latest version of iOS on my first generation iPad? [ASK MR. NOOBIE]

Ask Mr. NoobieQUESTION: I have a first generation iPad and was wondering if I will be able to install the new version 7 on it. A friend told me he didn’t think I could put it on the first iPad. Is this true? – Tracy H. from Fremont, California

ANSWER: Your friend is correct. In fact, not only can you not put iOS 7 on a first generation iPad but you can’t put iOS 6 on it either. The maximum version allowed on a first generation iPad is iOS 5.1.1.

Depending on how you use your iPad this may or may not be a big deal. If you don’t install a lot of apps, it probably won’t be a big deal. But if you do use a lot of apps, chances are the app developers will eventually add in new functionality to the apps that will require the latest version of iOS to use the new version of each app.

So your choices are to stick with the iPad and the versions of the apps you have or upgrade to anything from an iPad 2 all the way up to the newest iPad, all of which are compatible with iOS 7.

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