A prompt will appear: "Download an older version of this app? The current version requires iOS 16.0 or later, but you can download the last compatible version." Tap . Case 2: You have never downloaded GarageBand

The App Store defaults to the latest version of any app. Because the current GarageBand version is built for newer operating systems, it won't let you download it directly if you've never "owned" it on your Apple ID before. The Solution: The "Purchased" Workaround

If the stars align, the app will install. But here is the nuance: Depending on your exact iOS version, you might get 1.4.3, 1.5.3, or—if you are blessed— 1.5.7 . How to check? Open the app. Go to Settings (the wrench). Look at the bottom right. If it says "Version 1.5.7 (1706.1)," you have found the Holy Grail.

: Open the App Store and tap your profile icon in the top right.

Log into your Apple ID on a friend's iPhone running iOS 16 or 17.

Before diving into the download process, you need to understand what version 1.5.7 actually is. Released in early 2016, GarageBand 1.5.7 was the final update that supported and early versions of iOS 10 . Here is what makes it special: