Comment how to install old apps compatible with older iOS (Score 1) 109
Here is how we solved that problem.
We still use our iPad 2. Yes, it's an old iPad, and big and clunky compared to the newer more portable iPad minis. But its large size made it perfect for displaying piano music, which doesn't need any sophisticated features of the newer iOS's. Unfortunately, the built-in PDF reader requires horizontal scrolling, is unable to display the bottom half of the previous page with the top half of the next, and resets the zoom level every time you turn the page. We wanted to install Foxit PDF reader.
Unfortunately, the iPad 2 maxes out at iOS version 9, and Apple has said it will never upgrade it to iOS 10 or beyond. Foxit Reader required iOS 11 or newer. But I found on the web how to get the App Store to install an older version of the software.
You need an iDevice (iPhone, iPad) that has an up-to-date version of the iOS, signed into your account. We happened to have an iPhone 6, which does get updates to the newest iOS version. If you don't, you might want to borrow a friend's, and temporarily sign on to your Apple account on the App store. Then install the newest version of the app (in our case, Foxit PDF Reader) on the newer device, which *is* able to accept the newest version.
Then you sign on to the App Store with the old device, e.g. our ancient iPad 2. Instead of searching for the app by name, browse through your already purchased apps. There's an icon to download the app in question (Foxit Reader) since you have already "purchased" the app (even if just for $0 in our case). Then a message pops up: "Awww, poor guy, this app is too new for your iOS version! But you *are* entitled to a copy, so how about we give you an older version as a consolation prize?" And there it was, an older but compatible version of Foxit PDF Reader on our old iPad 2 that we use daily for piano music.
This only works if there is still an older copy of the app on the App Store. I hear that some app developers take down the older copies or force you to upgrade, and then I don't know how to get around that.
Hope this info is useful for you.