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iOS feature timeline

iOS highlights by version

A newest-first scan of the headline features in each major iOS release, plus dated minor updates when they introduced standout features.

Latest iOS release

iOS 26.4.2

Released April 22, 2026

A security-focused update for iPhone 11 and later. Apple says it fixes an issue where notifications marked for deletion could be unexpectedly retained on the device.

Apple latest versions
Looking for developer language and tooling changes? See the Swift timeline.
iOS 26iOS 18iOS 17iOS 16iOS 15iOS 14iOS 13iOS 12iOS 11iOS 10iOS 9iOS 8

2025

iOS 26

#1

Introduced September 15, 2025

Liquid Glass, smarter calls, and deeper Apple Intelligence

A visual redesign changed the feel of the system, while Apple Intelligence expanded into translation, screen understanding, reminders, and everyday apps.

  • Liquid Glass design across apps, controls, Home Screen, and Lock Screen.
  • Live Translation, Visual Intelligence, call screening, Hold Assist, and message screening.
  • New Apple Games and Preview apps, plus upgraded Photos, Wallet, Camera, Music, and battery tools.

Notable minor releases

26.4March 24, 2026

Added Playlist Playground, Concerts in Apple Music, Offline Music Recognition, and an Ambient Music widget.

26.3.1March 4, 2026

Expanded external display support for supported iPhones.

26.2December 12, 2025

Added Reminders alarms, AirDrop codes, enhanced Safety Alerts, and Freeform tables.

26.1November 3, 2025

Added a tinted Liquid Glass option and more Live Translation languages for AirPods.

Platform details

Foundation Models frameworkAnnounced June 9, 2025; available with iOS 26

Gives app developers direct Swift access to the on-device language model at the core of Apple Intelligence for private, offline-capable features such as summarization, entity extraction, guided generation, and tool calling.

Read Apple details
Apple release notes

2024

iOS 18

#2

Introduced September 16, 2024

Personalization, Photos redesign, and Apple Intelligence

Apple opened up more of the iPhone interface for customization and began rolling out Apple Intelligence on supported devices.

  • Place icons and widgets more freely, customize Control Center, and lock or hide apps.
  • Photos received a major redesign with Library, Collections, and stronger search.
  • Messages added richer expression, RCS support, scheduled sending, and satellite messaging support.

Notable minor releases

18.1October 28, 2024

Introduced the first Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools and summaries.

18.2December 11, 2024

Added Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence on supported models.

18.4March 31, 2025

Expanded Apple Intelligence language support and brought Mail categorization to more users.

Platform details

Apple Intelligence foundation modelsIntroduced June 10, 2024; first user features shipped in iOS 18.1

Apple described a family of generative models behind Apple Intelligence, including an approximately 3-billion-parameter on-device language model, a larger Private Cloud Compute server model, and task-specific adapters for writing, summaries, images, and in-app actions.

Read Apple details
Private Cloud ComputeIntroduced June 10, 2024; used by Apple Intelligence

Apple's server-side AI privacy architecture extends iPhone privacy guarantees into cloud processing for requests that need larger foundation models, with verifiable server software and no Apple access to user data.

Read Apple details
Apple release notes

2023

iOS 17

#3

Introduced September 18, 2023

Communication upgrades and StandBy

The release focused on how iPhone feels during calls, charging, contact sharing, and everyday messaging.

  • Contact Posters, Live Voicemail, FaceTime video messages, and better Messages search.
  • StandBy turned a charging iPhone on its side into a glanceable display.
  • NameDrop, richer AirDrop sharing, interactive widgets, and improved autocorrect.

Notable minor releases

17.2December 11, 2023

Added Journal, Contact Key Verification, and enhanced AutoFill for PDFs and forms.

17.4March 5, 2024

Added Apple Podcasts transcripts and major EU app distribution changes.

Apple release notes

2022

iOS 16

#4

Introduced September 12, 2022

A new Lock Screen and editable messages

Customization moved to the Lock Screen, while Messages, Focus, Photos, and Live Activities changed daily use.

  • Custom Lock Screens with widgets, depth effects, and Focus linking.
  • Edit or unsend iMessages, mark conversations unread, and collaborate from Messages.
  • Lift subjects from photos, use Safety Check, and track events with Live Activities.

Notable minor releases

16.1October 24, 2022

Added Live Activities support, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and Apple Fitness+ without Apple Watch.

16.2December 13, 2022

Added Freeform, Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, and Apple Music Sing.

Apple release notes

2021

iOS 15

#5

Introduced September 20, 2021

Focus, FaceTime, and Live Text

The big idea was reducing noise while making text, calls, maps, and shared content more useful.

  • Focus modes, redesigned notifications, and notification summaries.
  • FaceTime spatial audio, Portrait mode, links, and SharePlay.
  • Live Text, Visual Look Up, richer Maps, iCloud Private Relay, and Shared with You.

Notable minor releases

15.1October 25, 2021

Added SharePlay and ProRes video capture on supported iPhone Pro models.

15.4March 14, 2022

Added Face ID while wearing a mask on supported models.

Apple release notes

2020

iOS 14

#6

Introduced September 16, 2020

Widgets, App Library, and privacy labels

The Home Screen became more flexible, while privacy controls became much more visible.

  • Home Screen widgets, App Library, compact calls, and Picture in Picture.
  • App Clips for quick tasks without installing a full app.
  • Privacy nutrition labels, camera and microphone indicators, and approximate location.

Notable minor releases

14.5April 26, 2021

Added App Tracking Transparency, Unlock with Apple Watch, and AirTag support.

Platform details

App Tracking TransparencyRequired starting April 26, 2021 with iOS 14.5

Required apps to request permission before tracking users across apps and websites or accessing the advertising identifier, reshaping mobile privacy, advertising, and attribution.

