My iPad Air two won’t update past 15.8

Correct. The iPad Air 2 cannot update beyond iOS 15.8.2 at the time of writing this.

It simply lacks the hardware, RAM and CPU to run iOS 16 or later.

An Air2 is capable of update to iPadOS 15.8.x; the Air2 fundamentally does not support iPadOS16 or later.

If you wish to install and use Apps that require a more recent version of iPadOS than your iPad is capable, you have no alternative other than to replace your iPad with a much newer model.

Whether or not you are able to update any iPad to a newer version of iOS/iPadOS will be dictated by the iPad model - and the currently installed version of iOS. You can find this information here:

Settings > General > About

Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.

For information, here is a list of the highest version of iOS supported by the older models of iPad (for simplicity - “generations” are shortened to a number) that are restricted in their ability to be updated:

32-bit devices (obsolete)

iPad1 - iOS 5.1.1

iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 - iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models), iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular)

iPad4 - iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only), iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular)

64-bit devices

iPad Air1*, iPad mini2 and iPad mini3* - iOS 12.5.7

iPad Air2, iPad mini4 - iPadOS 15.8.2

iPad5, iPad Pro (9.7"/12.9" first generation) - iPadOS 16.7.7

(*) obsolete

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version - iPadOS 17.4.1

• 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)