HT4623 My iPad does not have a "software update" tab

Question

My iPad does not have a software update tab in general. How do I update?

Answer 1

The Settings > General > Software Update option only appears when you have iOS 5+ installed, with iOS 4 you will need to do the update via your computer's iTunes.
Connect the iPad to your computer's iTunes and copy any purchases off the iPad to your computer via File > Transfer Purchases. You may also want to copy photos and any important documents off the iPad as well e.g. via the file sharing section at the bottom of the device's apps tab when connected to iTunes, via wifi, email, dropbox etc - they should be included in the backup, but it's best to have a copy of them outside of the backup just in case. You can then force a backup of the iPad by right-clicking the iPad 'Device' on the left-hand side of iTunes and selecting 'Backup'.
Then start the update by selecting the iPad on the left-hand side of iTunes, and on the Summary tab on the right-hand side clicking the Check For Updates button
Updating to iOS 5+ : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4972
Your iPad should be updated to iOS 6.0.1 (which is the only version that is 'signed' by Apple), so you will lose the built-in YouTube app and the Maps app will change - but google have app versions in the store