View source for Software:IOS

{{Short description|Mobile operating system by Apple}}
{{lowercase title}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = iOS
| logo = iOS wordmark (2017).svg
| logo caption = Commercial logo as used by Apple, since 2017
| logo alt = The word "iOS" in black [[San Francisco (sans-serif typeface)|San Francisco]] neo-grotesque sans-serif font.
| logo size = 75px
| screenshot = IOS 16 Homescreen.png
| screenshot_size = 214x465px <!-- Native resolution -->
| caption = [[Software:IOS 16|iOS 16]] running on an iPhone 13
| collapsible = no
| developer = [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]]
<!-- Although not considered functional or branded UNIX, iOS is still genetic UNIX due to the underlying BSD foundation -->| family = [[Unix-like]], based on [[Software:Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]] ([[Software:Berkeley Software Distribution|BSD]]), [[Software:MacOS|macOS]]
| released = {{start date and age|2007|06|29}}
| language = 40 languages<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/specs/ |title=Apple – iPad Pro – Specs |publisher=Apple |access-date=January 4, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104051324/https://www.apple.com/ipad-pro/specs/ |archive-date=January 4, 2019  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/ipad-mini-4/specs/ |title=Apple – iPad mini 4 – Specs |publisher=Apple |access-date=October 24, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024031402/http://www.apple.com/ipad-mini-4/specs/ |archive-date=October 24, 2015  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/ipad-air-2/specs/|title=Apple – iPad Air 2 – Technical Specifications|publisher=Apple|access-date=October 24, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026051534/http://www.apple.com/ipad-air-2/specs/|archive-date=October 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/iphone-xs/specs/|title=Apple – iPhone XS – Technical Specifications|publisher=Apple|access-date=January 4, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104041336/https://www.apple.com/iphone-xs/specs/|archive-date=January 4, 2019}}</ref>
| ui = Cocoa Touch (multi-touch, [[Graphical user interface|GUI]])
| license = [[Proprietary software]] except for open-source components
| preceded by = [[Software:Newton OS|Newton OS]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.apple.com/ios/|apple.com/ios/}}
| bodystyle = width:320px;
| working_state = Current
| source_model = [[Proprietary software|Closed]], with open-source components
| marketing_target = [[Engineering:Smartphone|Smartphone]]s, [[Engineering:Tablet computer|tablet computer]]s, [[Engineering:Portable media player|portable media player]]s
| programmed_in = [[C (programming language)|C]], [[C++]], [[Objective-C]], [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]], [[Assembly language|assembly language]]
| updatemodel = [[Engineering:Over-the-air programming|OTA]] {{small|(since [[Software:IOS 5|iOS 5]])}}, [[Software:Finder|Finder]] (from macOS Catalina onwards)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/443462/where-are-itunes-features-in-macos-catalina/|title=Where Are iTunes Features in macOS Catalina?|author=Tim Brookes|date=October 17, 2019|website=How-To Geek}}</ref> or [[Software:ITunes|iTunes]] (Windows and macOS pre-Catalina)
| supported_platforms = {{plain list|
* ARMv8-A {{small|([[Software:IOS 7|iOS 7]] and later)}}
* ARMv7-A {{small|([[Software:IPhone OS 3|iPhone OS 3]] – [[Software:IOS 10|iOS 10]].3.4)}}
* ARMv6 {{small|([[Software:IPhone OS 1|iPhone OS 1]] – [[Software:IOS 4|iOS 4]].2.1)}}
  }}
| kernel_type = [[Software:Hybrid kernel|Hybrid]] ([[Software:XNU|XNU]])
| support_status = Supported
| other articles = [[Software:IOS version history|iOS version history]]
}}
'''iOS''' (formerly '''iPhone OS'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-13 |title=iOS: A visual history |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/13/2612736/ios-history-iphone-ipad |access-date=2022-07-24 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>) is a [[Mobile operating system|mobile operating system]] created and developed by [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] exclusively for [[Engineering:List of iOS devices|its hardware]]. It is the operating system that powers many of the company's mobile devices, including the [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]]; the term also included the versions running on [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]]s until [[Software:IPadOS|iPadOS]] was introduced in 2019, as well as on the [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] devices, which were discontinued in mid-2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The music lives on |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/05/the-music-lives-on/ |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}</ref> It is the world's second-most widely installed mobile operating system, after [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]. It is the basis for three other operating systems made by Apple: iPadOS, [[Software:TvOS|tvOS]], and [[Software:WatchOS|watchOS]]. It is proprietary software, although some parts of it are open source under the [[Software:Apple Public Source License|Apple Public Source License]] and other licenses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apple Open Source|url=https://opensource.apple.com|access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref>

Unveiled in 2007 for the [[Engineering:IPhone (1st generation)|first-generation iPhone]], iOS has since been extended to support other Apple devices such as the [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] (September 2007) and the iPad (introduced: January 2010; availability:  April 2010.) {{As of|2018|3|df=US}}, Apple's [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] contains more than 2.1&nbsp;million iOS applications, 1&nbsp;million of which are native for iPads.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lifewire.com/how-many-apps-in-app-store-2000252|title=Charting The Explosive Growth of the App Store|work=Lifewire|access-date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> These [[Mobile app|mobile app]]s have collectively been downloaded more than 130&nbsp;billion times.

Major versions of iOS are released annually. The current stable version, [[Software:IOS 16|iOS 16]], was released to the public on September 12, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=iOS 16 Preview|url=https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-16/|access-date=2022-09-12|website=Apple|language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
{{multiple image
| width = 200
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| image1 = Apple iOS.svg
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = First iOS logotype (2010–2013), using Myriad Pro Semibold font
| image2 = Apple iOS new.svg
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = Second iOS logotype (2013–2017), using Myriad Pro Light font
| image3 = IOS wordmark (2017).svg
| alt3 = 
| caption3 = Third iOS logotype (2017–present), using San Francisco Semibold font
| total_width = 
}}

In 2005, when [[Biography:Steve Jobs|Steve Jobs]] began planning the [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]], he had a choice to either "shrink the Mac, which would be an epic feat of engineering, or enlarge the iPod". Jobs favored the former approach but pitted the [[Engineering:Macintosh|Macintosh]] and [[Engineering:IPod|iPod]] teams, led by Scott Forstall and Tony Fadell, respectively, against each other in an internal competition, with Forstall winning by creating the iPhone OS. The decision enabled the success of the iPhone as a platform for third-party developers: using a well-known desktop operating system as its basis allowed the many third-party Mac developers to write software for the iPhone with minimal retraining. Forstall was also responsible for creating a [[Software development kit|software development kit]] for programmers to build iPhone apps, as well as an [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] within [[Software:ITunes|iTunes]].<ref>{{cite web |first1=Adam |last1=Satariano |first2=Peter |last2=Burrows |first3=Brad |last3=Stone |title=Scott Forstall, the Sorcerer's Apprentice at Apple |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-10-12/scott-forstall-the-sorcerers-apprentice-at-apple |website=Bloomberg Businessweek |publisher=[[Company:Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg L.P.]] |date=October 14, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407032342/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-10-12/scott-forstall-the-sorcerers-apprentice-at-apple |archive-date=April 7, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Arnold |last=Kim |title=Scott Forstall's Personality, Origins of iOS, and Lost iPhone 4 Prototype |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/13/scott-forstalls-personality-origins-of-ios-and-lost-iphone-4-prototype/ |website=MacRumors |date=October 12, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081118/https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/13/scott-forstalls-personality-origins-of-ios-and-lost-iphone-4-prototype/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref>

The operating system was unveiled with the iPhone at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 9, 2007, and released in June of that year.<ref>{{cite web |first=Owen |last=Thomas |title=Apple: Hello, iPhone |url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/01/09/technology/apple_jobs/ |website=CNN Money |publisher=CNN |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081508/http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/09/technology/apple_jobs/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Lisa |last=Eadicicco |title=Watch Steve Jobs Unveil the First iPhone 10 Years Ago Today |url=http://time.com/4628515/steve-jobs-iphone-launch-keynote-2007/ |magazine={{wipe|Time (magazine)}} |date=January 9, 2017 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402080922/http://time.com/4628515/steve-jobs-iphone-launch-keynote-2007/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mathew |last=Honan |title=Apple unveils iPhone |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1054769/smartphones/iphone.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126161949/http://www.macworld.com/article/1054769/smartphones/iphone.html |archive-date=January 26, 2017  }}</ref> At the time of its unveiling in January, Steve Jobs claimed: "iPhone runs OS X" and runs "desktop class applications",<ref>{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Block |title=Live from Macworld 2007: Steve Jobs keynote |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/live-from-macworld-2007-steve-jobs-keynote/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=January 9, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324084725/https://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/live-from-macworld-2007-steve-jobs-keynote/ |archive-date=March 24, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mic |last=Wright |title=The original iPhone announcement annotated: Steve Jobs' genius meets Genius |url=https://thenextweb.com/apple/2015/09/09/genius-annotated-with-genius/ |website=The Next Web |date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401232647/https://thenextweb.com/apple/2015/09/09/genius-annotated-with-genius/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> but at the time of the iPhone's release, the operating system was renamed "iPhone OS".<ref>{{cite web |title=iOS: A visual history |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/13/2612736/ios-history-iphone-ipad |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=September 16, 2013 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412015548/http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/13/2612736/ios-history-iphone-ipad |archive-date=April 12, 2017  }}</ref> Initially, third-party native applications were not supported. Jobs' reasoning was that developers could build [[Web application|web application]]s through [[Software:Safari (web browser)|the Safari web browser]] that "would behave like native apps on the iPhone".<ref>{{cite web |first=Antone |last=Gonsalves |title=Apple Launches iPhone Web Apps Directory |url=http://www.informationweek.com/apple-launches-iphone-web-apps-directory/d/d-id/1060220 |website=InformationWeek |publisher=UBM plc |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220092434/http://www.informationweek.com/apple-launches-iphone-web-apps-directory/d/d-id/1060220 |archive-date=February 20, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jobs' original vision for the iPhone: No third-party native apps |url=https://9to5mac.com/2011/10/21/jobs-original-vision-for-the-iphone-no-third-party-native-apps/ |website=9to5Mac |date=October 21, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401233112/https://9to5mac.com/2011/10/21/jobs-original-vision-for-the-iphone-no-third-party-native-apps/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> In October 2007, Apple announced that a native [[Software development kit|Software Development Kit (SDK)]] was under development and that they planned to put it "in developers' hands in February".<ref>{{cite web |first=Nik |last=Fletcher |title=Apple: "we plan to have an iPhone SDK in developers' hands in February" |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/apple-we-plan-to-have-an-iphone-sdk-in-developers-hands-in-fe/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402080846/https://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/apple-we-plan-to-have-an-iphone-sdk-in-developers-hands-in-fe/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Daniel |last=Eran Dilger |title=Nine Years of Apple's iOS SDK generated $60 billion, 1.4 million jobs |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/03/07/nine-years-of-apples-ios-sdk-generated-60-billion-14-million-jobs |website=AppleInsider |date=March 7, 2017 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081011/http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/03/07/nine-years-of-apples-ios-sdk-generated-60-billion-14-million-jobs |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Elmer-DeWitt |title=Steve Jobs: Apple Will Open iPhone to 3rd Party Apps in February |url=http://fortune.com/2007/10/17/steve-jobs-apple-will-open-iphone-to-3rd-party-apps-in-february/ |website=Fortune  |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402080842/http://fortune.com/2007/10/17/steve-jobs-apple-will-open-iphone-to-3rd-party-apps-in-february/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref> On March 6, 2008, Apple held a press event, announcing the iPhone SDK.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Block |author-link=Ryan Block |title=Live from Apple's iPhone SDK press conference |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/live-from-apples-iphone-press-conference/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127165446/https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/live-from-apples-iphone-press-conference/ |archive-date=January 27, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first1=Jim |last1=Dalrymple |first2=Jason |last2=Snell |title=Apple: iPhone SDK, enterprise announcement next week |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1132275/sdk.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=February 27, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081039/http://www.macworld.com/article/1132275/sdk.html |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref>

