When is the iOS 16 & iPadOS 16 Release Date?

It’s understandable to be excited about the iOS 16 release date, with new fun features coming to the iPhone like a customizable lock screen with widgets, the ability to edit sent iMessages, new Safari tab grouping features, new iCloud Photo Library features, and more. And similarly, you may be excited to get iPadOS 16 on an iPad with the new Stage Manager multitasking feature.

So when does iOS 16 for iPhone come out for everyone else? When is the beta finished? And when is the release date for iPadOS 16 for iPad?

Currently, iOS 16 for iPhone and iPadOS 16 for iPad are both in beta, which means they’re in active development. These beta versions are available for developers and for public beta testers for the curious and adventurous. Because of the nature of beta system software, only advanced users should be messing around with beta software.

iOS 16 Release Date is Officially “Fall”

Apple has publicly said the iOS 16 release date will be in the fall of 2022. That’s sort of a vague timeline, but fall begins on September 22 this year.

Typically, Apple releases new iOS versions soon after they announce a new iPhone, which lately has been towards the middle to end of September.

This gives us a clue as to when the iOS 16 release date will actually be, and it would be reasonable to expect iOS 16 to be released to the general public sometime in late September at the beginning of fall, or maybe as late as early October.

If you’re curious about whether or not you’ll be able to run the release when it’s available, check out the list of iOS 16 compatible iPhone models.

iPadOS 16 Release Date is Later in the Fall

Usually Apple releases iPadOS at the same time as iOS, but this year may be different, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

According to Bloomberg, Apple will delay the release of iPadOS 16 about a month from iOS 16, which likely coincides with the release of macOS Ventura 13 for Mac.

This puts the iPadOS 16 release date sometime in October, most likely.

If you’re not sure if your iPad will be able to run the latest system software when it becomes available, don’t forget to look at the list of iPadOS 16 supported iPad models here.

I don’t want to wait until the fall release dates, I want to have iOS 16 / iPadOS 16 right now!

If you’re totally impatient and you want iOS 16 right now on your iPhone or iPadOS 16 right now on your iPad, you can run the betas, just be prepared for things not working as well as expected, bugs, performance issues, and worse battery performance.

Nonetheless if you’re adventurous, backup your device and then learn how to install iOS 16 public beta on iPhone and how to install iPadOS 16 public beta on iPad.

It’s entirely up to you, but most users should simply wait until the final version is available for their device this fall.