Not sure what version of iOS your iPhone can run? Here’s a quick guide to find out if your iPhone is compatible with the latest versions of the iPhone operating system, and if not, which version you can install on your iPhone.
Apple gives iOS a major update every year, usually introducing new features and stability upgrades over the previous version, as well as many smaller updates in between. Although the company is better than most at keeping older models on the list of supported devices, hardware limitations can sometimes mean an iPhone gets left behind. This does not mean that the device will stop working, but you will not be able to access new features and capabilities that come with the updated software. Also, Apple only supports the three most recent versions of its operating systems, so if your iPhone can’t run one of them, it’s probably time to upgrade your iPhone. To learn more, read how long Apple supports the iPhone.
If you want to see a brief history of iOS, check out our guide to every iOS version released so far.
How to know which version of iOS you are using
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 look for the iOS version number.
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What versions of iOS can each iPhone run?
To show you which version of iOS your iPhone can run, we’ve broken down each generation so you know which version it originally shipped with (because that’ll be the first version it can run) and the latest iteration. that it currently supports. We’ll also assess its chances of being on the compatibility list for iOS 17 when it arrives this fall. We haven’t listed smaller ‘point’ versions because they change all the time, so understand that any version of iOS that the iPhone is advertised as supporting (like iOS 16) also means any update smaller point (like iOS 16.4.1).
It should be noted that Apple has discontinued support for many of the older versions of iOS, which means there are new security patches for them. Apple generally only supports the last three generations of operating system, so it’s currently iOS 17, 16 or 15.
However, Apple released a security update for iOS 12 as recently as January 2023, which expands the list of supported handsets to include the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and iPhone 5S, handsets that arrived in 2014. We don’t imagine that Apple will release any more iOS 12 updates though.
iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- Original iOS version: 16
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Yes
iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- Original iOS version: 15
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Yes
iPhone SE (3rd generation)
- Original iOS version: 15
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Yes
iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- Original iOS version: 14
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Yes
iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- Original iOS version: 13
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Yes
iPhone SE (2nd generation)
- Original iOS version: 13
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Yes
iPhone XR, XS, XS Max
- Original iOS version: 12
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Probably
iPhone X
- Original iOS version: 11
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Maybe
iPhone 8, 8 Plus
- Original iOS version: 11
- Latest iOS version: 16
- Will it get iOS 17: Maybe
iPhone 7, 7 Plus
- Original iOS version: 10
- Latest iOS version: 15
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone 6S, 6S Plus
- Original iOS version: 9
- Latest iOS version: 15
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone SE (1st generation)
- Original iOS version: 9
- Latest iOS version: 15
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone 6, 6 Plus
- Original iOS version: 8
- Latest version of iOS: 12
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iphone 5s
- Original iOS version: 7
- Latest version of iOS: 12
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iphone 5c
- Original iOS version: 7
- Latest version of iOS: 10
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone 5
- Original iOS version: 6
- Latest version of iOS: 10
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iphone 4s
- Original iOS version: 5
- Latest version of iOS: 9
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iphone 4
- Original iOS version: 4
- Latest version of iOS: 7
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone 3GS
- Original iOS version: 3
- Latest iOS version: 6
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone 3G
- Original iOS version: 2
- Latest iOS version: 4
- Will it get iOS 17: No
iPhone
- Original iOS version: 1
- Latest iOS version: 3
- Will it get iOS 17: No
If your iPhone isn’t supported by iOS 17, 16, or 15, you might want to consider upgrading to a newer device. Take a look at our best iPhone deals where we share the latest deals to save you money.
How to Update iOS
Now that you know the latest version of iOS supported by your iPhone, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re using that platform. We have a guide on how to update iOS on your iPhone, so check it out and follow the simple instructions to update your iPhone.
Also, if your iPhone supports iOS 17 and you want to preview what the update will bring, you can always sign up to test a beta before the official launch. This gives you early access to the software, although there are a few caveats to be aware of, so read how to join Apple’s beta software program before jumping in.
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