How to install iOS 9 on iPad Air?

[HandyMac]

My iPad Air is running iOS 8.4, and I'd like to move up to iOS 9. Of course, when I connect it to my MacBook Pro (10.10.5), iTunes wants to upgrade the iPad to iOS 10. Which I don't want to do. Anticipating this problem (but not ready to do the upgrade at the time), last summer before iOS 10 came out, one time I told iTunes to Download Only (but not install) the last version of iOS 9. So I think the installer is somewhere on my Mac. Can anybody tell me where to find it? And how to install it on the iPad once I do?

Or maybe iTunes downloads the installer onto the iPad? (I think I disconnected the iPad at the time, to prevent this, and the download went ahead, leading me to believe the iOS 9 installer was tucked away in some invisible folder on the MBP – but it's been a while and I don't remember precisely.)

Anyway, I want to upgrade my iPad Air to iOS 9, not 10. Been using Macs and working on them since 1988, so am somewhat familiar with inner workings, how to find stuff, open packages, etc. Any help appreciated.

TIA, Andrew Main

 

[IrishVixen]

Short answer: you can't.
Longer answer: Apple is no longer signing any version of iOS 9 for your iPad model, therefore it doesn't matter if you have the firmware already downloaded. The install will fail when it pings Apple's servers to authorize.

You can go up to 10.1.1, which is the only non-beta firmware being signed, or install the 10.2 beta. Neither currently can be jailbroken, and it's unknown at this time when or whether either of these versions ever will be.

 

[Applejuiced]

You cannot.

 

[HandyMac]

*Sigh* Thanks, IrishVixen and Applejuiced, for your responses. As I wrote, I've been in the Mac world since 1988, but ill in recent years, so haven't kept up so well. I didn't realize the "walled garden" was that strict ("it pings Apple's servers to authorize"). I understand why Steve set it up as he did – to finally realize his dream of the "appliance computer" that anybody can use (what the original Mac was supposed to be, but never quite made it). But it'd be nice if somebody who's a little more skilled than Grandma could opt out of some of the tighter controls.

Also, I have no idea what iOS 9 is like, since I've never used it. I have installers for every major version of Mac OS (back to 1.1), and computers they'll all run on. But the iOS world is different, not for tinkerers.

Anyway, I guess I can upgrade the iPad to iOS 10, though I generally don't like to push older equipment by making it run on the latest software, preferring to use computers well within their capabilities rather than right to the edge. I see iOS 10 will run on the iPad 4, the generation previous, so it should be okay for my light use on the Air.

 

[IrishVixen]

Anyway, I guess I can upgrade the iPad to iOS 10, though I generally don't like to push older equipment by making it run on the latest software, preferring to use computers well within their capabilities rather than right to the edge. I see iOS 10 will run on the iPad 4, the generation previous, so it should be okay for my light use on the Air.

FWIW, my husband is running 10.1.1 on an Air with no issues. And I personally find it easier to go without a jailbreak on the iPad than I do on the phone. (I've been running both an Air 2 and a 6s+ stock for about two months now...the first time in six years or so that I've gone more than a day on stock.) I think you won't find running the latest iOS too awful.

 

[Applejuiced]

FWIW, my husband is running 10.1.1 on an Air with no issues. And I personally find it easier to go without a jailbreak on the iPad than I do on the phone. (I've been running both an Air 2 and a 6s+ stock for about two months now...the first time in six years or so that I've gone more than a day on stock.) I think you won't find running the latest iOS too awful.

I'll have to agree.
My ipad air 2 is solid on the latest ios version.
And Im kinda the same way where I keep the ipads stock and just JB my iphone.

 

[IrishVixen]

I'll have to agree.
My ipad air 2 is solid on the latest ios version.
And Im kinda the same way where I keep the ipads stock and just JB my iphone.

The one thing I *really* miss on the stock iPad is being able to set a 5 column springboard in both directions, so the **** icons don't change position when you rotate the screen. I hate the dock, I miss being able to set my own hosts file, etc...but it's that stupid icon shift that drives me nuts every time I pick up the iPad. I can live with the rest of it, but that's just poor UI design.

The stock phone, on the other hand, makes me think I should switch to Android. All I want for Christmas is a 10.2 JB! LOL