Apple’s new iPadOS 15.3 update is a landmark upgrade and may take some time to install on your device. iPad, iPad Pro, iPad Air, or iPad mini.
iPadOS 15.3 is available for download provided you have a compatible iPad. The software is compatible with iPad mini 4 and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad fifth generation and later, and all iPad Pro models.
Apple’s new software brings a very short list of changes to the iPad. The list contains important bug fixes and security patches. It doesn’t have any new features.
If you are upgrading from iPadOS 15.2.1 to iPadOS 15.3, you will see the smallest download size. If you’re upgrading from an older version of iPadOS, your iPadOS 15.3 download will likely be greater. This is because the changes from the update(s) you skipped are added to the software.
While some of you may want to avoid downloading iPadOS 15.3 right now, most iPad users should install the software today or in the near future.
If you decide to install iPadOS 15.3 on your iPad, you will want to take some time to properly install the new software on your device.
Moving your tablet from one version of iPadOS to another can cause problems, so you’ll want to make sure you have time to watch the download and installation.
We cannot say exactly how long the process will take because it will vary. However, if you choose to install iPadOS 15.3 on your iPad, we can help you determine approximately how much time you should devote.
If you’re preparing to move and your tablet has a fast Wi-Fi connection, it may take 15 minutes or less to complete.
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| Synchronization (Optional) | 5-45 Minutes |
| Backup and Transfer (Optional) | 1-30 Minutes |
| iPadOS 15.3 Download | 5 Minutes to 1 Hour |
| iPadOS 15.3 Installation | 7 Minutes to 20 Minutes |
| Total iPadOS 15.3 Update Time | 12 Minutes – 1 Hour+ |
Pre-Installation
Before starting the iPadOS 15.3 download, make sure you’re ready.
If you don’t know how to prepare for a software update, please check our pre-installation guide. It will guide you through the most important steps to take before you start the download.
Most of you will be able to complete these steps in 30 minutes or less, but you may need more time. In some cases, much more.
You don’t need to follow every step in our guide, but you will at least want to make sure your iPad’s data is backed up properly.
iPadOS 15.3 Download
When you’re ready, you’ll want to start the iPadOS 15.3 download.
The exact size of the iPadOS 15.3 download will again depend on your version of iPad and the version of iPadOS your tablet is currently running.
If you’re running iPadOS 15.3, your download should be a few hundred megabytes. If you’re running an older version of iPadOS, your download will likely be larger.
If you’re connected to a fast Wi-Fi network, the iPadOS 15.3 download can be completed in 10 minutes or less. If your connection is slower, it will obviously take longer.
iPadOS 15.3 Installation
Once your iPad has finished pulling iPadOS 15.3 from Apple servers, the installation process will begin. This may take longer than the download.
The iPadOS 15.3 installation may take up to 10 minutes to complete. It took about 10 minutes to install on an older iPad Pro model.
Note that your iPad may restart itself several times during the setup process. This is completely normal and not cause for concern.
Post install
After the iPadOS 15.3 installation process is complete, you may need to spend time logging into your iCloud account, signing into your device’s various apps and services, and/or setting up Apple Pay.
We recommend taking some time to check your important data (photos, videos, music, etc.) to make sure everything is where it should be.
After that, you should test your core apps and services to make sure they are working normally. If you notice a problem with an app, try downloading the latest version. Developers are rolling out iPadOS 15 support updates and they should help stabilize performance.
You’ll also want to investigate iPadOS 15.3 a bit for bugs and performance issues. If you notice anything, check our list of fixes for the most common issues.
