How to Find What iOS Version is on iPhone or iPad

Feb 18, 2019 - 5 Comments

How to Check what iOS version running on iPhone or iPad

iOS is the operating system that runs on every iPhone, and iPadOS on every newer iPad, but while many users may know the model of their iPhone or iPad, perhaps fewer people may know what version of iOS or iPadOS they are running. Knowing what version of iOS is installed and running on an iPhone or iPad can be important for knowing compatibility with certain features and apps, so with that in mind we’ll show you how to tell which iOS version is running on any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

How to Check What iOS Software Version is Installed on an iPhone or iPad

Here is how you an quickly determine which version of iOS or iPadOS is running on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

  1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on the iPhone or iPad
  2. iOS settings icon

  3. Go to “General”
  4. How to find what iOS version is running on iPhone or iPad

  5. Now choose “About”
  6. How to find what iOS version is running on iPhone or iPad

  7. At the About screen, look alongside “Version” to see which iOS version is installed and running on the iPhone or iPad
  8. How to find what iOS version is running on iPhone or iPad

Alongside the iOS version number you will also see the iOS release software build number.

This approach to finding the iOS version is the same regardless of the device being an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and regardless of what iOS version is running on that device.

Knowing the version of iOS you have installed on an iPhone or iPad may be irrelevant to many casual users, though it can be helpful to know for troubleshooting general purposes, discovering app compatibility, knowing which features a particular iPhone or iPad currently has available to it, before using IPSW files (and similarly, determining what if an iOS version and accompanying IPSW is being signed or not), and more.

If you find out you’re running an older iOS version than what is currently available, you can always update to the latest version of your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings > General > Software Update and installing any update that is available. Be sure to backup an iPhone or iPad before doing so. Note that rarely an older iOS version will appear as an available update when a newer version is available, if that happens to you you can learn how to fix it if a wrong iOS version is showing up in Software Update.

Note that you can also check what iOS version is on an iPhone or iPad by connecting the device to a computer running iTunes, whether it is a Mac or Windows PC does not matter, once the device has been recognized by iTunes it will reveal the iOS version in the general summary section for that device.

Aside from the iOS world, Macintosh computer users can check what Mac OS version is running on a Mac easily as well.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, Tips & Tricks, Troubleshooting

5 Comments

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  1. RA XA says:

    Hey Paul,
    Thanks for great tip, I know it already some years and
    how to Update, too. My version is 12.1.4; the next update must be 13 ?
    Have a great week!
    Friendly greetings from 🇷🇺

  2. Louie says:

    Thanks for the tip. BTW there is a third approach to find out the software version besides going into settings or connecting to itunes: simply ask Siri “what version of iOS am I running?” or on the Mac “what version of macOS am I running?” and Siri will respond with the software version and even the build number. The only device where this approach of asking Siri doesn’t work is the Apple Watch.

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