[[File:Apple iPhone 2G 8GB (16).jpg|thumb|iPhone (first generation), the first commercially released device running iOS (2007)]]

The [[Software:App Store (iOS)|iOS App Store]] was opened on July 10, 2008, with an initial 500 applications available.<ref>{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Ricker |title=Jobs: App Store launching with 500 iPhone applications, 25% free |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/jobs-app-store-launching-with-500-iphone-applications-25-free/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=July 10, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330012936/https://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/jobs-app-store-launching-with-500-iphone-applications-25-free/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> This quickly grew to 3,000 in September 2008,<ref>{{cite web |title=App Store Downloads Top 100 Million Worldwide |url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/09/09App-Store-Downloads-Top-100-Million-Worldwide.html |website=Apple Press Info |publisher=[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] |date=September 9, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401111744/http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/09/09App-Store-Downloads-Top-100-Million-Worldwide.html |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> 15,000 in January 2009,<ref>{{cite web |first=Rik |last=Myslewski |title=iPhone App Store breezes past 500 million downloads |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/16/half_billion_iphone_apps/ |website=The Register |publisher=Situation Publishing |date=January 16, 2009 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505165333/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/16/half_billion_iphone_apps/ |archive-date=May 5, 2017  }}</ref> 50,000 in June 2009,<ref>{{cite web |first=MG |last=Siegler |title=State Of The iPhone Ecosystem: 40 Million Devices and 50,000 Apps |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/06/08/40-million-iphones-and-ipod-touches-and-50000-apps/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610235745/http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/08/40-million-iphones-and-ipod-touches-and-50000-apps/ |archive-date=June 10, 2009  }}</ref> 100,000 in November 2009,<ref>{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Moren |title=App Store officially passes 100,000 app mark |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1143641/appstore_100000.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=November 4, 2009 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330013112/http://www.macworld.com/article/1143641/appstore_100000.html |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Frommer |title=iPhone App Store Passes 100,000 Apps |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-app-store-passes-100000-apps-2009-11 |website=Business Insider |publisher=Axel Springer SE |date=November 4, 2009 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330000058/http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-app-store-passes-100000-apps-2009-11 |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> 250,000 in August 2010,<ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Brian |title=Apple's App Store Now Features 250,000 Apps |url=https://thenextweb.com/mobile/2010/08/28/apples-app-store-now-features-250000-apps/ |website=The Next Web |date=August 28, 2010 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329233606/https://thenextweb.com/mobile/2010/08/28/apples-app-store-now-features-250000-apps/ |archive-date=March 29, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Philip |last=Elmer-DeWitt |title=Apple App Store: 250,000 and counting |url=http://fortune.com/2010/08/28/apple-app-store-250000-and-counting/ |website=Fortune  |date=August 28, 2010 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330000653/http://fortune.com/2010/08/28/apple-app-store-250000-and-counting/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> 650,000 in July 2012,<ref>{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Crook |title=Apple App Store Hits 650,000 Apps: 250,000 Designed For iPad, $5.5B Paid Out To Devs |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/24/apple-app-store-hits-650000-apps-250000-designed-for-ipad-5-5b-paid-out-to-devs/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330014047/https://techcrunch.com/2012/07/24/apple-app-store-hits-650000-apps-250000-designed-for-ipad-5-5b-paid-out-to-devs/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> 1&nbsp;million in October 2013,<ref>{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Ingraham |title=Apple announces 1 million apps in the App Store, more than 1 billion songs played on iTunes radio |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/22/4866302/apple-announces-1-million-apps-in-the-app-store |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=October 22, 2013 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512171633/https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/22/4866302/apple-announces-1-million-apps-in-the-app-store |archive-date=May 12, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Seth |last=Fiegerman |title=Apple's App Store Tops 1 Million Apps |url=http://mashable.com/2013/10/22/apple-app-store-1-million/ |website=Mashable |date=October 22, 2013 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330012049/http://mashable.com/2013/10/22/apple-app-store-1-million/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> 2&nbsp;million in June 2016,<ref name="The Verge 2 million">{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Golson |title=Apple's App Store now has over 2 million apps |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/13/11922926/apple-apps-2-million-wwdc-2016 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210135527/http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/13/11922926/apple-apps-2-million-wwdc-2016 |archive-date=February 10, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Kellen |last=Beck |title=Apple's App Store now has over 2 million apps |url=http://mashable.com/2016/06/13/apple-wwdc-apps/ |website=Mashable |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330012051/http://mashable.com/2016/06/13/apple-wwdc-apps/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Erin |last=Carson |title=Apple by the numbers: 2 million apps, 15 million Apple Music subscribers |url=https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/apple-by-the-numbers-2-million-apps15-million-apple-music-subscribers10-billion-icloud-documents/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330014530/https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/apple-by-the-numbers-2-million-apps15-million-apple-music-subscribers10-billion-icloud-documents/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> and 2.2&nbsp;million in January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |first=Lauren |last=Goode |title=Apple's App Store just had the most successful month of sales ever |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/5/14173328/apple-december-2016-app-store-record-phil-schiller |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=January 5, 2017 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128232821/http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/5/14173328/apple-december-2016-app-store-record-phil-schiller |archive-date=January 28, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Larry |last=Dignan |title=Apple's App Store 2016 revenue tops $28 billion mark, developers net $20 billion |url=http://www.zdnet.com/article/apples-app-store-2016-revenue-tops-28-billion-mark-developers-net-20-billion/ |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=January 5, 2017 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330055612/http://www.zdnet.com/article/apples-app-store-2016-revenue-tops-28-billion-mark-developers-net-20-billion/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> {{As of|2016|3}}, 1&nbsp;million apps are natively compatible with the [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]] tablet computer.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jacob |last=Kastrenakes |title=There are now 1 million iPad apps |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/21/11277804/1-million-ipad-apps |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=March 21, 2016 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330011925/http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/21/11277804/1-million-ipad-apps |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref> These apps have collectively been downloaded more than 130&nbsp;billion times.<ref name="The Verge 2 million" /> App intelligence firm Sensor Tower estimated that the App Store would reach 5&nbsp;million apps by 2020.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=App Store to reach 5 million apps by 2020, with games leading the way |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/10/app-store-to-reach-5-million-apps-by-2020-with-games-leading-the-way/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=August 10, 2016 |access-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330003410/https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/10/app-store-to-reach-5-million-apps-by-2020-with-games-leading-the-way/ |archive-date=March 30, 2017  }}</ref>

In September 2007, Apple announced the [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]], a redesigned [[Engineering:IPod|iPod]] based on the iPhone form factor.<ref>{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Bangeman |title=The iPod meets the iPhone: a review of the iPod Touch |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/09/the-ipod-meets-the-iphone-a-review-of-the-ipod-touch/ |website=[[Ars Technica]]  |date=September 17, 2007 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618215925/http://arstechnica.com/apple/2007/09/the-ipod-meets-the-iphone-a-review-of-the-ipod-touch/ |archive-date=June 18, 2016  }}</ref> On January 27, 2010, Apple introduced their much-anticipated media [[Engineering:Tablet computer|tablet]], the [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]], featuring a larger screen than the iPhone and iPod Touch, and designed for web browsing, media consumption, and reading, and offering multi-touch interaction with multimedia formats including newspapers, e-books, photos, videos, music, word processing documents, video games, and most existing iPhone apps using a 9.7-inch screen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rose|first=Michael|date=January 27, 2013|title=January 27, 2010: Apple announces the iPad|url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/01/27/january-27-2010-apple-announces-the-ipad/|access-date=April 18, 2017|website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]]|publisher=AOL}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Foresman|first=Chris|date=January 27, 2010|title=Apple announces the iPad|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2010/01/apple-announces-ipad-attempts-to-change-the-world/|access-date=April 18, 2017|website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=January 27, 2010|title=Apple Launches iPad|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/01/27Apple-Launches-iPad.html|access-date=April 18, 2017|website=Apple Press Info|publisher=Apple Inc.}}</ref> It also includes a mobile version of [[Software:Safari (web browser)|Safari]] for web browsing, as well as access to the App Store, [[Software:ITunes|iTunes]] Library, iBookstore, Contacts, and Notes. Content is downloadable via [[Wi-Fi]] and optional [[3G|3G]] service or synced through the user's computer.<ref name="MacRumors-iPad-event">{{cite web|date=January 27, 2010|title=Apple Tablet Media Event Today: "Come See Our Latest Creation"|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2010/01/27/apple-tablet-media-event-today-come-see-our-latest-creation/|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=MacRumors}}</ref> AT&T was initially the sole U.S. provider of 3G wireless access for the iPad.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Tony Bradley|date=January 29, 2010|title=AT&T Beefing Up Network for iPad and iPhone|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/188149/atandt_beefing_up_network_for_ipad_and_iphone.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201014134/https://www.pcworld.com/article/188149/atandt_beefing_up_network_for_ipad_and_iphone.html|archive-date=February 1, 2010|access-date=January 29, 2010|website=PC World}}</ref>

