I have unable to update my I pad air

Sounds like you may have an iPad Air, 1st generation. If you look at the back of the iPad, look for a number that begins with A, followed by 4-digits in small print just below the word iPad. If that is an A1474, A1475, or A1476, this is why your cannot update past iOS 12.5.5. The iPad is not capable of running an iOS newer than that. If you need a higher iOS for some reason, you would need to purchase a newer iPad.

You are not addressing Apple here. This is a user to user support forum and Apple does not participate here. If your device matches one of the numbers I provided, then it cannot be updated. No one can send you a latest version of iPad Air. If you want one, you will need to purchase one.

It is highly possible that your iPad year and model will NOT ever be able to upgrade/update beyond any version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.5.

The 2013 iPad Air 1 ( “A” model number A1474/1475/1476 ), iPad Mini 2 ( “ A” model number A1489/1490/1491 ) and the 2014 iPad Mini 3 ( “A” model number A1599/1600/1601 ) cannot upgrade beyond any version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.5.

Sorry.

These iPad models have overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of iPadOS.

These iPad models are close to 7-1/2 and 8-1/2-years old, in 2022.

Sorry.

Third party app support, typically, continues for 2-3 years AFTER Apple ends full support of a subset of their devices.

The last major update to iOS 12 was in 2019, with iOS 12.3.

So, it has been over two years, already, and third party app support is already on a downward trend for all iOS 12 supported devices.

Look for many more third party apps dropping support for all iOS 12 supported devices as the 2022 year progresses.

The immediately above statement is what you really need to worry about.

Sorry.

There is one last thing you can try/attempt, if you need to recover older versions of apps, for old or older, aging iOS devices.

If you own another much newer iOS device that can run iOS/iPadOS 13 and later, you can install the most recent version app/s onto that more recent iOS device.

Then go back to your older iPad, open the iOS App Store, go to the Purchases section of the store app, search for the app/s you wish to try and download to that older iPad and see if an older version of the app is allowed to be downloaded/installed to that older iPad.

These newer iOS/iPadOS devices must use your same Apple ID user account and password.

This does NOT mean that every app in the iOS App Store still has an older version of an app that is still compatible with iOS 12 to be able to download/install, per my previous comments on this.

So, Failing that OR IF NO joy, then there is nothing more to be done.

It's 2022, 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 purchase of a new iPad model OR a much, MUCH “newer” and less expensive, refurbished or used iPad models, from better known, trusted sources, like other Apple product/device retailers/resellers, some locally or from online, on the Web/Internet, capable of running the latest iPadOS versions.

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

If you need OR ONLY able to purchase older, less expensive iPad models, look at older IPads from 2014 and later.

All of these older model iPads below CAN run the latest releases of iPadOS 15.

2014, 9,7 inch screen iPad Air 2 models ( NO Pencil support )

2015, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 4 models ( NO Pencil support )

2015-2017, 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2016, 9.7 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 10.5 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2017, 9.7 inch screen iPad 5th gen models ( NO Pencil support )

2018, 9.7 inch screen iPad 6th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.2 inch screen iPad 7th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2020, 10.2 inch screen iPad 8th gen models. ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2018, 11 inch or 12.9 inch screen iPad Pro models ( 2nd gen Pencil support )

2019, 10.5 inch screen iPad Air 3rd gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

2019, 7.9 inch screen iPad Mini 5th gen models ( 1st gen Pencil support )

Get the largest internal data storage model you can afford as NO Apple iOS device has ANY expandable storage.

I am sorry that you had to learn all of this, but this does not change any of the facts regarding these older iOS devices.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

If you decide to go down the path of purchasing used, secondhand Apple devices, here is how to avoid purchasing an Apple iOS/iPadOS device with user activation lock, in the future.

If you purchase any iPad, or any Apple iOS device, for that matter, used/second hand, online, or even in-person, make sure this iPad does NOT have user activation lock and has been properly reset for sale.

A properly reset for sale iPad should initially power up to an animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen.

DO NOT take the iPad seller's word that this iPad is user activation lock free!

We have seen plenty of used iOS device purchasers get scammed.

User Activation Lock can never be bypasss, circumvented or worked around IF there is no correct previous/original user information to be able to do so.

Apple doesn't get involved with ANY user activation locked, used/second-hand sold devices, either.

So, buyer beware!

If purchasing a used device in-person, power the iPad ON

If the iPad DOES NOT display the initial animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, then pass on purchasing this iPad.

If the iPad powers up to any other screen, then forget purchasing this iPad.

You cannot trust that the seller actually has the correct needed info to properly reset the iPad back to factory settings right then and there before the actual purchase and exchange of money for the iPad, in question.

Pass on the device!

If you are purchasing this used iPad online ask the seller to provide multiple images, either online or be sent to you via email, showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen of the interested in purchasing iPad model.

Even better, ask for a short video be sent to you showing this animated, multi-language “Welcome” screen, in action and in its entirety, posted to the online ad or emailed to you.

If the online iPad seller refuses any of these requests, pass on the iPad. DO NOT buy!

Good Luck to You!

yug64 wrote:

Hello sir I can’t download any apps in apple App Store . So what can I do plz resolve my problems

Why can't you download apps? What happens when you try? Are you seeing an error, such as you needing a higher iOS for the apps? That cannot be fixed without the upgrade to the iOS, and that cannot be done with the hardware that you currently have. To download and use an app that requires a higher iOS you need to purchase a newer iPad that supports the newer iOS.

Like I stated, your iPad maybe too old, now, to download many popular apps.

Many apps require iOS/iPadOS 14, now.

Your iOS 12 ONLY iPad is too old to be able to download these apps.

You need a new or newer model iPad, now, as I, also, already stated.

Sorry.

You seem not to be understanding. Your current iPad does not have the required hardware to be able to run the newer iPadOS. No one can send you anything. Even if you were to get your hands on the latest iPadOS, you would not be able to install it on your iPad. It won't work. You are at the point where you will need a newer iPad if you need the newer iPadOS for an application.