Version of the iOS operating system | |
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![]() iOS 16 home screen on an iPhone 14 Pro | |
Developer | Apple |
---|---|
General availability | September 12, 2022 |
Latest release | 16.7.10 [1] (August 7, 2024 ) [±] |
Available in | 89 languages [2] |
Kernel type | Hybrid (XNU) |
License | Proprietary software with open-source components |
Preceded by | iOS 15 |
Succeeded by | iOS 17 |
Official website | iOS 16 at the Wayback Machine (archived August 2, 2023) |
Tagline | Personal is powerful. |
Support status | |
Receiving security updates for iPhones that do not support iOS 17. Widespread third-party app support. Drops support for all A9 and A10 Fusion chips, including the iPhone 6s/6s Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 7/7 Plus, and iPod Touch (7th generation). | |
Articles in the series | |
iPadOS 16 (derivative for iPad) |
iOS 16 is the sixteenth major release of Apple's iOS mobile operating system for the iPhone. It is the successor of iOS 15, and was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022, alongside iPadOS 16, [3] and released on September 12, 2022. It was succeeded by iOS 17 on September 18, 2023.
It is the first iOS release to be exclusive to iPhones since the first version release of iPhone OS 1, as it drops support for the last iPod Touch. It is also the last iOS release to support iPhone models with a 5.5-inch display, specifically the iPhone 8 Plus. [4]
Freeform is a whiteboard app that lets users collaborate together in real time. The whiteboard is an "Infinite" space where users can draw, import files, FaceTime, message, all fluently in sync.
In iOS 16.2, the default setting is "Contacts Only”, and the "Everyone" setting was changed to "Everyone for 10 Minutes,” which reverts to "Contacts Only" after 10 minutes [5] "to prevent unwanted requests to receive content.” [6] This was enabled in iOS 16.1.1 for iPhones in China. [7]
The status bar can display the battery percentage on iPhones with Face ID, so the user doesn't need to pull-down the Control Center to see it.
During text dictation, the keyboard is always present and allows the user to switch from speech to manual typing and vice versa without interruptions. It is also possible to insert emojis through dictation. Auto-Punctuation automatically inserts a period when there is a pause in the dictation.
Previously saved Wi-Fi networks are shown which can be edited, deleted or selected to view the network password after authentication via Face ID or Touch ID. Prior to this change, users’ only option for removing previously connected-to networks was to tap ‘forget this network’ from within the settings app which could only be done if connected to that network. Users also had (and still have) the ability to wipe all previously known networks from their iOS devices by choosing ‘erase network settings’ from Settings–>General–>Transfer or reset iPhone(at bottom)–>Reset–>Reset Network Settings. The latter option is frequently advised to those seeking to fix a multitude of both Wi-Fi and cellular network issues arising on users iOS devices.
During the configuration of the Cellular Network, the eSIM from another iPhone can be transferred via Bluetooth.
Backups to iCloud can also be made on 4G, alongside 5G and Wi-Fi.
Face ID works when the phone is oriented horizontally. It is limited to the iPhone 13 and later.
Haptic feedback can be enabled for the keyboard; while typing text a small vibration can be felt which simulates the pressing of mechanical keys.
iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and tvOS 16 have support for connecting Nintendo Switch Joy-Con and Pro Controllers. [8]
A new framework dubbed RoomPlan will allow apps to quickly create 3D floor plans of rooms using the LiDAR Scanner introduced with the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. [9]
Live Captions automatically transcribes what is said during a FaceTime call.
iOS 16 allows cross-device connectivity in tvOS 16 for new experiences between Apple TV, Apple Watch, and iPhone.[ citation needed ]
Lockdown mode is a special mode that, when activated, raises the security to the highest possible level by restricting some features of the OS, apps and web platform, in order to protect users from the rarest and most sophisticated attacks. [12]
Unlike many other security features, lockdown mode is regarded as an “extreme, optional” [12] mode that is not intended to be activated by the majority of users. Rather, it is designed as a defense against advanced malware and mercenary spyware, such as clickless exploits or zero-click attacks, which are often hyper-targeted toward influential individuals such as journalists, diplomats, politicians, activists, lawyers, and high-profile business people. [13] [14]
It is possible to disable the Lockdown mode on specific websites and apps by acting from the Safari’s Website Settings and the Lockdown mode's Web Browsing setting.
