i have an ipad air first generation, and it wont let me download facebook or other basic apps, asking me for a software, but when i go to settings it says it has the latest version which is 12.5.7 is there a way i can update the sofware?

The currently available FaceBook App requires iOS/iPadOS 13.4 or later. Many other Apps may require a more recent version of iPadOS than your iPad can support.

The iPad Air1 is capable of update to iOS 12.5.7, but is not capable of update to iPadOS13 or later.

Apple ended major update support for the Air1, mini2 and mini3 in September 2019 - although they have continued to receive occasional “point” security updates, the most recent being released January 2023. 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 capabilities and available 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 iPadOS16. Of current models, even the entry-level iPad9 has specifications and capabilities that offer a considerable upgrade in both capabilities and performance - and supports the vast majority of currently available Apps. Other models of iPad are more powerful still.

For information, here is a list of the highest version of iOS supported by the older models of iPad (for simplicity - “generations” are shortened to a number) that are restricted in their ability to be updated:

32-bit devices (obsolete)

iPad1 - iOS 5.1.1

iPad2, iPad3 and iPad mini1 - iOS 9.3.5 (WiFi Only models), iOS 9.3.6 (WiFi & Cellular)

iPad4 - iOS 10.3.3 (WiFi Only), iOS 10.3.4 (WiFi & Cellular)

64-bit devices

iPad Air1, iPad mini2 and iPad mini3 - iOS 12.5.7

iPad Air2, iPad mini4 - iPadOS 15.7.8

Newer models are all able to be updated to the current version, iPadOS 16.6

• iPad Pro (all models)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (5th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

No. That device cannot run iOS 13 or later as it is too old.