iOS version history: Complete list of iOS versions to the latest iOS

iOS is at the heart of the iPhone experience. This is the operating system on which everything else is, while offering many features and dedicated applications built by Apple itself.

Each year (generally in September), Apple adds new features to iPhones compatible with an update of iOS, and in the following months, more features arrive. If you want to know what is the latest version of iOS, or if you have already wondered when the versions have come out and what features they have brought, we will answer your questions. We also show you how to check which iOS you are currently using and how to update the last iteration.

As of September 16, 2025, there is a brand new version of iOS. iOS 26 brings a brand new look and many new features.

History of the iOS version

IOS made its debut in 2007 alongside the first iPhone. However, when Steve Jobs held the small altitude apparatus revealing him to the world for the first time, he did not work iOS 1. Instead, Apple was reported by OS X, the Mac software. Over time, he was called iPhone OS, until it was finally his now legendary name in the fourth generation of the software when he was shortened to iOS in 2010.

Significant steps are dispersed in the iOS chronology, the first being the introduction of the App Store in iPhone OS 2 in 2008. IOS 4 saw the iPad join the scene and use the operating system next to the iPhone.

IOS 5 was introduced with the iPhone 4S in 2011, which saw Siri’s debut as an integrated role in the operating system. Unfortunately, it was the latest version of the software to be published when Apple CEO and founder Steve Jobs were still alive.

Apple

Things have changed considerably in iOS 11 in 2017, because it brought the first Touch and Gesture interface, allowing the first iPhone without a home button – the iPhone X.

Another major change was with iOS 13 in 2019 because it marked the bifurcation of Apple mobile operating systems, with iOS iOS, but the newly announced iPados fueling new iPads.

IOS 17 and iPados 17 arrived in 2023, then iOS 18 and iPados 18 in 2024. Rather than progressing to iOS 19, Apple aligned the numbering of all its operating systems according to the year – so for the 2025 to 2026 version, it is iOS 26.

Here is how the last two iOS versions compare: iOS 26 vs iOS 18.

List of iOS versions and latest versions

Here is a ventilation of all the versions of iOS that have been published, when they were published, when they were updated for the last time and the latest iOS version.

• iPhone OS 1 – released on June 29, 2007 (last 1.1.5 July 15, 2008)
• iPhone OS 2 – released on July 11, 2008 (last 2.2.1 January 27, 2009)
• iPhone OS 3 – released on June 17, 2009 (last 3.2.2 August 11, 2010)
• IOS 4 – released on June 22, 2010 (last 4.3.5 July 25, 2011)
• iOS 5 – released on October 12, 2011 (last 5.1.1 May 7, 2012)
• IOS 6 – released on September 19, 2012 (last 6.1.6 February 21, 2014)
• IOS 7 – released on September 18, 2013 (last 7.1.2 June 30, 2014)
• iOS 8 – released on September 17, 2014 (last 8.4.1 August 13, 2015)
• iOS 9 – released on September 16, 2015 (last 9.3.6 July 22, 2019)
• iOS 10 – released on September 13, 2016 (last 10.3.4 July 22, 2019)
• IOS 11 – released on September 19, 2017 (last 11.4.1 July 9, 2018)
• IOS 12 – released on September 17, 2018 (last 12.5.7 January 23, 2023)
• IOS 13 – released on September 19, 2019 (last 13.7 September 1, 2020)
• IOS 14 – released on September 17, 2020 (last 14.8.1 October 26, 2021)
• IOS 15 – released on September 24, 2021 (last iOS 15.8.3 July 29, 2024)
• IOS 16 – released on September 12, 2022 (last iOS 16.7.11 March 31, 2025)
• IOS 17 – released on September 18, 2023 (last iOS 17.7.2 November 19, 2024)
• IOS 18 – released on September 16, 2024 (last iOS 18.7 September 15, 2025)
• iOS 26 – released on September 15, 2025

List of iPados versions

While iOS was the initial operating system for iPad, this changed with the release of iPados 13 in 2019. Since then, the iPad have had their own platform, allowing Apple to better exploit the power of its larger devices. Here is the story of the short version of iPados:

• IOS 12 – released on September 17, 2018 (last 12.5.7 January 23, 2023)
• iPados 13 – released on September 24, 2019 (last 13.7 September 1, 2020)
• iPados 14 – released on September 16, 2020 (last 14.8.1 October 26, 2021)
• Ipados 15 – released on September 20, 2021 (last 15.8.3 July 29, 2024)
• iPados 16 – released on October 24, 2022 (last 16.7.11 March 31, 2025)
• iPados 17 – released on September 18, 2023 (last iPados 17.7.10 August 20, 2025)
• iPados 18 – released on September 16, 2024 (last iPados 18.7. 15 September 2025)
• iPados 26 – released on September 15, 2025

See also: How long Apple takes care of the iPads?

What iOS versions are currently supported?

In terms of new features, only iOS 26 is currently supported by Apple. When Apple introduced iOS 26, this will stop the development of new features for iOS 18, but it will continue to provide security updates.

Apple tends to support the last two iOS versions with safety updates if necessary. In November 2024, Apple updated iOS 17 with security updates. IOS 16 was updated more recently, iOS 16.7.11 in March 2025. (Ipados 16 also saw an update in March 2025 and iPados 17 in August 2025.)

Apple’s support for iOS 16 should not extend in 2025, but the update of the security of March was good news for those who have an iPhones 8 and 8 Plus and the iPhone X because they would be vulnerable without the update. We do not provide that the support of iOS 16 will continue with the arrival of iOS 16.

Apple can stop the support for iOS 17 with the arrival of iOS 26 because iOS 17 works on the same iPhones as iOS 18.

Fortunately, many iPhones are able to carry out versions supported by iOS. See: How long Apple takes care of iPhones?

We execute which iPhone supports the version of iOS in a separate article: iOS compatibility: Discover the latest version your iPhone can run. You can also find it in a useful graphic.

Foundry

How to say which version of iOS your iPhone works

If you are not sure of the iOS version you are currently using, it is very easy to discover. Go to Settings> General> About And look for it iOS version number. These are the same steps for iPados.

Foundry

How to install the latest version of iOS

Updating your iPhone to the latest version of iOS is simple, as long as your device is compatible. However, this does not require much detective work, as your iPhone will know if it is eligible for upgrading or not.

To discover, go to Settings> General> Software updateAnd your iPhone will check if there is available. You can also see a notification on the Settings page which indicates the “update of the available software”, which you can click to access the update page directly. The iPados work in the same way.

Foundry

If there are no updates, you will see a message in the direction of “iOS is up to date”. If there is one available, it should tell you on the screen and give you the opportunity 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 our tutorial on how to update iOS on iOS on iPhone for more details.

So that’s it. A story in a pot of iOS. Do you want to know all versions of macOS? Read: Mac OS X and MacOS: Each version published so far. You can also find out what is the latest version of MacOS.