Not sure which model of iOS your iPhone can run? Right here’s a fast information so you’ll find out in case your iPhone is appropriate with the newest iterations of the iPhone working system, and, if it isn’t, which model you’ll be able to set up in your iPhone.
Apple provides iOS a significant replace every year, normally introducing new options and a few stability upgrades to the earlier model, plus quite a few smaller updates in between. The present model of iOS is iOS 18, which arrived in September 2024, however since then there have been a number of updates, together with iOS 18.5 in Might 2025.
A brand new replace to iOS is coming later in 2025. iOS 26 (the bounce from 18 to 26 is as a result of Apple has realigned the numbering to match the yr) will convey a model new design and many new options to iPhones. However will iOS 26 run in your iPhone? Sadly the compatibility listing for iOS 26 is barely smaller than that for iOS 18. In case your iPhone is older than the iPhone 11 you miss out on the brand new iOS.
Even with an iPhone 11 you received’t get all the brand new options coming with iOS 26. For the Apple Intelligence-powered options you’ll want the iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Professional or 16 Professional Max, iPhone 16e, or the iPhone 15 Professional or iPhone 15 Professional Max.
Not with the ability to run the latest iOS isn’t essentially a purpose to improve your iPhone. When you received’t be capable of benefit from the latest options, Apple does proceed to problem software program updates to deal with safety vulnerabilities in latest variations of iOS. It would in all probability be the case that Apple will help iOS 18 with safety updates after iOS 26 arrives. It’s when your iPhone can’t run a supported model of iOS that you just actually do have to think about upgrading. We clarify how lengthy Apple helps the iPhone for in a separate article and you’ll see which iPhones help which model of iOS within the chart under.
Though Apple is healthier than most at preserving older fashions on the listing of supported gadgets, {hardware} limitations can imply that an iPhone will get left behind. In case your iPhone can’t run considered one of Apple’s supported variations of iOS then it’s in all probability time to improve your iPhone. To seek out out extra learn how lengthy Apple helps the iPhone for.
If you wish to see a short historical past of iOS, then check out our information to Each model of iOS launched thus far.
Newest iOS model supported by every iPhone
To point out you which of them model of iOS your iPhone can run, we’ve damaged down every iPhone era so you understand which model it initially shipped with (as that would be the earliest it could run) and the most recent iteration it presently helps–together with whether or not that iPhone will help iOS 26.
It needs to be famous that Apple has stopped supporting a number of the older variations of iOS now, that means there are not any new safety patches for them. Alongside the most recent iOS, Apple normally helps two (or generally three) generations of the iPhone working system with safety updates. The final replace to iOS 17 was iOS 17.7.2 in November 2024. The final safety replace for iOS 16 (iOS 16.7.11) was launched in March 2025.
With iOS 26 it’s probably that Apple will finish help for iOS 16 and the iPhones X, 8 and eight Plus. When iOS 18 arrived Apple ended help for iOS 15 (final up to date in July 2024) and with it help for the iPhones 7, 6S, 6S Plus and 1st gen SE.
iOS 18 helps the identical iPhones that have been in a position to run iOS 17, so Apple may additionally finish help for iOS 17 with the arrival of iOS 26 later in 2026.

Each model of iOS and the supported iPhones
Foundry
iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Professional, 16 Professional Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 18
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Professional, 15 Professional Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 17
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Professional, 14 Professional Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 16
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Professional, 13 Professional Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 15
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone SE (third era)
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 15
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Professional, 12 Professional Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 14
- Does it run iOS 18: Sure
iPhone 11, 11 Professional, 11 Professional Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 13
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone SE (2nd era)
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 13
- Does it run iOS 26: Sure
iPhone XR, XS, XS Max
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 12
- Does it run iOS 26: No
- Final appropriate model: iOS 18
iPhone X
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 11
- Final appropriate model: iOS 16
iPhone 8, 8 Plus
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 11
- Final appropriate model: iOS 16
iPhone 7, 7 Plus
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 10
- Final appropriate model: iOS 15
iPhone 6S, 6S Plus
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 9
- Final appropriate model: iOS 15
iPhone SE (1st era)
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 9
- Final appropriate model: iOS 15
iPhone 6, 6 Plus
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 8
- Final appropriate model: iOS 12
iPhone 5S
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 7
- Final appropriate model: iOS 12
iPhone 5C
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 7
- Final appropriate model: iOS 10
iPhone 5
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 6
- Final appropriate model: iOS 10
iPhone 4s
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 5
- Final appropriate model: iOS 9
iPhone 4
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 4
- Final appropriate model: iOS 7
iPhone 3GS
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 3
- Final appropriate model: iOS 6
iPhone 3G
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 2
- Final appropriate model: iOS 4
iPhone
- Authentic iOS model: iOS 1
- Final appropriate model: iOS 3
In case your iPhone isn’t supported by iOS 24 or 18 then you definately would possibly wish to contemplate upgrading to a more moderen gadget. Check out our finest iPhone offers round-up the place we share the newest money-saving offers. Learn our finest iPhone information for recommendation.
inform which model of iOS you’re operating
In case you’re unsure which model of iOS you’re presently operating, it’s very straightforward to seek out out.
- Open Settings.
- Faucet on Common.
- Faucet About and search for the iOS Model quantity.

Foundry
improve iOS
Now that you understand the most recent model of iOS that your iPhone helps, it’s a good suggestion to be sure to’re operating on that platform. Now we have a information on the right way to replace iOS in your iPhone, so check out that and observe the straightforward directions to get your iPhone updated.