In June 2010, Apple rebranded iPhone OS as "iOS".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-06-07-iphone-os-4-renamed-ios-gets-1500-new-features.html|title=iPhone OS 4 renamed iOS 4, launching June 21 with 1500 new features|first=N.|last=Patel|date=June 7, 2010|website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/205857/iphone_os_4_wwdc.html|title=iPhone OS gets new name, video calling|first=David|last=Chartier|website=Macworld|date=June 7, 2010}}</ref>  The trademark "IOS" had been used by [[Company:Cisco|Cisco]] for over a decade for its operating system, [[Software:Cisco IOS|IOS]], used on its routers. To avoid any potential lawsuit, Apple licensed the "IOS" trademark from Cisco.<ref name=ciscosuit>{{cite web | last = Tartakoff | first = Joseph | publisher = paidContent | url = http://paidcontent.org/article/419-deja-vu-apples-new-ios-brand-is-already-used-by-cisco/ | title = Apple Avoids iPhone-Like Trademark Battle Thanks To Cisco, FaceTime Deals | date = June 7, 2010 | access-date = February 2, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511200002/http://paidcontent.org/article/419-deja-vu-apples-new-ios-brand-is-already-used-by-cisco/ | archive-date = May 11, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

The [[Engineering:Apple Watch|Apple Watch]] [[Engineering:Smartwatch|smartwatch]] was announced by Tim Cook on September 9, 2014, being introduced as a product with health and fitness-tracking.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Garun|first=Natt|date=September 9, 2014|title=Everything Apple announced at its September 2014 keynote|url=https://thenextweb.com/apple/2014/09/09/everything-apple-announced-september-2014-keynote/|access-date=March 23, 2017|website=The Next Web}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Savov|first=Vlad|date=September 9, 2014|title=Apple Watch announced: available for $349 early next year|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/9/9/6125873/apple-watch-smartwatch-announced|access-date=March 23, 2017|website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> It was released on April 24, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Machkovech|first=Sam|date=March 9, 2015|title=Apple Watch starts at $349, launching April 24|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/03/apple-watch-launching-on-april-24-starting-at-349/|access-date=March 23, 2017|website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Gibbs|first1=Samuel|last2=Hern|first2=Alex|date=March 9, 2015|title=Apple Watch: available 24 April for between $349 and $17,000|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/09/apple-watch-available-april-24-for-between-349-and-10000|access-date=March 23, 2017|website={{wipe|The Guardian}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=March 9, 2015|title=Apple Watch release date is April 24th, with pricing from $349 to over $10,000|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/9/8162455/apple-watch-price-release-date-2015|access-date=March 23, 2017|website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> It uses [[Software:WatchOS|watchOS]] as its operating system; watchOS is based on iOS, with new features created specially for the Apple Watch such as an activity tracking app.

On November 22, 2016, a five-second video file originally named "IMG_0942.MP4" started crashing iOS on an increasing count of devices, forcing users to reboot. It [[Finance:Viral video|gained massive popularity]] through social media channels and messaging services.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cipriani |first1=Jason |title=Restore the Developer Options menu in Android 4.2 |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/restore-the-developer-options-menu-in-android-4-2/ |website=CNET |access-date=13 June 2021 |language=en |date=2016-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Tom |title=This 5-second video will crash your iPhone |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/22/13713178/iphone-crash-video-mp4-bug |website=The Verge |language=en |date=2016-11-22}}</ref>

In October 2016, Apple opened its first iOS Developer Academy in Naples inside [[Organization:University of Naples Federico II|University of Naples Federico II]]'s new campus.<ref>{{cite web|author=Juli Clover|date=October 5, 2016|title=Apple's First iOS Developer Academy Opens October 6 at University of Naples|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/05/apple-developer-academy-university-of-naples/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223132037/http://www.macrumors.com/2016/10/05/apple-developer-academy-university-of-naples/|archive-date=December 23, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2016|publisher=MacRumors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Wuerthele|date=October 5, 2016|title=Apple's first European iOS Developer Academy opening on Thursday in Naples, Italy|url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/10/05/apples-first-european-ios-developer-academy-opening-on-thursday-in-naples-italy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221205057/http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/10/05/apples-first-european-ios-developer-academy-opening-on-thursday-in-naples-italy|archive-date=December 21, 2016|access-date=December 22, 2016|publisher=AppleInsider}}</ref> The course is completely free, aimed at acquiring specific technical skills on the creation and management of applications for the [[Apple ecosystem]] platforms.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=October 7, 2016|title=Chi è entrato, chi è scappato e cosa c'è dentro alla iOS Developer Academy di Napoli|url=https://www.wired.it/mobile/app/2016/10/07/dentro-alla-ios-developer-academy-di-napoli/|access-date=August 12, 2020|magazine=Wired|language=it}}</ref> At the academy there are also issues of [[Social:Business administration|business administration]] (business planning and business management with a focus on digital opportunities) and there is a path dedicated to the design of [[Graphical user interface|graphical interfaces]]. Students have the opportunity to participate in the "Enterprise Track", an in-depth training experience on the entire life cycle of an app, from design to implementation, to security, [[Troubleshooting|troubleshooting]], data storage and cloud usage.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dopo Apple in arrivo a Napoli altri big dell'hi-tech|url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/dopo-apple-arrivo-napoli-altri-big-dell-hi-tech-ACXIJns|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=Il Sole 24 ORE|date=October 18, 2019|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=iOS Developer Academy aprirà a Napoli {{!}} In Ateneo|url=https://www.unina.it/-/12744301-ios-developer-academy-aprira-a-napoli|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=[[Organization:University of Naples Federico II|University of Naples Federico II]]}}</ref> As of 2020, the academy graduated almost a thousand students from all over the world, who have worked on 400 app ideas and have already published about 50 apps on the iOS [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]]. In the 2018–2019 academic year, students from more than 30 countries arrived. 35 of these have been selected to attend the Worldwide Developer Conference, the annual Apple Developer Conference held annually in California in early June.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Developer Academy {{!}} Università Federico II|url=https://www.unina.it/ateneo/developer-academy|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=[[Organization:University of Naples Federico II|University of Naples Federico II]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 15, 2019|title=Apple Developer Academy di Napoli, al via le nuove iscrizioni|url=https://www.lastampa.it/tecnologia/news/2019/05/15/news/apple-developer-academy-di-napoli-al-via-le-nuove-iscrizioni-1.33702119|access-date=August 12, 2020|website=lastampa.it|language=it-IT|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219031831/https://www.lastampa.it/tecnologia/news/2019/05/15/news/apple-developer-academy-di-napoli-al-via-le-nuove-iscrizioni-1.33702119|url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:Steve Jobs with the Apple iPad no logo (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Steve Jobs, Apple's then {{abbr|CEO|chief executive officer}}, introducing the iPad]]

On June 3, 2019, [[Software:IPadOS|iPadOS]], the branded version of iOS for iPad, was announced at the 2019 WWDC; it was launched on September 25, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Apple unveils iPadOS, adding features specifically to iPad|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/06/03/apple-supplements-ios-13-with-new-tablet-specific-ipad-os-branch|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=AppleInsider}}</ref>

== Features ==

=== Interface ===
The iOS [[User interface|user interface]] is based upon [[Direct manipulation interface|direct manipulation]], using multi-touch gestures such as ''swipe'', ''tap'', ''pinch'', and ''reverse pinch''. Interface control elements include sliders, switches, and buttons.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Interface Essentials – iOS – Human Interface Guidelines – Apple Developer|url=https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/overview/interface-essentials/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=developer.apple.com}}</ref> Internal [[Physics:Accelerometer|accelerometer]]s are used by some applications to respond to shaking the device (one common result is the [[Undo|undo]] command) or rotating it in [[3D modeling|three dimensions]] (one common result is switching between portrait and landscape mode). Various [[Engineering:Accessibility|accessibility]] described in {{section link||Accessibility}} functions enable users with vision and hearing disabilities to properly use iOS.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adaptivity and Layout – Visual Design – iOS – Human Interface Guidelines – Apple Developer|url=https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/visual-design/adaptivity-and-layout/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=developer.apple.com}}</ref>

iOS devices boot to the homescreen, the primary navigation and information "hub" on iOS devices, analogous to the [[Desktop metaphor|desktop]] found on personal computers. iOS homescreens are typically made up of app icons and [[Software widget|widgets]]; app icons launch the associated app, whereas widgets display live, auto-updating content, such as a weather forecast, the user's email inbox, or a [[Engineering:News ticker|news ticker]] directly on the homescreen.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Widgets – System Capabilities – iOS – Human Interface Guidelines – Apple Developer|url=https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/system-capabilities/widgets|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=developer.apple.com}}</ref>

Along the top of the screen is a status bar, showing information about the device and its connectivity. The status bar itself contains two elements, the [[Software:Control Center (iOS)|Control Center]] and the [[Software:Notification Center|Notification Center]]. The Control Center can be "pulled" down from the top right of the notch, on the new iPhones, giving access to various toggles to manage the device more quickly without having to open the Settings. It is possible to manage brightness, volume, wireless connections, music player, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Access and customize Control Center on your iPhone and iPod Touch|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202769|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Apple Support}}</ref>

Instead, scrolling from the top left to the bottom will open the [[Software:Notification Center|Notification Center]], which in the latest versions of iOS is very similar to the lockscreen. It displays notifications in chronological order and groups them by application. From the notifications of some apps it is possible to interact directly, for example by replying a message directly from it. Notifications are sent in two modes, the important notifications that are displayed on the lock screen and signaled by a distinctive sound, accompanied by a warning banner and the app badge icon, and the secondary mode where they are displayed in the Notification Center, but they are not shown on the lock screen, nor are they indicated by warning banners, badge icons or sounds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Use notifications on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201925|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Apple Support}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imore.com/how-use-notification-center-iphone-and-ipad|title=How to find your notifications and respond when you're ready|date=December 2, 2018|website=iMore|access-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref>

On earlier iPhones with home button, [[Screenshot|screenshot]]s can be created with the simultaneous press of the home and power buttons. In comparison to Android OS, which requires the buttons to be held down, a short press does suffice on iOS.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alex |first1=Anson |title=How to Take a Screenshot on the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 [Video] |url=https://ansonalex.com/tutorials/how-to-take-a-screenshot-on-the-iphone-5-and-ios-6/ |website=AnsonAlex.com |date=4 October 2012}}</ref> On the more recent iPhones which lack a physical home button, screenshots are captured using the volume-up and power buttons instead.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Take a Screenshot on an iPhone X and Newer Models |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-take-a-screenshot-on-an-iphone-x/ |website=Digital Trends |language=en |date=1 December 2020}}</ref>

