What Version of iOS Does My iPhone or iPad Have?.
Apple regularly updates iOS and iPadOS with new features and security fixes for iPhone and iPad. Knowing which OS version your device is running will help you understand its capabilities.
This guide shows you how to check iOS and iPadOS versions on iPhone and iPad respectively.
Why You Should Care About Your iPhone’s Version of iOS
iPhone and iPad receive frequent software updates that add useful features.
For example, iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3 brought Universal Control to the iPad and Mac. This multitasking feature allows you to use one mouse for two devices to control them on the fly. Similarly, Apple launched SharePlay, a big iOS 15 feature, with the iOS 15.1 update, which arrived a couple of months after the launch of the iPhone 13.
The new versions of iOS also introduce security updates and fix critical vulnerabilities in your iPhone or iPad software. If you use Wi-Fi or cellular data to get online, you should always have the latest version of iOS or iPadOS installed to keep your device safe online.
Sometimes, updates to accessories such as Apple Watch require newer versions of iOS. For example, you can’t install watchOS 8 on your Apple Watch if your iPhone is older than iOS 15.
Apple is also using iOS and iPadOS updates to add new features to its apps and services such as Safari, FaceTime, iMessage, AirPlay, podcasts and shortcuts. Even if you’re not really interested in the latest updates, you should still update your iOS devices to get access to useful features across all Apple apps.
If your device is covered by a newer version of iOS, you can download the update at the same time as newer iOS devices. Unlike Microsoft Windows and Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS, iPadOS, and macOS updates are available to all devices at the same time.
How To Check Which Version of iOS or iPadOS Your iPhone or iPad Have
There are several ways to check which version of iOS is on your iPhone or iPad. The easiest way is to open the Settings app on your iPhone, go to General > About and check the version number listed next to Software version. These steps are the same for iPad and iPod touch.
The fastest way to check your iOS version is to ask Siri. You can launch Siri by pressing and holding the side button or the power button on your iPhone or iPad and saying the voice command: “Version number”. The voice assistant will tell you which version of iOS or iPadOS you are using.
How To Update iOS or iPadOS on Your iPhone or iPad
There are several ways to update iOS and iPadOS on your iPhone and iPad. No, you cannot download operating system updates from the App Store. To do this, you will need to use the Settings app. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad.
Wait while the device checks for updates; if an update is available, it can be downloaded and installed immediately.
Alternatively, you can connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, open Finder, and click on the device’s name on the left sidebar. This method is best used if your smartphone is unable to connect to your Wi-Fi network or if it does not have enough space to install an iOS update.
First, back up your iPhone or iPad to Mac. Then click the Check for updates button in the right pane and install the update.
The same can be done using iTunes on Windows or older versions of Mac. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer, open iTunes, and click the device icon located between the Music and Library tabs at the top. Click the Summary tab on the left and click the Check for Updates button on the right pane.
Don’t forget to backup your iOS device with iTunes. After that, you can easily download the latest iOS update.
Which Is the Latest Version of iOS
It’s also a good idea to keep track of the latest iOS versions for your device. At the time of writing, the latest version of iOS is iOS 15. Apple introduced iOS 16 at WWDC 2022 and plans to release it in Fall 2022.
Keep in mind that older devices such as the iPhone 5s do not support modern versions of iOS. The remaining devices will only be updated to the latest version of the latest major operating system update they received.
Here’s a helpful list so you can check what the latest iOS update version number is for each major version:
iOS 6: version 6.1.6 iOS 7: 7.1.2 iOS 8: version 8.4 .1 iOS 9: version 9.3.6 iOS 10: version 10.3.4 iOS 11: version 11.4.1 iOS 12: version 12.5.5 iOS 13: version 13.7 iOS 14: version 14.8.1 iOS 15: version 15.5
Which Devices Support iOS 15 and iPadOS 15
We’re here to help you check if your iPhone or iPad is compatible with the latest version of iOS. The following devices support iOS 15:
iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 6S iPhone 6S Plus iPhone SE (1st generation or later) iPod touch (7th generation)
The following iPad models support iPadOS 15:
iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st generation and later) iPad Pro 10.5-inch iPad Pro 9.7-inch iPad (5th generation or later) iPad mini (5th generation or later) iPad mini 4 iPad Air (3rd generation or later) li>iPad Air 2
Which Devices Support iOS 16 and iPadOS 16
If you are planning to upgrade to iOS 16, you will need one of the following devices:
iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
To run iPadOS 16, you need one of the following iPad models:
iPad Pro (all models) iPad Air (3rd generation and later) iPad (5th generation and later) iPad mini (5th generation and later)
Always Stay Up-To-Date
Using the latest stable version of iOS is rarely a bad idea. If you’re having issues with iOS update stuck, here are 13 ways to fix the problem. If you don’t have access to a Wi-Fi network, here’s how to update an iPhone without Wi-Fi.
Once these minor glitches are fixed, you will be able to enjoy the latest versions of iOS and iPadOS on your iPhone and iPad.
What Version of iOS Does My iPhone or iPad Have?
What Version of iOS Does My iPhone or iPad Have?