iPad Pro Transfer / Restore data from old iPP (18.7.2 ) to new iPP on 18.6.2 ( Post Set up )

[M5RahuL]

I received my new M4 iPad Pro today and ran into an issue while setting it up. It came ( and still has ) with iPadOS 18.6.2

When I tried to transfer data from my existing M2 iPad Pro during the initial setup, the new M4 iPad repeatedly prompted me to update to iPadOS 26.x.x. My M2 iPad is currently on iPadOS 18.7.x, and I want to keep the new iPad on iPadOS 18.x as well. There was no option to skip the update or choose “do it later.”

To get around this, I restarted the setup process and this time chose to set up the M4 iPad as a new device. That avoided the forced update, and I’m now at the home screen on the new iPad, which shipped with iPadOS 18.6.x.

Current versions:

• M2 iPad Pro: iPadOS 18.7.2
• M4 iPad Pro (new): iPadOS 18.6.2

What I want to do now is restore or copy data from my M2 iPad Pro to the M4 iPad Pro without upgrading the M4 iPad beyond iPadOS 18.x.

At the moment, I don’t see a way to restore from backup unless I fully erase and re-set up the new iPad, which puts me back at the forced update screen and defeats the purpose.

Is there any way to restore or migrate data from the M2 iPad Pro to the M4 iPad Pro while keeping the M4 device on iPadOS 18.x?

 

[Bigwaff]

Is there any way to restore or migrate data from the M2 iPad Pro to the M4 iPad Pro while keeping the M4 device on iPadOS 18.x?

No. What data on M2 are you trying to get on M4? If you are logged into Apple Account, apps should download from App Store and iCloud data should sync. Are you allowing apps to use iCloud on the M2?

 

[rui no onna]

OTA update the M4 iPad Pro to 18.7.3 first if that’s still an option. You might try signing up for beta to see if you can switch to the 18 beta channel if 18.7.3 is no longer offered on official.

After that’s done, Erase All and setup via restore.

As long as the device you’re restoring to has the same firmware version or higher than the old device, it won’t force you to update.

 

[M5RahuL]

OTA update the M4 iPad Pro to 18.7.3 first if that’s still an option. You might try signing up for beta to see if you can switch to the 18 beta channel if 18.7.3 is no longer offered on official.

After that’s done, Erase All and setup via restore.

As long as the device you’re restoring to has the same firmware version or higher than the old device, it won’t force you to update.

Thank you! 🙏 Turning on the beta updates for 18.x.x popped up the .7.2 update for the M4 and all worked out!