The camera application used a [[Skeuomorph|skeuomorph]]ic closing camera shutter animation prior to iOS 7. Since then, it uses a simple short blackout effect.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Functional Animation Helps Improve User Experience |url=https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2017/01/how-functional-animation-helps-improve-user-experience/ |website=Smashing Magazine |access-date=19 August 2021 |language=en |date=11 January 2017 |quote=[Image: shutter-animation-in-apple-ios-6-camera-app.png] Shutter image in the iOS 6 camera app}}</ref> Notable additions over time include HDR photography and the option to save both normal and high dynamic range photographs simultaneously where the former prevents ghosting effects from moving objects (since [[Engineering:IPhone 5|iPhone 5]], [[Software:IOS 6|iOS 6]]), automatic HDR adjustment (iOS 7.1), "live photo" with short video bundled to each photo if enabled (iPhone 6s, [[Software:IOS 9|iOS 9]]), and a digital zoom shortcut ([[Engineering:IPhone 7 Plus|iPhone 7 Plus]], [[Software:IOS 10|iOS 10]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Apple iPhone 5 Camera Review |url=https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/apple-iphone-5-review/2 |website=DPReview |access-date=19 August 2021 |date=2012-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cipriani |first1=Jason |title=How to enable auto-HDR in iOS 7.1 |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/how-to-enable-auto-hdr-in-ios-7-1/ |website=CNET |access-date=19 August 2021 |language=en |date=2014-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Camera tests: Zoom on the iPhone 7 vs iPhone 7 Plus |url=https://www.imore.com/camera-tests-zoom-iphone-7-vs-iphone-7-plus |website=iMore |access-date=19 August 2021 |date=21 September 2016}}</ref> Some camera settings such as video resolution and frame rate are not adjustable through the camera interface itself, but are outsourced to the system settings.<ref>{{cite web |title=Record HD or 4K video with your iPhone or iPad |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209431 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}</ref>

A new feature in [[Software:IOS 13|iOS 13]] called "context menus" shows related actions when you touch and hold an item. When the context menu is displayed, the background is blurred.<ref name="developer.apple.com">{{Cite web|title=Context Menus – Controls – iOS – Human Interface Guidelines – Apple Developer|url=https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/ios/controls/context-menus/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=developer.apple.com}}</ref>

To choose from a few options, a selection control is used. Selectors can appear anchored at the bottom or in line with the content (called date selectors). Date selectors take on the appearance of any other selection control, but with a column for day, month, and optionally year.

Alerts appear in the center of the screen, but there are also alerts that scroll up from the bottom of the screen (called "action panels"). Destructive actions (such as eliminating any element) are colored red.

The official font of iOS is [[San Francisco (sans-serif typeface)|San Francisco]]. It is designed for small text readability, and is used throughout the operating system, including third-party apps.<ref name="developer.apple.com" />

The icons are 180x180px in size for iPhones with a larger screen, usually models over 6 inches, including [[Engineering:IPhone 11 Pro|iPhone 11 Pro]] and iPhone 8 Plus, while it's 120x120px on iPhones with smaller displays.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Technical Q&A QA1686: App Icons on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch|url=https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/qa/qa1686/_index.html|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=developer.apple.com}}</ref>

=== Applications ===
iOS devices come with preinstalled apps developed by Apple including Mail, Maps, TV, Music, FaceTime, Wallet, Health, and many more.

Applications ("[[Mobile app|apps]]") are the most general form of application [[Software|software]] that can be installed on iOS. They are downloaded from the official catalog of the [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] digital store, where apps are subjected to security checks before being made available to users. In June 2017, Apple updated its guidelines to specify that app developers will no longer have the ability to use custom prompts for encouraging users to leave reviews for their apps.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=June 9, 2017|title=Apple won't let apps annoy you with their own review prompts anymore|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/9/15768196/apple-ending-annoying-app-store-review-prompts|access-date=June 14, 2017|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Benjamin|date=June 9, 2017|title=App Store now requires developers to use official API to request app ratings, disallows custom prompts|url=https://9to5mac.com/2017/06/09/app-rating-custom-prompts-app-store-banned/|access-date=June 14, 2017|website=9to5Mac}}</ref> IOS applications can also be installed directly from an IPA file provided by the software distributor, via unofficial ways. They are written using iOS Software Development Kit (SDK) and, often, combined with [[Software:Xcode|Xcode]], using officially supported programming languages, including [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]] and [[Objective-C]]. Other companies have also created tools that allow for the development of native iOS apps using their respective programming languages.

Applications for iOS are mostly built using components of UIKit, a programming framework. It allows applications to have a consistent look and feel with the OS, nevertheless offering customization.

Elements automatically update along with iOS updates, automatically including new interface rules. UIKit elements are very adaptable, this allows developers to design a single app that looks the same on any iOS device. In addition to defining the iOS interface, UIKit defines the functionality of the application.

At first, Apple did not intend to release an SDK to developers, because they did not want third-party apps to be developed for iOS, building [[Web application|web apps]] instead. However, this technology never entered into common use, this led Apple to change its opinion, so in October 2007 the SDK for developers was announced, finally released on March 6, 2008.

The SDK includes an inclusive set of development tools,<ref name="MacRumors SDK2">{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Arnold|date=March 6, 2008|title=Apple Releases iPhone SDK, Demos Spore, Instant Messaging|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/06/apple-releases-iphone-sdk-demos-spore-instant-messaging/|access-date=June 11, 2017|website=MacRumors}}</ref> including an audio mixer and an iPhone simulator. It is a free download for [[Engineering:Macintosh|Mac]] users. It is not available for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] PCs. To test the application, get technical support, and distribute applications through [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]], developers are required to subscribe to the Apple Developer Program.

Over the years, the Apple Store apps surpassed multiple major milestones, including 50,000,<ref name="50,000">{{cite web|last=Siegler|first=MG|date=June 8, 2009|title=State Of The iPhone Ecosystem: 40 Million Devices and 50,000 Apps|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/06/08/40-million-iphones-and-ipod-touches-and-50000-apps/|access-date=March 29, 2017|website=TechCrunch|publisher=AOL}}</ref> 100,000,<ref name="100,000">{{cite web|date=November 4, 2009|title=Apple Announces Over 100,000 Apps Available on the App Store|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2009/11/04/apple-announces-over-100000-apps-available-on-the-app-store/|access-date=March 29, 2017|website=MacRumors}}</ref> 250,000,<ref name="250,000">{{cite web|last=Brian|first=Matt|date=August 28, 2010|title=Apple's App Store Now Features 250,000 Apps|url=https://thenextweb.com/mobile/2010/08/28/apples-app-store-now-features-250000-apps/|access-date=March 29, 2017|website=The Next Web}}</ref> 500,000,<ref name="500,000">{{cite web|last=Grothaus|first=Michael|date=October 4, 2011|title=More than 18 billion apps downloaded from App Store|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/more-than-18-billion-apps-downloaded-from-app-store/|access-date=March 31, 2017|website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]]|publisher=AOL}}</ref> 1&nbsp;million,<ref name="1 million">{{cite web|last=Ingraham|first=Nathan|date=October 22, 2013|title=Apple announces 1 million apps in the App Store, more than 1 billion songs played on iTunes radio|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/22/4866302/apple-announces-1-million-apps-in-the-app-store|access-date=March 31, 2017|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]}}</ref> and 2&nbsp;million apps.<ref name="The Verge 2 million2">{{cite web|last=Golson|first=Jordan|date=June 13, 2016|title=Apple's App Store now has over 2 million apps|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/13/11922926/apple-apps-2-million-wwdc-2016|access-date=March 31, 2017|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]}}</ref> The billionth application was installed on April 24, 2009.<ref name="Billion">{{cite web|date=April 24, 2009|title=Apple's Revolutionary App Store Downloads Top One Billion in Just Nine Months|url=https://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/04/24Apples-Revolutionary-App-Store-Downloads-Top-One-Billion-in-Just-Nine-Months.html|access-date=March 29, 2017|website=Apple Press Info|publisher=[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]]}}</ref>

=== Home screen ===
{{Main|Software:SpringBoard}}

The home screen, rendered by [[Software:SpringBoard|SpringBoard]], displays application icons and a dock at the bottom where users can pin their most frequently used apps. The home screen appears whenever the user unlocks the device or presses the physical "Home" button while in another app.<ref>{{cite web|title = Home button – Apple|url = http://help.apple.com/iphone/8/#/iph3bd00bbb|website = help.apple.com|access-date = May 24, 2015}}</ref> Before iOS 4 on the iPhone 3GS (or later), the screen's background could be customized only through jailbreaking, but can now be changed out-of-the-box. The screen has a status bar across the top to display data, such as time, battery level, and signal strength. The rest of the screen is devoted to the current application. When a passcode is set and a user switches on the device, the passcode must be entered at the Lock Screen before access to the Home screen is granted.<ref>{{cite web|title = About iOS passcodes – Apple Support|url = https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204060|website = support.apple.com|access-date = May 24, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150428092931/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204060|archive-date = April 28, 2015|df = mdy-all}}</ref>

In iPhone OS 3, [[Software:Spotlight|Spotlight]] was introduced, allowing users to search media, apps, emails, contacts, messages, reminders, calendar events, and similar content. In iOS 7 and later, Spotlight is accessed by pulling down anywhere on the home screen (except for the top and bottom edges that open Notification Center and Control Center).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/06/10/apples-ios-7-embeds-search-bar-into-every-app-screen | title=Apple's iOS 7 brings quick Spotlight search access to every app page | work=AppleInsider | date=June 10, 2013 | access-date=September 18, 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007171934/http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/06/10/apples-ios-7-embeds-search-bar-into-every-app-screen | archive-date=October 7, 2013 | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smartipadguide.com/search-on-ipad-with-spotlight-on-ios-7 | title=Search on iPad with iOS 7 | date=October 21, 2013 | access-date=March 1, 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113004543/http://www.smartipadguide.com/search-on-ipad-with-spotlight-on-ios-7 | archive-date=January 13, 2015 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> In iOS 9, there are two ways to access Spotlight. As with iOS 7 and 8, pulling down on any homescreen will show Spotlight. However, it can also be accessed as it was in iOS versions 3 through 6. This endows Spotlight with Siri suggestions, which include app suggestions, contact suggestions and news.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.macworld.com/article/2984323/hands-on-with-the-new-proactive-spotlight-in-ios-9.html | title=Hands-on with the new, proactive Spotlight in iOS 9 | date=September 16, 2015 | access-date=September 25, 2020}}</ref> In iOS 10, Spotlight is at the top of the now-dedicated "Today" panel.<ref>{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Seifert |title=iOS 10 will make you love your lock screen |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/8/12128150/ios-10-hands-on-preview-lockscreen |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=September 13, 2016 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210155903/http://www.theverge.com/2016/7/8/12128150/ios-10-hands-on-preview-lockscreen |archive-date=February 10, 2017  }}</ref>

Since [[Software:IPhone OS 3|iOS 3.2]], users are able to set a background image for the Home Screen. This feature is only available on third-generation devices—[[Engineering:IPhone 3GS|iPhone 3GS]], third-generation [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] (iOS 4.0 or newer), and all iPad models (since iOS 3.2)—or newer.