Passkeys allows the user to authenticate to services that implement WebAuthn across their devices without using passwords. Passkeys are generated by the phone and permission is granted via Face ID or Touch ID. [15]
Safety Check resets all access permissions given to people, apps, and devices for an iCloud account when activated; this is designed to help those in abusive relationships.
Important security updates are now distributed without requiring an entire OS update. Users can optionally remove the security updates, although the standard update will still include the security fixes. [16]
Applications and websites now require permission to copy from the clipboard.
Private Access Tokens are a new technology that replaces CAPTCHAs and helps in identifying HTTP requests from legitimate devices and people without compromising their identity or personal information. [17]
Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) helps users to easily verify authenticated emails sent by brands by displaying the brand's logo alongside the email's header.
iOS 16 requires iPhones with an A11 Bionic [lower-alpha 1] SoC or later, which means it drops support for devices with an A9 [lower-alpha 2] and A10 Fusion [lower-alpha 3] SoC, iOS 16 is the first version of iOS to drop support for iPhone without a 3.5 mm headphone jack, officially marking the end of support for the iPod Touch. iOS 16 is the first version of iOS to drop support for an iPhone SE. However, iPhones with an A11 Bionic SoC have limited support [lower-alpha 4] while iPhones with an A12 Bionic SoC or newer [lower-alpha 5] have full support. [18]
The cutoff for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus has been criticized due to the iPad 5th, 6th and 7th generations supporting iPadOS 16 despite having similar or even weaker hardware. [19]
The iPhone 16 series is rumored to include the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. [20]
The first developer beta of iOS 16 was released on June 6, 2022. iOS 16 was officially released on September 12, 2022.
Previous release | Current release | Current beta release | Security response |
Version | Build | Codename | Release date | Release notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
16.0 | 20A362 | Sydney | September 12, 2022 | Release notes |
16.0.1 [lower-alpha 6] | 20A371 | September 14, 2022 | Release notes | |
16.0.2 | 20A380 | September 22, 2022 | Release notes | |
16.0.3 | 20A392 | October 10, 2022 | Release notes | |
16.1 | 20B82 | SydneyB | October 24, 2022 | Release notes |
16.1.1 | 20B101 | November 9, 2022 | Release notes | |
16.1.2 | 20B110 | November 30, 2022 | Release notes | |
16.2 | 20C65 | SydneyC | December 13, 2022 | Release notes |
16.3 | 20D47 | SydneyD | January 23, 2023 | Release notes |
16.3.1 | 20D67 | February 13, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.4 | 20E247 | SydneyE | March 27, 2023 | Release notes |
16.4.1 | 20E252 | April 7, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.4.1 (a) | 20E772520a | May 1, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.5 | 20F66 | SydneyF | May 18, 2023 | Release notes |
16.5.1 | 20F75 | June 21, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.5.1 (a) | 20F770750b | July 10, 2023 | Security content | |
16.5.1 (c) | 20F770750d | July 12, 2023 | Security content | |
16.6 | 20G75 | SydneyG | July 24, 2023 | Release notes |
16.6.1 | 20G81 | September 7, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.7 | 20H19 | SydneySecurityDawn | September 21, 2023 | Release notes |
16.7.1 | 20H30 | October 10, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.7.2 | 20H115 | SydneySecurityDawnB | October 25, 2023 | Release notes |
16.7.3 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H232 | SydneySecurityDawnC | December 11, 2023 | Release notes |
16.7.4 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H240 | December 19, 2023 | Release notes | |
16.7.5 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H307 | SydneySecurityDawnD | January 22, 2024 | Release notes |
16.7.6 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H320 | SydneySecurityDawnE | March 5, 2024 | Release notes |
16.7.7 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H330 | March 21, 2024 | Release notes | |
16.7.8 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H343 | SydneySecurityDawnF | May 13, 2024 | Release notes |
16.7.9 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H348 | SydneySecurityDawnG | July 29, 2024 | Release notes |
16.7.10 [lower-alpha 7] | 20H350 | SydneySecurityDawnH | August 7, 2024 | Release notes |
SpringBoard is the standard application that manages the iPhone's home screen. Other tasks include starting WindowServer, launching and bootstrapping applications, and setting some of the device's settings on startup.
iPadOS is a mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc. for its iPad line of tablet computers. It was given a name distinct from iOS, the operating system used by Apple's iPhones to reflect the diverging features of the two product lines, such as multitasking. It was introduced as iPadOS 13 in 2019, reflecting its status as the successor to iOS 12 for the iPad, at the company's 2019 Worldwide Developers Conference.
