iTunes won't acknowledge iPadOS 16.5.1(c) exists

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Yew_Tree Author

Level 1

12 points

iTunes won't acknowledge iPadOS 16.5.1(c) exists

My 5th generation iPad needs to get 16.5.1(c).

I have storage constraints (it needs another 2GB which I can't get to without deleting a lot of important things).

So I wanted to update through iTunes to get around this, which I've done before.

But iTunes incorrectly says "this version of the iPad software (16.5.1) is the current version".

It's like iTunes (version 12.12.9.4) doesn't know that the (c) version of 16.5.1 exists.

Any suggestions?

UPDATE: I just unplugged the iPad from the PC and happened to look at the update section again. It wasn't complaining about lack of space and I was able to do the update.

Very strange.

But I'd like to understand: does iTunes simply not apply a patch like the (c) update because it's not a full iPadOS update?

DELL

Posted on Jul 21, 2023 05:19 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Community+ 2025

Level 10

299,654 points

Jul 21, 2023 06:20 AM in response to Yew_Tree

The Rapid Security Response (RSR) Update is delivered as an OTA update. The update is dowloaded and installed via WiFi.

The RSR itself cannot be installed using a Windows PC or Mac computer.

About Rapid Security Responses for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Demo

Level 10

166,723 points

Jul 21, 2023 05:33 AM in response to Yew_Tree

As far as I can recall, the OTA update was only about 8MB on my iPad Air 5. Updating using iTunes would require downloading the entire iOS software again which would be much larger than the OTA update.

I don’t know if you are getting a funky reading from iTunes because of the storage constraints but when you are that low on free space, all sorts of weird things can happen.

Just to be sure, sis you check Settings>General>About>Version on your iPad?

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Answer 3

Demo

Level 10

166,723 points

Jul 21, 2023 06:28 AM in response to LotusPilot

I never even thought about it being an OTA update only. Maybe I am splitting hairs, but Apple’s support article doesn’t specifically state that you can only update OTA. The article tells users how to check if the settings for auto updates are enabled.

Anyway, thanks for pointing that out.

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Answer 4

Jul 21, 2023 06:55 AM in response to Demo

For info, when installed, the RSR is memory resident - seeming loading, during boot, from its own root partition mount-point.

As the RSR is not incorporated within a full OS distro, it is downloaded and installed OTA. As such, unlike a regular OS update, the RSR can be uninstalled like other Apps.

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iTunes won't acknowledge iPadOS 16.5.1(c) exists

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