[[Software:IOS 7|iOS 7]] introduced a parallax effect on the Home Screen, which shifts the device's wallpaper and icons in response to the movement of the device, creating a 3D effect and an illusion of floating icons. This effect is also visible in the tab view of Mail and Safari.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zibreg |first=Christian |date=September 26, 2016 |orig-year=June 28, 2013|title=A closer look at iOS 7 parallax effect|url=https://www.idownloadblog.com/2013/06/28/ios-7-parallax-effect-explained/ |publisher=iDownloadBlog.com |access-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref>

Researchers found that users organize icons on their homescreens based on usage frequency and relatedness of the applications, as well as for reasons of usability and aesthetics.<ref>Matthias Böhmer, Antonio Krüger. [http://matthiasboehmer.de/2013/01/study-on-icon-arrangement/ A Study on Icon Arrangement by Smartphone Users] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512183243/http://matthiasboehmer.de/2013/01/study-on-icon-arrangement/ |date=May 12, 2013 }}. In Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI '13). ACM, New York, NY, USA, 2137–2146.</ref>

==== System font ====
iOS originally used Helvetica as the system font. Apple switched to Helvetica Neue exclusively for the [[Engineering:IPhone 4|iPhone 4]] and its Retina Display, and retained Helvetica as the system font for older iPhone devices on iOS 4.<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Gruber |title=4 |url=https://daringfireball.net/2010/06/4 |website=Daring Fireball |date=June 29, 2010 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009111438/https://daringfireball.net/2010/06/4 |archive-date=October 9, 2017  }}</ref> With iOS 7, Apple announced that they would change the system font to Helvetica Neue Light, a decision that sparked criticism for inappropriate usage of a light, thin typeface for low-resolution mobile screens. Apple eventually chose Helvetica Neue instead.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Stinson |title=Why Apple abandoned the world's most beloved typeface |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/06/apple-abandoned-worlds-beloved-typeface/ |journal=Wired  |date=June 9, 2015 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613012051/http://www.wired.com/2015/06/apple-abandoned-worlds-beloved-typeface/ |archive-date=June 13, 2015  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Koetsier |title=Apple 'fontgate' ends with thicker Helvetica Neue in iOS 7 beta 3 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/07/09/apple-fontgate-ends-with-thicker-helvetica-neue-in-ios-7-beta-3/ |website=VentureBeat |date=July 9, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015203655/https://venturebeat.com/2013/07/09/apple-fontgate-ends-with-thicker-helvetica-neue-in-ios-7-beta-3/ |archive-date=October 15, 2017  }}</ref> The release of iOS 7 also introduced the ability to scale text or apply other forms of text accessibility changes through Settings.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Guarino |title=iOS 7 How-to: Make text more readable/larger on your iPad and iPhone |url=https://9to5mac.com/2013/09/21/ios-7-how-to-make-text-more-readablelarger-on-your-ipad-and-iphone/ |website=9to5Mac |date=September 21, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731183723/http://9to5mac.com/2013/09/21/ios-7-how-to-make-text-more-readablelarger-on-your-ipad-and-iphone/ |archive-date=July 31, 2016  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Allyson |last=Kazmucha |title=How to increase or decrease font sizes on iPhone and iPad in iOS 7 with Dynamic Type |url=https://www.imore.com/how-increase-or-decrease-font-sizes-iphone-and-ipad-ios-7-dynamic-type |website=iMore |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508115332/http://www.imore.com/how-increase-or-decrease-font-sizes-iphone-and-ipad-ios-7-dynamic-type |archive-date=May 8, 2017  }}</ref> With iOS 9, Apple changed the font to [[San Francisco (sans-serif typeface)|San Francisco]], an Apple-designed font aimed at maximum legibility and font consistency across its product lineup.<ref>{{cite web |first=Adario |last=Strange |title=All hail Apple's new iOS 9 font, San Francisco |url=http://mashable.com/2015/09/16/apple-ios-9-font/ |website=Mashable |date=September 17, 2015 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221035219/http://mashable.com/2015/09/16/apple-ios-9-font/ |archive-date=December 21, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Apple drops Helvetica for San Francisco in iOS 9 |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/09/16/first-look-apple-drops-helvetica-for-san-francisco-in-ios-9 |website=AppleInsider |date=September 16, 2015 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306092414/http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/09/16/first-look-apple-drops-helvetica-for-san-francisco-in-ios-9 |archive-date=March 6, 2017  }}</ref>

==== Folders ====
iOS 4 introduced folders, which can be created by dragging an application on top of another, and from then on, more items can be added to the folder using the same procedure. A title for the folder is automatically selected by the category of applications inside, but the name can also be edited by the user.<ref name="Folders">{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Frakes |title=Hands on with iOS 4 folders |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1152168/ios4folders.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=June 21, 2010 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101033003/https://www.macworld.com/article/1152168/ios4folders.html |archive-date=November 1, 2017  }}</ref> When apps inside folders receive notification badges, the individual numbers of notifications are added up and the total number is displayed as a notification badge on the folder itself.<ref name="Folders" /> Originally, folders on an iPhone could include up to 12 apps, while folders on iPad could include 20.<ref>{{cite web |first=Lex |last=Friedman |title=How to create and organize iOS folders |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1160291/tablets/create-organize-ios-folders.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=June 20, 2011 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015202624/https://www.macworld.com/article/1160291/tablets/create-organize-ios-folders.html |archive-date=October 15, 2017  }}</ref> With increasing display sizes on newer iPhone hardware, iOS 7 updated the folders with pages similar to the home screen layout, allowing for a significant expansion of folder functionality. Each page of a folder can contain up to nine apps, and there can be 15 pages in total, allowing for a total of 135 apps in a single folder.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sam |last=Costello |title=How Many Apps and Folders Can an iPhone Have? |url=https://www.lifewire.com/how-many-apps-allowed-iphone-2000752 |website=Lifewire |publisher=Dotdash |date=March 20, 2017 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806182301/https://www.lifewire.com/how-many-apps-allowed-iphone-2000752 |archive-date=August 6, 2017  }}</ref> In iOS 9, Apple updated folder sizes for iPad hardware, allowing for 16 apps per page, still at 15 pages maximum, increasing the total to 240 apps.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chance |last=Miller |title=iOS 9 lets you store 105 more apps per folder on the iPad |url=https://9to5mac.com/2015/07/08/new-folders-ios-9/ |website=9to5Mac |date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=October 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150809/https://9to5mac.com/2015/07/08/new-folders-ios-9/ |archive-date=October 15, 2017  }}</ref>

==== Notification Center ====
{{Main|Software:Notification Center}}
Before iOS 5, notifications were delivered in a [[Modal window|modal window]] and couldn't be viewed after being dismissed. In iOS 5, Apple introduced [[Software:Notification Center|Notification Center]], which allows users to view a history of notifications. The user can tap a notification to open its corresponding app, or clear it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/au/iphone/features/notification-center.html |title=iPhone 4S – Always know what's up in Notification Center |publisher=Apple Inc. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214123941/http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/features/notification-center.html |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Notifications are now delivered in banners that appear briefly at the top of the screen. If a user taps a received notification, the application that sent the notification will be opened. Users can also choose to view notifications in modal alert windows by adjusting the application's notification settings. Introduced with iOS 8, widgets are now accessible through the Notification Center, defined by 3rd parties.

When an app sends a notification while closed, a red badge appears on its icon. This badge tells the user, at a glance, how many notifications that app has sent. Opening the app clears the badge.

=== Accessibility ===
iOS offers various accessibility features to help users with vision and hearing disabilities. One major feature, [[Software:VoiceOver|VoiceOver]], provides a voice reading information on the screen, including contextual buttons, icons, links and other [[User interface|user interface]] elements, and allows the user to navigate the operating system through gestures. Any apps with default controls and developed with a UIKit [[Software framework|framework]] gets VoiceOver functionality built in.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Tanasychuk |title=How to use VoiceOver on iPhone and iPad |url=http://www.imore.com/how-use-voiceover-iphone-and-ipad |website=iMore |date=September 15, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220131037/http://www.imore.com/how-use-voiceover-iphone-and-ipad |archive-date=December 20, 2016  }}</ref> One example includes holding up the iPhone to take a photo, with VoiceOver describing the photo scenery.<ref>{{cite web |first=Shara |last=Tibken |title=Seeing eye phone: Giving independence to the blind |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-iphone-voiceover-technology-for-the-blind/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=March 25, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401060628/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-iphone-voiceover-technology-for-the-blind/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> As part of a "Made for iPhone" program, introduced with the release of [[Software:IOS 7|iOS 7]] in 2013, Apple has developed technology to use [[Bluetooth]] and a special technology protocol to let compatible third-party equipment connect with iPhones and iPads for streaming audio directly to a user's ears. Additional customization available for Made for iPhone products include battery tracking and adjustable sound settings for different environments.<ref>{{cite web |first=Shara |last=Tibken |title=Apple iPhone tech helps reinvent the hearing aid |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-iphone-hearing-aid-tech-deaf-ios-accessibility-cochlear-starkey-bluetooth-watch/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401063911/https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-iphone-hearing-aid-tech-deaf-ios-accessibility-cochlear-starkey-bluetooth-watch/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=Wing Kosner |title=Made For iPhone Hearing Aids: Hands On With Halo, A Mission-Critical Wearable |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2014/08/16/made-for-iphone-hearing-aids-hands-on-with-halo-a-mission-critical-wearable/ |website={{wipe|Forbes}} |date=August 16, 2014 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401062155/https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2014/08/16/made-for-iphone-hearing-aids-hands-on-with-halo-a-mission-critical-wearable/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> Apple made further efforts for accessibility for the release of [[Software:IOS 10|iOS 10]] in 2016, adding a new pronunciation editor to VoiceOver, adding a Magnifier setting to enlarge objects through the device's camera, software [[Engineering:Telecommunications device for the deaf|TTY]] support for deaf people to make phone calls from the iPhone, and giving tutorials and guidelines for third-party developers to incorporate proper accessibility functions into their apps.<ref>{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Aquino |title=Accessibility was all around this year's WWDC |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/26/accessibility-was-all-around-this-years-wwdc/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=June 26, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401055914/https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/26/accessibility-was-all-around-this-years-wwdc/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref>

