my Ipad Air3 which supports updates wont update more than 12.5.5. why?

The first generation iPad Air, iPad mini2 and mini3 can only be updated to iOS 12.5.5. With this version installed, you will have one of these three models.

Not sure which iPad you have? Identify your iPad model.

Apple ended major update support for these models of iPad in September 2019 - although they since continue to receive “point” security updates - the most recent being released just recently. These devices 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). 

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 iPadOS15.

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

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

If it is running iOS 12.5.5. There is no way it can be an iPad Air 3. IPad Air3 was released in 2019 with iOS 13.

If its running iOS 12.5.5 it can be at best an iPad Air 1, and as such it cannot update beyond iOS 12.5.5

You definitely have a iPad Air from 2013.

This will help:

iPad Models & Generations

iPad 1st GenerationA1219, A1337

iPad 2nd GenerationA1395, A1396, A1397

iPad 3rd GenerationA1403, A1416, A1430

 iPad 4th GenerationA1458, A1459, A1460

iPad 5th GenerationA1822, A1823

iPad 6th GenerationA1893, A1954

iPad 7th GenerationA2197, A2200, A2198

iPad 8th GenerationA2270, A2428, A2429, A2430

Nitramlik wrote:

MF532LL/A. It definitely says IPad Air (3)

Sorry, its definitely not. The model number provided corresponds to a First Generation iPad Air from 2013. It cannot update beyond iOS 12.5.5.

It may say iPad Air (3) in its name, but its not a 3rd Generation iPad Air. The Name can be anything you set it to.

Nitramlik wrote:

MF532LL/A. It definitely says IPad Air (3)

As previously stated, if iOS 12.5.5 is installed, you will have one of three models of iPad - an iPad Air1, iPad mini2 or mini3.

The model number you have provided confirms that you have a first generation iPad Air.

The “name” given to your iPad has absolutely no bearing upon the model number.

You can call your iPad anything your like - such as “iPad (3) air”, “iPad (99)” or “iPad with knobs on”.

Settings > About > Name

The specific identifiers for your model are listed in different fields:

Settings > About > Model Name

Settings > About > Model Number

If your own iPad cannot be updated beyond iOS 12.5.5, 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 iPadOS15.

What is the model number? (Settings > About). If you're running 12.5.5 your device is incapable of running iOS 13 or higher.

To be absolutely clear - you do not have an iPad Air3.

You have an iPad Air1.

It is not an iPad Air 3. It is an iPad Air 1, or First Generation iPad Air.

So does it mean I need to purchase a new iPad?

On my Settings it states iPad (3) air.........so it’s misleading