Last Compatible Version Of Apple Apps On Older Devices

Westbourne_Park
New Contributor II

As you’re all probably aware, the latest versions of Keynote, Pages, iMovie, Numbers & Garageband require iOS 11. This presents a problem when trying to enrol older devices if you have MDM set to push out automatic app updates. Attempting to get them from the App Store gives you an extremely unhelpful “Keynote is not compatible with this iPad” - no option to download the old “last compatible” version.

Turns out …….. if you sign into the same Apple ID on an iOS 11 device, download the apps from the App Store (even if they came pre-installed on the device still hit install via the App Store!) then go back to the older device, you’ll now see the apps in the Apple ID Purchases and you’ll get the much-more-helpful “This version isn’t compatible with your iPad, would you like to download the last compatible version?” message instead! :D

Confirmed on iOS 9.2.1 and iOS 10.3.3 Doing this appears to “attach” the app to the Apple ID, so when it appears as a previous “purchase” you will get the option about downloading the last compatible version for the device.

Hope this helps someone else!

2 REPLIES 2

bcohen
New Contributor

This was extremely helpful...thanks!

Barreller57
New Contributor

Nice idea but it doesn't work!! I still get that Keynote isn't compatible with my iPad.