In 2012, Liat Kornowski from ''The Atlantic'' wrote that "the iPhone has turned out to be one of the most revolutionary developments since the invention of [[Braille]]",<ref>{{cite web |first=Liat |last=Kornowski |title=How the Blind Are Reinventing the iPhone |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/how-the-blind-are-reinventing-the-iphone/256589/ |website=The Atlantic |publisher=Atlantic Media |date=May 2, 2012 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401055505/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/05/how-the-blind-are-reinventing-the-iphone/256589/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> and in 2016, Steven Aquino of ''TechCrunch'' described Apple as "leading the way in assistive technology", with Sarah Herrlinger, Senior Manager for Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives at Apple, stating that "We see accessibility as a basic human right. Building into the core of our products supports a vision of an inclusive world where opportunity and access to information are barrier-free, empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve their goals".<ref>{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Aquino |title=When it comes to accessibility, Apple continues to lead in awareness and innovation |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/19/when-it-comes-to-accessibility-apple-continues-to-lead-in-awareness-and-innovation/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=May 19, 2016 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144536/https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/19/when-it-comes-to-accessibility-apple-continues-to-lead-in-awareness-and-innovation/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref>

Criticism has been aimed at iOS depending on both internet connection (either WiFi or through iTunes) and a working [[SIM card]] upon first activation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haslam |first1=Karen |title=How to activate an iPhone without a SIM card (or Wi-Fi) |url=https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/activate-iphone-without-sim-3643294/ |website=Macworld UK}}</ref> This restriction has been loosened in iOS 12, which no longer requires the latter.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Activate iPhone without SIM? |url=https://www.wootechy.com/activation-bypass/how-to-activate-an-iphone-without-sim/ |website=www.wootechy.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Multitasking ===
[[Computer multitasking|Multitasking]] for iOS was first released in June 2010 along with the release of [[Software:IOS 4|iOS 4]].<ref name=HuffPost1>{{cite web|title=iOS 4 iPhone Update RELEASED: A Guide To iOS 4|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/21/ios-4-iphone-update-relea_n_619343.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=April 13, 2013|date=June 21, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229042916/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/21/ios-4-iphone-update-relea_n_619343.html|archive-date=December 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name=PCMag1>{{cite web|last=Albanesius|first=Chloe|title=Apple iPhone iOS 4 Software Update Expected Monday|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365351,00.asp|publisher=PC Magazine|access-date=April 14, 2013|date=June 21, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623143241/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365351,00.asp|archive-date=June 23, 2014}}</ref> Only certain devices—[[Engineering:IPhone 4|iPhone 4]], [[Engineering:IPhone 3GS|iPhone 3GS]], and [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] 3rd generation—were able to multitask.<ref name="Ars Technica iOS 4 review">{{cite web |first=Jacqui |last=Cheng |title=Ars reviews iOS 4: what's new, notable, and what needs work |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2010/06/ars-reviews-ios-4-whats-new-and-notable/ |website=[[Ars Technica]]  |date=June 21, 2010 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081218/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2010/06/ars-reviews-ios-4-whats-new-and-notable/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref> The [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]] did not get multitasking until iOS 4.2.1 in that November.<ref name=TheRegister1>{{cite magazine|last=Ray|first=Bill|title=iOS 4.2 multi-tasking comes to the iPad|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/ipad-ios42/|publisher=The Register|access-date=April 14, 2013|date=November 22, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613233244/http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/ipad-ios42|archive-date=June 13, 2013}}</ref>

The implementation of multitasking in iOS has been criticized for its approach, which limits the work that applications in the background can perform to a limited function set and requires application developers to add explicit support for it.<ref name="Ars Technica iOS 4 review" /><ref name="PCWorld2">{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Jared|title=Multitasking With iOS 4 is Horrible: Apple Blew It|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/199528/Multitasking_With_iOS_4_is_Horrible_Apple_Blew_It.html|publisher=PC World|access-date=April 14, 2013|date=June 22, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629185931/http://www.pcworld.com/article/199528/Multitasking_With_iOS_4_is_Horrible_Apple_Blew_It.html|archive-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref>

Before iOS 4, multitasking was limited to a selection of the applications Apple included on the device. Users could however "jailbreak" their device in order to unofficially multitask.<ref name="iOS 4 walkthrough">{{cite web |url= https://www.imore.com/ios-4-review |title= iOS 4 walkthrough |date= June 14, 2010 |access-date= September 25, 2020}}</ref> Starting with iOS 4, on third-generation and newer iOS devices, multitasking is supported through seven background [[Application programming interface|APIs]]:<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.imore.com/apple-announces-multitasking-iphone-40 |title= Apple announces multitasking for iPhone OS 4 (iPhone 3GS/iPod Touch G3 only) |date= April 8, 2010 |access-date= September 25, 2020}}</ref>

# Background audio – application continues to run in the background as long as it is playing audio or video content<ref name="Executing Code in the Background">{{cite web |url=https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneOSProgrammingGuide/BackgroundExecution/BackgroundExecution.html |title=iOS Application Programming Guide – Background Execution |publisher=Developer.apple.com |access-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727054318/https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneOSProgrammingGuide/BackgroundExecution/BackgroundExecution.html |archive-date=July 27, 2015  }}</ref>
# Voice over IP – application is suspended when a phone call is not in progress<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
# Background location – application is notified of location changes<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
# [[Software:Apple Push Notification service|Push notifications]]
# Local notifications – application schedules local notifications to be delivered at a predetermined time<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
# Task completion – application asks the system for extra time to complete a given task<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
# Fast app switching – application does not execute any code and may be removed from memory at any time<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
In iOS 5, three new background APIs were introduced:
# Newsstand – application can download content in the background to be ready for the user<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
# External Accessory – application communicates with an external accessory and shares data at regular intervals<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
# Bluetooth Accessory – application communicates with a bluetooth accessory and shares data at regular intervals<ref name="Executing Code in the Background" />
In iOS 7, Apple introduced a new multitasking feature, providing all apps with the ability to perform background updates. This feature prefers to update the user's most frequently used apps and prefers to use Wi-Fi networks over a cellular network, without markedly reducing the device's battery life.

==== Switching applications ====
In iOS 4.0 to iOS 6.x, double-clicking the home button activates the application switcher. A scrollable dock-style interface appears from the bottom, moving the contents of the screen up. Choosing an icon switches to an application. To the far left are icons which function as music controls, a rotation lock, and on iOS 4.2 and above, a volume controller.

With the introduction of iOS 7, double-clicking the home button also activates the application switcher. However, unlike previous versions it displays screenshots of open applications on top of the icon and horizontal scrolling allows for browsing through previous apps, and it is possible to close applications by dragging them up, similar to how [[Software:WebOS|WebOS]] handled multiple cards.<ref name="Jon Rubinstein: OS X and iOS 7 borrow features from webOS">{{cite web|title=Jon Rubinstein: OS X and iOS 7 borrow features from webOS|url=http://www.tuaw.com/2013/06/12/jon-rubinstein-os-x-and-ios-7-borrow-features-from-webos/|access-date=September 23, 2013|author=Yoni Heisler|date=June 12, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928040445/http://www.tuaw.com/2013/06/12/jon-rubinstein-os-x-and-ios-7-borrow-features-from-webos/|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>

With the introduction of iOS 9, the application switcher received a significant visual change; while still retaining the card metaphor introduced in iOS 7, the application icon is smaller, and appears above the screenshot (which is now larger, due to the removal of "Recent and Favorite Contacts"), and each application "card" overlaps the other, forming a [[Engineering:Rolodex|rolodex]] effect as the user scrolls. Now, instead of the home screen appearing at the leftmost of the application switcher, it appears rightmost.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Prabhu|first1=Gautam|title=iOS 9 vs. iOS 8: A look at the UI changes in iOS 9|url=http://www.iphonehacks.com/2015/06/ios-9-vs-ios-8-a-look-at-the-ui-changes-in-ios-9.html|website=iPhone Hacks|date=June 17, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107041632/http://www.iphonehacks.com/2015/06/ios-9-vs-ios-8-a-look-at-the-ui-changes-in-ios-9.html|archive-date=November 7, 2015}}</ref> In [[Software:IOS 11|iOS 11]], the application switcher receives a major redesign. In the iPad, the [[Software:Control Center (iOS)|Control Center]] and app switcher are combined. The app switcher in the iPad can also be accessed by swiping up from the bottom. In the iPhone, the app switcher cannot be accessed if there are no apps in the RAM.

==== Ending tasks ====
In iOS 4.0 to iOS 6.x, briefly holding the icons in the application switcher makes them "jiggle" (similarly to the homescreen) and allows the user to ''force'' quit the applications by tapping the red minus circle that appears at the corner of the app's icon.<ref name="iOS: Force an app to close">{{cite web|title=iOS: Force an app to close|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5137|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=October 9, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930234318/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5137|archive-date=September 30, 2012}}</ref> Clearing applications from multitasking stayed the same from iOS 4.0 through 6.1.6, the last version of iOS 6.

As of iOS 7, the process has become faster and easier. In iOS 7, instead of holding the icons to close them, they are closed by simply swiping them upwards off the screen. Up to three apps can be cleared at a time compared to one in versions up to iOS 6.1.6.<ref name="tuaw">{{cite web|title=iOS 7 multitasking|url=http://www.tuaw.com/2013/09/18/ios-7-multitasking-has-a-brand-new-look/|publisher=Tuaw|access-date=March 21, 2014|date=September 18, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221045014/http://www.tuaw.com/2013/09/18/ios-7-multitasking-has-a-brand-new-look/|archive-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref>

==== Task completion ====
Task completion allows apps to continue a certain task after the app has been suspended.<ref name="MacWorld1">{{cite web|last=Snell|first=Jason|title=Inside iPhone 4.0's multitasking|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1150496/multitasking_iphone.html|publisher=Macworld|access-date=April 14, 2013|date=April 8, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530231748/http://www.macworld.com/article/1150496/multitasking_iphone.html|archive-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Kent |last=German |title=Apple iPhone 4 AT&T review |url=https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-4-at-t/review/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=June 23, 2010 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402080855/https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-iphone-4-at-t/review/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref> As of iOS 4.0, apps can request up to ten minutes to complete a task in the background.<ref name="iLounge1">{{cite web|last=Hollington|first=Jesse|title=Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iOS 4|url=http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/instant-expert-secrets-features-of-ios-4/|publisher=iLounge|access-date=April 14, 2013|date=June 21, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221165136/http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/instant-expert-secrets-features-of-ios-4/|archive-date=December 21, 2012}}</ref> This doesn't extend to background uploads and downloads though (e.g. if a user starts a download in one application, it won't finish if they switch away from the application).

