The iPad is currently running 18.0, and allows the attempt to install iPadOS 18.1 from General → Software Update, but it always fails.
When I had it in for battery troubleshooting, the tech at Best Buy told me that 18.1 won’t install because the Pro 12.9 4th won’t run Apple Intelligence.
That doesn’t make sense though as iOS 18.1 (which contains Apple Intelligence) runs on my iPhone 15, presumably with AI disabled somehow. And it seems weird that a major version of iPadOS would be supported, but a minor version wouldn’t work - especially since the update is right there for me to download.
In what way does the install fail? Any error messages?
Have you tried updating and restoring it from a Mac (if it has already been wiped I suppose you have a backup)?
This has nothing to do with Apple Intelligence; it simply won’t be available like other features that are not supported on older models. I have 18.1 running on the mini 6. (And the M4 iPad Pro as for those of us in the EU, none of the iPads ‘support’ Apple Intelligence yet. )
It goes through the whole process, and when it reboots after the update it comes up as 18.0 rather than 18.1.
On a curious note, when I plug it into my laptop my Mac is pretty insistent that iPadOS 18.0 is the most current version of the software available. And when I click “Restore iPad” it walks me through the “back up” and “are you sure you want to restore this iPad” prompts - then nothing happens.
That’s the next step. Last night I made an appointment through Apple, and Best Buy was the closest available option - so I figured that since Apple was suggesting them, they’d have the tools to diagnose it. Apparently not.
)