iOS is the software that runs the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. There’s a new iOS every year, and each version brings many new features, apps and capabilities to the device you already own. Just tap Settings, then General and Software Update. The updates are free and most Apple users upgrade within a few days.
Learn how to back up your device and update today.
Check out Apple’s iOS page for more details.
Here are some great Apple tutorials for iOS. They work best on your device but you can also use them on the computer.
Learn how the latest macOS makes your Mac, iPhone & iPad work even better together.
Here’s a timeline of changes over the years
- iOS 5 (2011) added the modern notification system, iMessage, Reminders, Twitter & iCloud.
- iOS 6 (2012) featured turn-by-turn directions & Flyover city maps. Siri got smarter with sports scores & dinner reservations, Facebook services and panorama photos were added.
- iOS 7 (2013) brought the biggest changes with a new interface and Control Center. Photo collections that automatically sort your shots by place & time. Passwords can sync between all your devices and Macs. New Siri voices and functions – play voicemail, search Twitter, Wikipedia and more. Find My iPhone improvements to prevent unauthorized people from using your device.
- iOS 8 (2014) added photo features like time-lapse & iCloud Photo Library. Family Sharing let you use the same iTunes content & apps on up to 5 Apple ID accounts, iCloud Drive for syncing documents and the Health app. Continuity so you can answer iPhone calls on your Mac & text non-Apple cell phones. iOS also opened the door to Apple Pay, HomeKit and the Apple Watch.
- iOS 9 (2015) brought the News & Apple Pay. iPad added Split View, Slide Over & Picture-in-Picture.