=== Siri ===
{{Main|Software:Siri}}
Siri ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪr|i}}) is an intelligent personal assistant integrated into iOS. The assistant uses voice queries and a natural language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Internet services. The software adapts to users' individual language usages, searches, and preferences, with continuing use. Returned results are individualized.

Originally released as an app for iOS in February 2010,<ref>{{cite web |first=Erick |last=Schonfeld |title=Siri's IPhone App Puts A Personal Assistant In Your Pocket |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/04/siri-iphone-personal-assistant/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728114439/https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/04/siri-iphone-personal-assistant/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017  }}</ref> it was acquired by Apple two months later,<ref>{{cite web |first=Jenna |last=Wortham |title=Apple Buys a Start-Up for Its Voice Technology |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/technology/29apple.html |website={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728084120/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/technology/29apple.html |archive-date=July 28, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Katie |last=Marsal |title=Apple acquires Siri, developer of personal assistant app for iPhone |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/10/04/28/apple_acquires_siri_developer_of_personal_assistant_app_for_iphone |website=AppleInsider |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527081510/http://appleinsider.com/articles/10/04/28/apple_acquires_siri_developer_of_personal_assistant_app_for_iphone |archive-date=May 27, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Leena |last=Rao |title=Confirmed: Apple Buys Virtual Personal Assistant Startup Siri |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/28/apple-buys-virtual-personal-assistant-startup-siri/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623060933/https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/28/apple-buys-virtual-personal-assistant-startup-siri/ |archive-date=June 23, 2017  }}</ref> and then integrated into [[Engineering:IPhone 4S|iPhone 4S]] at its release in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Golson |title=Siri Voice Recognition Arrives On the iPhone 4S |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/04/siri-voice-recognition-arrives-on-the-iphone-4s/ |website=MacRumors |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728082408/https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/04/siri-voice-recognition-arrives-on-the-iphone-4s/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Velazco |title=Apple Reveals Siri Voice Interface: The "Intelligent Assistant" Only For iPhone 4S |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/apple-reveals-siri-voice-interface-the-intelligent-assistant/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728115128/https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/apple-reveals-siri-voice-interface-the-intelligent-assistant/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017  }}</ref> At that time, the separate app was also removed from the iOS [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Kumparak |title=The Original Siri App Gets Pulled From The App Store, Servers To Be Killed |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/the-original-siri-app-gets-pulled-from-the-app-store-servers-killed/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821141157/http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/the-original-siri-app-gets-pulled-from-the-app-store-servers-killed/ |archive-date=August 21, 2012  }}</ref>

Siri supports a wide range of user commands, including performing phone actions, checking basic information, scheduling events and reminders, handling device settings, searching the Internet, navigating areas, finding information on entertainment, and is able to engage with iOS-integrated apps.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Sarah Jacobsson |last1=Purewal |first2=Jason |last2=Cipriani |title=The complete list of Siri commands |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-complete-list-of-siri-commands/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624114306/https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-complete-list-of-siri-commands/ |archive-date=June 24, 2017  }}</ref> With the release of [[Software:IOS 10|iOS 10]] in 2016, Apple opened up limited third-party access to Siri, including third-party messaging apps, as well as payments, ride-sharing, and Internet calling apps.<ref>{{cite web |first=Husain |last=Sumra |title=Apple Opens Siri to Third-Party Developers With iOS 10 |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/13/apple-siri-api-third-party-developers/ |website=MacRumors |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728080623/https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/13/apple-siri-api-third-party-developers/ |archive-date=July 28, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Olivarez-Giles |title=Apple iOS 10 Opens Up Siri and Messages, Updates Music, Photos and More |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-ios-10-opens-up-siri-and-messages-updates-music-photos-and-more-1465851484 |website={{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}} |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728115246/https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-ios-10-opens-up-siri-and-messages-updates-music-photos-and-more-1465851484 |archive-date=July 28, 2017  }} {{subscription required}}</ref> With the release of [[Software:IOS 11|iOS 11]], Apple updated Siri's voices for more clear, human voices, it now supports follow-up questions and language translation, and additional third-party actions.<ref>{{cite web |first=Lucas |last=Matney |title=Siri gets language translation and a more human voice |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/05/siri-gets-voice-translation-and-a-more-human-voice/ |website=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615141047/https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/05/siri-gets-voice-translation-and-a-more-human-voice/ |archive-date=June 15, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Chaim |last=Gartenberg |title=Siri on iOS 11 gets improved speech and can suggest actions based on how you use it |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/5/15732136/apple-siri-update-announced-new-features-wwdc-2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619081752/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/5/15732136/apple-siri-update-announced-new-features-wwdc-2017 |archive-date=June 19, 2017  }}</ref>

=== Game Center ===
Game Center is an [[Internet|online]] [[Software:Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] "social gaming network"<ref name="appleDEV">{{cite web |url= https://developer.apple.com/technologies/iphone/whats-new.html#gamecenter |title= What's New in iOS 4 |publisher= Apple |access-date= June 14, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100617053052/http://developer.apple.com/technologies/iphone/whats-new.html#gamecenter |archive-date= June 17, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> released by Apple.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/09/apples-game-center-debuts-next-week/1 |title=Apple's Game Center debuts next week – Game Hunters: In search of video games and interactive awesomeness |work=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |date=January 9, 2010 |access-date=September 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525161111/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gamehunters/post/2010/09/apples-game-center-debuts-next-week/1 |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> It allows users to "invite friends to play a game, start a multiplayer game through matchmaking, track their [[Software:Achievement (video games)|achievements]], and compare their high scores on a leaderboard." iOS 5 and above adds support for profile photos.<ref name="appleDEV" />

Game Center was announced during an iOS 4 preview event hosted by Apple on April 8, 2010. A preview was released to registered Apple developers in August.<ref name="appleDEV" /> It was released on September 8, 2010, with iOS 4.1 on [[Engineering:IPhone 4|iPhone 4]], iPhone 3GS, and iPod Touch 2nd generation through 4th generation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Holt |first=Chris |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/207470/ios-gamecenter.html |title=iOS 4.1's GameCenter to Hit iPhone Next Week |website=Macworld |date=September 1, 2010 |access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref> Game Center made its public debut on the iPad with iOS 4.2.1.<ref name="iOS 4.2 for iPad">{{cite web|title=iOS 4.2 Software Update for iPad|url=https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1060|publisher=Apple Inc.|access-date=October 9, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306014058/http://support.apple.com/kb/dl1060|archive-date=March 6, 2013}}</ref> There is no support for the [[Engineering:IPhone 3G|iPhone 3G]], [[Engineering:IPhone (1st generation)|original iPhone]] and the [[Engineering:IPod Touch|first-generation iPod Touch]] (the latter two devices did not have Game Center because they did not get iOS 4).<ref name="Game Center">{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/game-center|title=Game Center|date=December 23, 2010|publisher=Apple|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223055005/https://www.apple.com/game-center|archive-date=December 23, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, Game Center is unofficially available on the iPhone 3G via a hack.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shoutpedia.com/how-to-enable-game-centre-iphone-3g/|title=How to Install Game Center on iPhone 3G [Guide]|author=A. Usman|date=October 31, 2012|website=Shoutpedia}}</ref>

== Hardware ==
The main hardware platform for iOS is the [[ARM architecture]] (the ARMv7, ARMv8-A, ARMv8.2-A, ARMv8.3-A). iOS releases before [[Software:IOS 7|iOS 7]] can only be run on iOS devices with [[32-bit|32-bit]] ARM processors (ARMv6 and ARMv7-A architectures). In 2013, [[Software:IOS 7|iOS 7]] was released with full [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] support (which includes a native 64-bit kernel, libraries, drivers as well as all built-in applications),<ref>{{cite web |last=Wollman |first=Dana |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/09/10/ios-7-64-bit/ |title=iOS 7 will be 64-bit, just like the iPhone 5s' new A7 chip |publisher=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |date=September 10, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141559/http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/10/ios-7-64-bit/ |archive-date=September 24, 2015  }}</ref> after Apple announced that they were switching to 64-bit ARMv8-A processors with the introduction of the [[Engineering:Apple A7|Apple A7]] chip.<ref>{{cite web |last=Souppouris |first=Aaron |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4722470/iphone-5s-64-bit-processor-is-a-bigger-deal-than-you-think |title=Why Apple's 64-bit iPhone chip is a bigger deal than you think |publisher=[[The Verge]] |date=September 12, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428174943/http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/12/4722470/iphone-5s-64-bit-processor-is-a-bigger-deal-than-you-think |archive-date=April 28, 2017  }}</ref> 64-bit support was also enforced for all apps in the [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]]; All new apps submitted to the App Store with a deadline of February 2015, and all app updates submitted to the App Store with a deadline of June 1, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/07/the-state-of-the-64-bit-transition-in-ios-and-whats-left-to-be-done/ |title=The state of the 64-bit transition in iOS, and what's left to be done |publisher=[[Ars Technica]] |date=July 2, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131202530/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2015/07/the-state-of-the-64-bit-transition-in-ios-and-whats-left-to-be-done/ |archive-date=January 31, 2017  }}</ref> [[Software:IOS 11|iOS 11]] drops support for all iOS devices with 32-bit ARM processors as well as 32-bit applications,<ref>{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/06/goodbye-32-bit-ios-11-ends-support-for-the-iphone-5-and-the-ipad-4/ |title=iOS 11 drops the iPhone 5 and 5C and the fourth-gen iPad |publisher=[[Ars Technica]] |date=June 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605192202/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/06/goodbye-32-bit-ios-11-ends-support-for-the-iphone-5-and-the-ipad-4/ |archive-date=June 5, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Mayo |first=Benjamin |url=https://9to5mac.com/2017/06/06/ios-11-32-bit-mac-app-store-64-bit/ |title=32-bit apps will not launch on iOS 11, Mac App Store transition to 64-bit from 2018 |publisher=9to5Mac |date=June 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620040920/https://9to5mac.com/2017/06/06/ios-11-32-bit-mac-app-store-64-bit/ |archive-date=June 20, 2017  }}</ref> making iOS 64-bit only.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/04/what-the-death-of-32-bit-ios-could-mean-for-apples-hardware-and-software/ |title=What the death of 32-bit iOS could mean for Apple's hardware and software |publisher=[[Ars Technica]] |date=April 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429003555/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2017/04/what-the-death-of-32-bit-ios-could-mean-for-apples-hardware-and-software/ |archive-date=April 29, 2017  }}</ref>

