My iPad software is iOS 12.4.9, why does it say the software is up to date

If your iPad model csnnot upgrade/update past any version of iOS 12, then you own an over 7-year old, 2013 iPad Air 1st generation.

That iPad model cannot upgrade any farther.

The internal hardware of that model is not powerful enough to handle and run all the new, advanced, processor intense features of iPadOS

Sorry.

Your iPad model is too old, now.

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!

Sorry, some Apps such as Netflix, are not available for older models of iPad.

The most recent version of iOS for iPad Air1 is iOS 12.4.9.

Apple ended major update support for iPad Air1 in September 2019. Your iPad 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 newer 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). Netflix requires iPadOS13 or later.

Whilst many App titles remain compatible with your iPad, 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 iPadOS14.

Sorry, I appreciate that this may not be what you were hoping to learn.

You need to get a newer iPad. However, you may be able to watch Netflix via your browser instead of the Netflix app. Have you tried this?

What model is your ipad?

All iDevices do hit a point where they cannot be updated any further as the demands of the software outstrip the abilities of the hardware.