Read Apple details

2019

iOS 13

#7

Introduced September 19, 2019

Dark Mode and app rebuilds

A systemwide dark appearance arrived alongside major updates to Photos, Reminders, Maps, and privacy.

  • Dark Mode, Sign in with Apple, and stronger location permission controls.
  • Redesigned Photos and Reminders apps.
  • Shortcuts became built in, and Maps gained Look Around in supported cities.

Notable minor releases

13.5May 20, 2020

Added exposure notification support and faster passcode access while wearing a face covering.

2018

iOS 12

#8

Introduced September 17, 2018

Performance, Screen Time, and Shortcuts

Apple emphasized speed on older devices and gave users new tools for habits, automation, and communication.

  • Performance improvements across supported iPhones.
  • Screen Time, grouped notifications, and Do Not Disturb controls.
  • Siri Shortcuts, Memoji, Measure, and ARKit 2.

Notable minor releases

12.1October 30, 2018

Added Group FaceTime, dual SIM with eSIM, and depth control for Portrait mode.

2017

iOS 11

#9

Introduced September 19, 2017

Files, ARKit, and a new Control Center

iPhone gained stronger file handling, augmented reality apps, and a denser control surface.

  • Files app, drag-and-drop on iPad, document scanning in Notes, and QuickType changes.
  • ARKit enabled a wave of augmented reality apps.
  • Redesigned Control Center, App Store, and Do Not Disturb While Driving.

2016

iOS 10

#10

Introduced September 13, 2016

Messages became a platform

Messaging, Siri, HomeKit, Photos, and system apps became more open and expressive.

  • iMessage apps, stickers, effects, Tapback, and richer links.
  • SiriKit opened Siri to supported third-party app categories.
  • Home app, Photos Memories, object search, and redesigned Maps and Music.

Notable minor releases

10.3March 27, 2017

Moved devices to APFS and added Find My AirPods.

2015

iOS 9

#11

Introduced September 16, 2015

Proactive assistance and battery life

The system became more predictive while adding everyday tools for reading, notes, maps, and power saving.

  • Proactive Siri suggestions and smarter search.
  • News app, richer Notes, transit in Maps, and Low Power Mode.
  • Split View and Slide Over arrived on supported iPads.

Notable minor releases

9.3March 21, 2016

Added Night Shift, secured Notes, and education features for shared iPads.

2014

iOS 8

#12

Introduced September 17, 2014

Extensions, Health, and continuity

iOS became more connected to apps, Macs, family accounts, and health data.

  • Extensions, share sheets, widgets, custom keyboards, and Touch ID access for apps.
  • Health app and HealthKit.
  • Continuity, Handoff, Family Sharing, and iCloud Drive.

Notable minor releases

8.4June 30, 2015

Added Apple Music and Beats 1.

2013

iOS 7

#13

Introduced September 18, 2013

The flat-design reset

This was the biggest visual reset in iOS history, with a new design language and faster access to common controls.

  • A flatter interface with motion, translucency, and new system typography.
  • Control Center, AirDrop, improved multitasking, and automatic app updates.
  • Camera filters, new Photos organization, and iTunes Radio.

Notable minor releases

7.1March 10, 2014

Added CarPlay support and interface refinements.

2012

iOS 6

#14

Introduced September 19, 2012

Maps, Passbook, and Do Not Disturb

Apple replaced Google-powered maps with its own Maps app and added early wallet-style passes.

  • Apple Maps with turn-by-turn navigation.
  • Passbook for boarding passes, tickets, coupons, and loyalty cards.
  • Do Not Disturb, shared Photo Streams, and FaceTime over cellular.

2011

iOS 5

#15

Introduced October 12, 2011

iCloud, iMessage, and Notification Center

iPhone became less dependent on a computer and gained the notification model that shaped later iOS releases.

  • Notification Center, iMessage, Reminders, Newsstand, and Twitter integration.
  • iCloud, wireless setup, over-the-air updates, and Wi-Fi sync.
  • Siri launched with iPhone 4S.

2010

iOS 4

#16

Introduced June 21, 2010

Multitasking and folders

The iPhone OS name became iOS, and the system gained the basics of modern app switching and organization.

  • Multitasking for supported app behaviors.
  • Folders, unified inbox, wallpapers, and Game Center.
  • FaceTime launched with iPhone 4.

2009

iPhone OS 3

#17

Introduced June 17, 2009

Copy and paste

The early iPhone filled in key productivity gaps and expanded the App Store business model.

  • Cut, copy, and paste across apps.
  • Spotlight search, MMS, voice memos, and Find My iPhone.
  • In-app purchases and push notifications for third-party apps.

2008

iPhone OS 2

#18

Introduced July 11, 2008

The App Store arrives

The defining addition was third-party apps, turning iPhone into a software platform.

  • App Store and native third-party apps.
  • MobileMe push mail, contacts, and calendars.
  • Enterprise features and GPS support with iPhone 3G.

2007

iPhone OS 1

#19

Introduced June 29, 2007

The original iPhone experience

The first release established the core multitouch phone, internet, and media model.

  • Phone, Mail, Safari, iPod, Photos, Camera, Messages, Calendar, and Maps.
  • Multi-touch gestures, visual voicemail, and desktop-class web browsing.
  • No App Store yet: third-party apps arrived the next year.

Sources and scope

This page favors user-visible features over security-only, carrier, and small bug-fix releases. Recent release details are cross-checked against Apple Support release notes.

For developer platform changes, see the Swift timeline.

Apple latest versionsiOS 26.4.2 security notesiOS 26 release notesiOS 18 release notesiOS 17 release notesiOS 16 release notesiOS 15 release notesApple foundation modelsFoundation Models frameworkPrivate Cloud ComputeApp Tracking Transparency