My ipad is at ios 10.3.3. It6 says the software is up to date which i know is not true per my other devices. should be 14.4.2?

Upgrading/updating that iPad any farther may never, ever be possible.

If your iPad model has been stuck on iOS 10 for all of these past years, then it is possible you own an 8-1/2-year old, 2012 iPad 4th generation.

That iPad model cannot ever upgrade beyond iOS 10.3.3/10.3.4.

Your 8-1/2-year old, iPad 4th gen model is too old, now.

Sorry.

Apple ended support for all 8-10-year old iOS devices well over 4 years, ago, in 2016.

Third party app developers abandoned and stopped supporting these 8-10-year old iOS devices nearly 3 years, ago, in 2018.

There are, virtually, NO MORE third party apps available from the iOS App Store, any longer!

Third party compatible apps for such old devices are few and far between, now, in 2021.

AND, that well over 4-year old default iOS Safari Web browser is too old, not secure and not safe to use to access the Internet, any longer.

There are virtually NO MORE third party Web browsers left for 8-10 year old iPads!

Available and more popular third party Web browser choices are pretty much GONE, now.

If you must use these old iPad models, here is what is left for still updated Web browsers.

Pickins’ are slim, now!

ALook Web browser ( A fairly new Web browser primarily designed for old iOS device versions, but is still available to newer iOS/iPadOS devices, as well )

Dolphin Web browser

Maxthon Web browser

TOR private browser

TOR + VPN private browser

Turbo VPN private browser

This is pretty much it for iOS 9/10 compatible, up to date, third party Web browsers today.

Simply put, a 4th gen iPad is too old and obsolete now.

Sorry, but this is the reality for ALL 8-10-year old AND OLDER iOS devices now. Especially now in 2021!

There is one last thing you can try/attempt, if you need older versions of apps.

If you own much newer iOS device that can run either iOS 12 and.or iOS/iPadOS 13 and later, you can install the most recent 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 as the older device you ard trying to get an older app for.

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

It's 2021 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 Apple product/device retailers/resellers, locally or 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.

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

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

What model is your iPad and how much storage room is left on it? If it's not downloading the update file, it may be that you have insufficient space left on your iPad to accommodate the update file, in which case, you need to perform the update while your iPad is connected to a computer running the latest version of iTunes. Then download the latest iOS update file (which I believe is now iPad OS 14.5) to the computer and try updating the software on your iPad, AFTER backing your iPad up onto the computer using iTunes.

It's very important to back up your iPad first...this is a MAJOR software update. Not only does it override several iOS updates, you will be jumping from a 32-bit OS to a 64-bit OS. You will also likely lose (or lose the use of) several 32-bit apps that were no longer compatible as of iOS 11. You will likely know this, as you will have received several nagging messages whenever you've opened these apps, advising you that they needed to be updated since iOS 11 came into effect at least 2-3 years ago.

I also recommend you have your iPad fully charged before beginning the backup procedure and if your computer is a laptop, make sure it's also fully charged before starting and keep it plugged in until finished. These can be very time-consuming tasks, which use a lot of power.

Bri

That means Apple supports its devices only for 4 years and then abandoned with old apps, in addition these device holder are forbidden to download apps from any vendor other then Apple App Store, am i i right? that would mean Apple forcing us to buy its new devices by any means.

The iPad 4th gen came out in Sept. 2012.

Third party app developers supported iOS 9 and 10 devices and apps up until 2018.

So, that is a grand total of 6 years.

That pad model is an almost 9-year old iPad, now.

It has been fully unsupported for nearly 3 years, now.

Apple supported the 2013 iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 for 6 years, until 2019 and third party app developers STILL continue to support these 2013 and 2014, iOS 12 iPads through 2021 and perhaps through some or most of 2022.

Making support for those iPad models for a total of, at least 8 years, perhaps closer to 9.

It is what it is.

iPads now are much more powerful and more capable than the early 2010-2012 iPad year models.

iPads and iOS/iPadOS has matured over 10-11 year period of evolution.

If the iPad states it is up to date with iOS 10.3.3, then it is most likely s 2012, 4th generation iPad.

That iPad cannot ever upgrade beyond iOS 10.3.3.

Because it's to old to support newer versions of iOS

My granddaughter updated my iPad and I've lost my AppsStore Icon. My old 2012 iPad is a gen2 64 GB 10.2", 10.3.3 iOS .

My granddaughter updated my iPad and I've lost my AppsStore Icon. This is an old 2012 iPad is a gen2 64 GB 10.2", 10.3.3 iOS, I need my AppStore to download apps.