Update iPad ios

Your over 7-year old, 2013 iPad Air 1st generation cannot upgrade beyond any version of iOS 12, which is currently at iOS 12.4.9.

The internal hardware in that iPad model is too old and too underpowered to handle any of the new and advanced features of iPadOS.

Sorry.

If you need/want an iPad with an up to date iPadOS with access to current, updated apps, then you really need to seriously consider a new iPad model OR a much “newer” , used iPad model capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

There are plenty of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

A first generation iPad Air can only be updated to iOS 12.4.9.

Apple ended major update support for iPad Air1 in September 2019. An iPad Air1 cannot be updated to iPadOS 13 (or any later major versions of iPadOS) as the internal hardware does not meet the minimum technical requirements (CPU and RAM) for new versions of iOS/iPadOS.

Some App developers have dropped support for iOS versions preceding iOS 13.x for technical reasons (often because APIs or software libraries upon which they rely have been updated in the new version of iPadOS, making their App incompatible with earlier versions). 

Whilst many App titles remain compatible with your iPad Air1, if you want or need to access to Apps requiring the most recent versions of iOS, you’ll need to consider replacement of your iPad with a newer or current model that supports iPadOS13/14.

I hope this information provides helpful clarity as to your available options - and the limitations of your existing iPad Air.

An iPad Air 1st generation cannot support iOS/iPadOS version beyond 12.4.9, because of hardware incompatibility.

Regards

Giulio