Why does not this update appear? Currently have 16.7.2 installed. Is Apple forcing update to 17.x?

Possibility that you own an iPad year and model that is incapable of upgrading to iPadOS 17.

2015/2016, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro

2016 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro

2017 iPad 5th gen ( base model iPad )

All these iPad years and models are incapable of iPadOS 17 and later.

Same issue here on iPad Air 4th gen - Apple iPadOS 16.7.3 support article VERY clearly states 16.7.3 is supported for this device but the update does not appear, only 17.2.

What’s going on please, Apple? Is your 16.7.3 support article wrong?

With introduction of iPadOS 15, 16 and 17, it has been possible to continue with the prior major release for several months - applying released point-updates as they have become available. However, a time comes when devices capable of update to the new major release is the only option.

It seems with release of iPadOS 17.2, that time has come. The only way to obtain the latest security updates is to accept that update to iPadOS is the only available option.

As such, iPadOS 16.7.3 does not appear to be available for these models of iPad:

• iPad Pro 12.9" (2nd generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11" (1st generation and later)
• iPad Pro 10.5"
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

iPadOS 17.2 is current - and is now the only available update for iPad devices capable of update to iPadOS 17.x. If your iPad mini5 (as indicated by the tags appended to your post) has not already been updated to iPadOS 17, you will be prompted to update your iPad.

iPadOS 16.7.3, released 11th December, is only available for the iPad5 and first generation iPad Pro 9.7"/12.9".

If you had digested my post, you will note that I had indicated that the iPadOS 16.7.3 is not actually available for devices capable of update to iPadOS 17.2.

If you can demonstrate otherwise - by installing iPadOS 16.7.3 on a device capable of update to iPadOS 17.x - we would all be enlightened.

It looks like they changed the text in the support articles. It now only mentions the iPad 5 ( standard iPads) for 16.7.3. Does anyone think Apple might relent with 16.7.4? I may hold off, just in case…