iOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. It’s the operating system that everything else sits on, while also offering plenty of features and special apps built by Apple itself. If you’ve ever wondered when versions came out, how to check the version you’re currently using, or how to update to the latest iteration, we’ve got the answers. Here’s our whistlestop tour of iOS.
If you have similar questions about macOS, read our in-depth guide to Mac OS X and macOS.
History of iOS
iOS debuted in June 2007 along with the first iPhone. Although, when Steve Jobs held up the little device to reveal it to the world for the first time, iOS 1 wasn’t running. Instead, Apple reported that it was powered by OS X, the software for the Mac. Over time it was called iPhone OS, until it finally got its now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when it was shortened to iOS.
Major milestones are scattered across the iOS timeline, with the first being the introduction of the App Store in iPhone OS 2 (iOS 2). With iOS 4, the iPad entered the picture and used the operating system alongside the iPhone.
iOS 5 was introduced along with the iPhone 4S, which debuted Siri as a built-in part of the operating system. Unfortunately, this was the last version of the software released while Apple CEO and founder Steve Jobs was still alive.
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Things changed significantly in iOS 11 when it brought the first touch and gesture interface, allowing the iPhone X to appear without the Home button that had come with every iPhone up to that point.
Another major shift happened with iOS 13, as it marked the split of Apple’s mobile operating systems, with iPhones remaining on iOS but the newly announced iPadOS powering the new iPads. This would continue to this day, although the version numbers have remained in sync, with the latest being iOS 16 and iPadOS 16.
iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are the next expected versions of the software and we look forward to getting a taste of what Apple has to offer when WWDC 2023 takes place in June.
List of iOS versions and current versions
Here’s a rundown of all the versions of iOS that have been released, along with the latest updates they’ve received.
- iOS 1 (called iPhone OS 1) – released June 29, 2007 (last 1.1.5 on July 15, 2008)
- iOS 2 (called iPhone OS 2) – released July 11, 2008 (last 2.2.1 on January 27, 2009)
- iOS 3 (called iPhone OS 3) – released June 17, 2009 (last 3.2.2 on August 11, 2010)
- iOS 4 – released June 22, 2010 (last 4.3.5 on July 25, 2011)
- iOS 5 – released October 12, 2011 (last 5.1.1 on May 7, 2012)
- iOS 6 – released September 19, 2012 (last 6.1.6 on February 21, 2014)
- iOS 7 – released September 18, 2013 (last 7.1.2 on June 30, 2014)
- iOS 8 – released September 17, 2014 (last 8.4.1 on August 13, 2015)
- iOS 9 – released September 16, 2015 (last 9.3.6 on July 22, 2019)
- iOS 10 – released September 13, 2016 (latest 10.3.4 on July 22, 2019)
- iOS 11 – released September 19, 2017 (latest 11.4.1 on July 9, 2018)
- iOS 12 – released September 17, 2018 (latest 12.5.7 January 23, 2023)
- iOS 13 – Released September 19, 2019 (last 13.7 September 1, 2020)
- iOS 14 – Released September 17, 2020 (last 14.8 September 13, 2021)
- iOS 15 – released September 24, 2021 (latest 15.7.3 January 23, 2023)
- iOS 16 – released September 12, 2022 (last 16.3.1 February 13 2023)
List of iPadOS versions
While iOS was the original operating system for iPad, that changed with the release of iPadOS 13 in 2019. Since then, iPads have had their own platform, allowing Apple to better harness the power of its larger devices. Here is the short release history of iPadOS:
- iPadOS 13 – Released September 24, 2019 (last 13.7 September 1, 2020)
- iPadOS 14 – released September 16, 2020 (last 14.8.1 on October 26, 2021)
- iPadOS 15 – released September 20, 2021 (last 15.7.3 on January 23, 2023)
- iPadOS 16 – released October 24, 2022 (last 16.3.1 on February 13, 2023)
Which iOS versions are currently supported?
As far as new features are concerned, only iOS 16 is currently supported by Apple. However, for those with older versions, Apple supports the three most recent versions of its operating systems with security updates. In fact, Apple goes further back if necessary – in January 2023, for example, there was a security update for iOS 12. iOS 14 can run on the same iPhones as iOS 13, so security updates may be less necessary.
This means that you will still receive security updates to protect your systems from bugs or vulnerabilities, even if your iPhone is not running the latest version of iOS. Apple has done a great job of making the newer iOS versions compatible with older generation iPhones, hence the ability to offer upgrade paths instead of having to keep supporting multiple versions.
iOS 12 is therefore the current safe haven for older iPhones, with the operating system extending the life of devices up to the iPhone 5S released in September 2013. However, we don’t expect Apple to support iOS 12 for much longer. See: How long will Apple support iPhones?
How to tell which version of iOS your iPhone is running
If you’re not sure what version of iOS you’re currently using, it’s very easy to find out. Just go to Settings > General > About and find the iOS version number. It’s the same steps for iPadOS.
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How to install the latest version of iOS
Updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS is easy as long as your device is compatible. This doesn’t require a lot of detective work, though, as your iPhone will know if it’s eligible for the upgrade or not.
To find out, go to Settings > General > Software Update and your iPhone will check if any are still available. You may also see a notification on the Settings page that says “Software update available,” which you can click to go directly to the update page. iPadOS works the same way.
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If there are no updates, you will see a message along the lines of “iOS is up to date.” If one is available, it should tell you on the screen and give you the option to ‘Download and Install’. Do this and your iPhone will automatically apply the update and bring your software to the latest version.
You can also read how to update iOS on iPhone tutorial for more details.
So there it is. A potted history of iOS. There’s bound to be a lot of excitement over the next few years, and you can see what we think Apple could bring to the table by reading iOS 17: every new feature we hope to see unveiled at WWDC.
Want to know more about all versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and macOS: Every version released to date.
