iOS compatibility: Find out the latest version your iPhone can run

Macworld

Unsure which version of iOS your iPhone can run? Here’s a quick guide so you can find out if your iPhone is compatible with the most recent iterations of the iPhone operating system, and, if it isn’t, which version you can install on your iPhone.

Apple gives iOS a major update each year, usually introducing new features and some stability upgrades to the previous version, plus numerous smaller updates in between. The new version of iOS is iOS 17 (launching in September 2023).

Although the company is better than most at keeping older models on the list of supported devices, hardware limitations can sometimes mean that an iPhone gets left behind. This doesn’t mean the device will stop working, but you won’t be able to access the newer features and capabilities that come with the updated software and you may be vulnerable to security flaws. If your iPhone can’t run one of Apple’s supported versions of iOS then it’s probably time to upgrade your iPhone. To find out more read how long Apple supports the iPhone for.

If you want to see a brief history of iOS, then take a look at our guide to Every version of iOS released so far.

The latest iOS version supported by each iPhone

To show you which version of iOS your iPhone can run, we’ve broken down each iPhone generation so you know which version it originally shipped with (as that will be the earliest it can run) and the latest iteration it currently supports–including whether that iPhone will support iOS 17. We’ve not listed the smaller ‘point’ releases, as they change all the time, so take it as understood that any version of iOS that the iPhone is shown as supporting (such as iOS 16) also means any smaller point updates too (such as iOS 16.4.1).

It should be noted that Apple has stopped supporting a lot of the older versions of iOS now, meaning there are no new security patches for them. Apple currently supports the last two generations of the iPhone operating system: iOS 16 or 15. Because iPhones that could run iOS 13 and iOS 14 can run iOS 15, those versions of iOS are considered obsolete by Apple and aren’t updated.

If support ended at iOS 15 though that would leave a number of iPhones unsupported, so Apple has been known to issue security updates for iOS 12–one arrived as recently as January 2023. This extended the list of supported handsets to include the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and the iPhone 5S, handsets that arrived in 2014, and a few iPads that can’t be upgraded to iPadOS. We don’t imagine that Apple will be issuing any further iOS 12 updates though.

With the advent of iOS 17 in September the list of supported iOS versions will likely change again. We anticipate that Apple will continue to support iOS 16 for the sake of the iPhones X, 8 and 8 Plus, and iOS 15 for the iPhones 7, 6S, 6S Plus and SE. But iPhones 6, 6 Plus and 5S, which rely on iOS 12, will probably lose support.

iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max

Original iOS version: 17

Latest iOS version: 17

Will it get iOS 17: Yes

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: Yes

iPhone X

Original iOS version: 11

Latest iOS version: 16

Will it get iOS 17: No

iPhone 8, 8 Plus

Original iOS version: 11

Latest iOS version: 16

Will it get iOS 17: No

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 iOS version: 12

Will it get iOS 17: No

iPhone 5S

Original iOS version: 7

Latest iOS version: 12

Will it get iOS 17: No

iPhone 5C

Original iOS version: 7

Latest iOS version: 10

Will it get iOS 17: No

iPhone 5

Original iOS version: 6

Latest iOS version: 10

Will it get iOS 17: No

iPhone 4s

Original iOS version: 5

Latest iOS version: 9

Will it get iOS 17: No

iPhone 4

Original iOS version: 4

Latest iOS version: 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 then you might want to consider upgrading to a newer device. Take a look at our best iPhone deals round-up where we share the most recent money-saving deals.

How to tell which version of iOS you’re running

If you’re not sure which version of iOS you’re currently running, it’s very easy to find out.

Open Settings.

Tap on General.

Tap About and look for the iOS Version number.

The number you’re looking for will be something like 16.0 or 15.3.1. Don’t worry about the bit in parentheses.Foundry

How to upgrade iOS

Now that you know the latest version of iOS that your iPhone supports, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re running on that platform. We have a guide on how to update iOS on your iPhone, so take a look at that and follow the simple instructions to get your iPhone up to date.

Also, if your iPhone supports iOS 17 you sign up to test a beta version of iOS 17 before the official launch and following that as Apple develops even more new features for iOS 17. There are a few caveats to consider, so read how to join Apple’s beta software program before you take the plunge.  

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