Messages is a text messaging software application developed by Apple Inc. for its macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and visionOS operating systems.
iOS 7 is the seventh major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 6. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10, 2013, and was released on September 18 of that year. It was succeeded by iOS 8 on September 17, 2014.
iOS 8 is the eighth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 7. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 2, 2014, and was released on September 17, 2014. It was succeeded by iOS 9 on September 16, 2015.
iOS 9 is the ninth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 8. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, 2015, and was released on September 16, 2015. It was succeeded by iOS 10 on September 13, 2016.
iOS 10 is the tenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iOS 9. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 13, 2016, and was released on September 13, that year. It was succeeded by iOS 11 on September 19, 2017.
iOS 11 is the eleventh major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple, being the successor to iOS 10. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, 2017, and was released on September 19, 2017. It was succeeded by iOS 12 on September 17, 2018.
iOS 12 is the twelfth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple. Aesthetically similar to its predecessor, iOS 11, it focuses more on performance than on new features, quality improvements and security updates. Announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 4, 2018, iOS 12 was released to the public on September 17, 2018. It was succeeded for the iPhone and iPod Touch by iOS 13 on September 19, 2019, and for the iPad by iPadOS 13 on September 24, 2019. Security updates for iOS 12 continued for four years after the releases of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 for devices unable to run the newer versions. The last update, 12.5.7, was released on January 23, 2023.
iOS 13 is the thirteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple for the iPhone, iPod Touch and HomePod. The successor to iOS 12, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 3, 2019, and released on September 19, 2019. It was succeeded by iOS 14, released on September 16, 2020.
Find My is an asset tracking service made by Apple Inc. that enables users to track the location of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS devices, AirPods, AirTags, and a number of supported third-party accessories through a connected iCloud account. Users can also show their primary device's geographic location to others, and can view the location of others who choose to share their location. Find My was released alongside iOS 13 on September 19, 2019, merging the functions of the former Find My iPhone and Find My Friends into a single app. On watchOS, Find My is separated into three different applications: Find Devices, Find People and Find Items.
iOS 14 is the fourteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple for the iPhone and iPod touch lines. Announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 22, 2020 as the successor to iOS 13, it was released to the public on September 16, 2020. It was succeeded by iOS 15 on September 20, 2021.
iPadOS 15 is the third major release of the iPadOS operating system developed by Apple for its iPad line of tablet computers. The successor to iPadOS 14, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 7, 2021 along with iOS 15, macOS Monterey, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15. It was released to the public on September 20, 2021. It was succeeded by iPadOS 16, which was released on October 24, 2022.
iOS 15 is the fifteenth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple for its iPhone and iPod Touch lines of products. It was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, 2021, as the successor to iOS 14 and released to the public on September 20, 2021.
macOS Ventura is the nineteenth major release of macOS, Apple's operating system for Macintosh computers. The successor to macOS Monterey, it was announced at WWDC 2022 on June 6, 2022, and launched on October 24, 2022. macOS Ventura was succeeded by macOS Sonoma, which was released on September 26, 2023.
iPadOS 16 is the fourth major release of the iPadOS operating system developed by Apple for its iPad line of tablet computers. The successor to iPadOS 15, it was announced at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 6, 2022, along with iOS 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16. It received numerous new features, improving multitasking and many other aspects of the operating system, most notably on iPads with Apple's M1 SoC and later.
iOS 17 is the seventeenth and current major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. It is the direct successor to iOS 16, which was released one year earlier. It was announced on June 5, 2023, at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference alongside watchOS 10, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. It was made publicly available on September 18, 2023, as a free software update for supported iOS devices. iOS 17 has received security and bug-fix updates multiple times a month, and feature updates every few months. Beta builds are sent weekly or biweekly to members of the Apple Developer Program and public beta testers. As with every release since iOS 4, these updates are free to users.
iOS 18 is the upcoming eighteenth major release of Apple's iOS operating system for the iPhone. It was announced on June 10, 2024, at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). It is the direct successor to iOS 17 and was announced alongside iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and tvOS 18.
Apple has also released iOS 15.8.3 and iOS 16.7.9 security updates for devices not able to run iOS 17.