== Supported locales ==
iOS has support for many locales.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+List of locales by iOS version
!Language
!English name
!1.0
!1.1.2
!2.0
!2.1
!2.2
!3.0
!3.1
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!9
!10+
|-
|'''English (US)'''
|English (US)
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (Canada)'''
|English (Canada)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 2}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (UK)'''
|English (UK)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (Ireland)'''
|English (Ireland)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (Singapore)'''
|English (Singapore)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (South Africa)'''
|English (South Africa)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (Australia)'''
|English (Australia)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (New Zealand)'''
|English (New Zealand)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''English (India)'''
|English (India)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''简体中文'''
|Chinese, Simplified
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''繁體中文（台灣）'''
|Chinese, Traditional (Taiwan)
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''繁體中文（香港）'''
|Chinese, Traditional (Hong Kong)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''繁體中文（澳門）'''
|Chinese, Traditional (Macau)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''日本語'''
|Japanese
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (España)'''
|Spanish (Spain)
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Latinoamérica)'''
|Spanish (Latin America)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 2}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (México)'''
|Spanish (Mexico)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Argentina)'''
|Spanish (Argentina)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Bolivia)'''
|Spanish (Bolivia)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Chile)'''
|Spanish (Chile)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Colombia)'''
|Spanish (Colombia)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Costa Rica)'''
|Spanish (Costa Rica)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Ecuador)'''
|Spanish (Ecuador)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (El Salvador)'''
|Spanish (El Salvador)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (EE. UU.)'''
|Spanish (US)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Guatemala)'''
|Spanish (Guatemala)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Honduras)'''
|Spanish (Honduras)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Nicaragua)'''
|Spanish (Nicaragua)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Panamá)'''
|Spanish (Panama)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Paraguay)'''
|Spanish (Paraguay)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Perú)'''
|Spanish (Peru)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Puerto Rico)'''
|Spanish (Puerto Rico)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (República Dominicana)'''
|Spanish (Dominican Republic)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Uruguay)'''
|Spanish (Uruguay)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Español (Venezuela)'''
|Spanish (Venezuela)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Français (France)'''
|French (France)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Français (Suisse)'''
|French (Switzerland)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 2}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Français (Belgique)'''
|French (Belgium)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Français (Canada)'''
|French (Canada)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Deutsch (Deutschland)'''
|German (Germany)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Deutsch (Österreich)'''
|German (Austria)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 2}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Deutsch (Schweiz)'''
|German (Switzerland)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 2}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Русский'''
|Russian
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Português (Brasil)'''
|Portuguese (Brazil)
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Português (Portugal)'''
|Portuguese (Portugal)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Italiano (Italia)'''
|Italian (Italy)
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Italiano (Svizzera)'''
|Italian (Switzerland)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''한국어'''
|Korean
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Türkçe'''
|Turkish
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Nederlands (Nederland)'''
|Dutch (Netherlands)
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Nederlands (België)'''
|Dutch (Belgium)
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''العربية'''
|Arabic
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''ภาษาไทย'''
|Thai
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Svenska'''
|Swedish
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Dansk'''
|Danish
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Tiếng Việt'''
|Vietnamese
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Norsk bokmål'''
|Norwegian Bokmål
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Polski'''
|Polish
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Suomi'''
|Finnish
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Note 1}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Bahasa Indonesia'''
|Indonesian
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''עברית'''
|Hebrew
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Ελληνικά'''
|Greek
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Română'''
|Romanian
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Magyar'''
|Hungarian
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Čeština'''
|Czech
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Català'''
|Catalan
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Slovenčina'''
|Slovak
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Українська'''
|Ukrainian
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Hrvatski'''
|Croatian
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''Bahasa Melayu'''
|Malay
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|'''हिन्दी'''
|Hindi
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|}

=== Notes ===
# The iPod Touch at its launch supported English, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Russian, and Polish. However, most of these languages were not available in the iPhone until iPhone 2.0.
# As of iOS 8, users can add more than one locale to use on the device. If one language is not supported, the next one is used instead. The language on the top of the list is the primary one.
# While these regions are present in iOS 8, they fall back to the generic regions for the system language. This issue has been resolved in iOS 9 and later, when a default region is added.
#* '''de-AT, de-CH:''' de
#* '''en-CA, en-US:''' en
#* '''es-ES:''' es
#* '''es-419:''' es-MX
#* '''fr-CH:''' fr
# iOS 9 and above improved the locale handling process, now applying a default region to those that have multiple regions. The region is not displayed in the locale name if the region is the same as the country/region setting, or if only one region is added for a language.
#* '''German:''' German (Germany)
#* '''English:''' English (US)
#* '''Spanish:''' Spanish (Spain)
#* '''French:''' French (France)
#* '''Italian:''' Italian (Italy)
#* '''Dutch:''' Dutch (Netherlands)
#* '''Portuguese:''' Portuguese (Brazil)
#* '''Chinese, Traditional:''' Chinese, Traditional (Taiwan)
# Dutch (Belgium) was previously shown as Flemish in iOS 9 before being fixed in iOS 10, to bring it more in line with other locales.
# iOS 10 and macOS Sierra were the last versions in which new locales were added for the languages supported by iOS and macOS.
#* '''English (US):''' United States, Canada
#* '''English (UK):''' United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, South Africa
#* '''English (Australia):''' Australia, New Zealand
#* '''English (India):''' India
#* '''Chinese, Simplified:''' China mainland
#* '''Chinese, Traditional (Taiwan):''' Taiwan
#* '''Chinese, Traditional (Hong Kong):''' Hong Kong, Macau
#* '''Japanese:''' Japan
#* '''Spanish (Spain):''' Spain
#* '''Spanish (Latin America):''' Latin America, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, US, Venezuela
#* '''French (France):''' France, Belgium, Switzerland
#* '''French (Canada):''' Canada
#* '''German:''' Germany, Austria, Switzerland
#* '''Russian:''' Russia
#* '''Portuguese (Brazil):''' Brazil
#* '''Portuguese (Portugal):''' Portugal
#* '''Italian:''' Italy, Switzerland
#* '''Korean:''' South Korea
#* '''Turkish:''' Turkey
#* '''Dutch:''' Netherlands, Belgium
#* '''Arabic:''' Saudi Arabia
#* '''Thai:''' Thailand
#* '''Swedish:''' Sweden
#* '''Danish:''' Denmark
#* '''Vietnamese:''' Vietnam
#* '''Norwegian Bokmål:''' Norway
#* '''Polish:''' Poland
#* '''Finnish:''' Finland
#* '''Indonesian:''' Indonesia
#* '''Hebrew:''' Israel
#* '''Greek:''' Greece
#* '''Romanian:''' Romania
#* '''Hungarian:''' Hungary
#* '''Czech:''' Czechia
#* '''Catalan:''' Spain
#* '''Slovak:''' Slovakia
#* '''Ukrainian:''' Ukraine
#* '''Croatian:''' Croatia
#* '''Malay:''' Malaysia
#* '''Hindi:''' India
# It is possible to add custom locales in the iOS Simulator by editing the AppleLanguages portion of the .GlobalPreferences.plist file for each simulator.

== Development ==
{{Main|Software:IOS SDK}}
The iOS SDK (Software Development Kit) allows for the development of [[Mobile app|mobile app]]s on iOS.

While originally developing [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]] prior to its unveiling in 2007, Apple's then-[[Company:CEO|CEO]] [[Biography:Steve Jobs|Steve Jobs]] did not intend to let third-party developers build native apps for iOS, instead directing them to make [[Web application|web application]]s for the [[Software:Safari (web browser)|Safari web browser]].<ref name="No native apps">{{cite web |title=Jobs' original vision for the iPhone: No third-party native apps |url=https://9to5mac.com/2011/10/21/jobs-original-vision-for-the-iphone-no-third-party-native-apps/ |website=9to5Mac |date=October 21, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611063324/https://9to5mac.com/2011/10/21/jobs-original-vision-for-the-iphone-no-third-party-native-apps/ |archive-date=June 11, 2017  }}</ref> However, backlash from developers prompted the company to reconsider,<ref name="No native apps" /> with Jobs announcing in October 2007 that Apple would have a software development kit available for developers by February 2008.<ref>{{cite web |first=Geoff |last=Duncan |title=Apple confirms iPhone SDK coming next year |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-confirms-iphone-sdk-coming-next-year/ |website=[[Company:Digital Trends|Digital Trends]] |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828010954/https://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-confirms-iphone-sdk-coming-next-year/ |archive-date=August 28, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Steve Jobs confirms native iPhone SDK by February |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/17/steve_jobs_confirms_native_iphone_sdk_by_february |website=AppleInsider |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828020104/http://appleinsider.com/articles/07/10/17/steve_jobs_confirms_native_iphone_sdk_by_february |archive-date=August 28, 2017  }}</ref> The SDK was released on March 6, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jim |last=Dalrymple |title=Apple unveils iPhone SDK |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1132400/iphonesdk.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015010/http://www.macworld.com/article/1132400/iphonesdk.html |archive-date=August 28, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Block |title=Live from Apple's iPhone SDK press conference |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/live-from-apples-iphone-press-conference/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614212140/https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/06/live-from-apples-iphone-press-conference/ |archive-date=June 14, 2017  }}</ref>

The SDK is a free download for users of [[Engineering:Macintosh|Mac]] personal computers.<ref name="SDK FAQ">{{cite web |first=Jennifer |last=Guevin |title=FAQ: What does the iPhone SDK mean? |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/faq-what-does-the-iphone-sdk-mean/ |website=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913135508/http://www.cnet.com/news/faq-what-does-the-iphone-sdk-mean/ |archive-date=September 13, 2016  }}</ref> It is not available for [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] PCs.<ref name="SDK FAQ" /> The SDK contains sets giving developers access to various functions and services of iOS devices, such as hardware and software attributes.<ref name="MacRumors SDK">{{cite web |first=Arnold |last=Kim |title=Apple Releases iPhone SDK, Demos Spore, Instant Messaging |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/06/apple-releases-iphone-sdk-demos-spore-instant-messaging/ |website=MacRumors |date=March 6, 2008 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311195044/http://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/06/apple-releases-iphone-sdk-demos-spore-instant-messaging/ |archive-date=March 11, 2016  }}</ref> It also contains an iPhone simulator to mimic the look and feel of the device on the computer while developing.<ref name="MacRumors SDK" /> New versions of the SDK accompany new versions of iOS.<ref>{{cite web |first=Benjamin |last=Mayo |title=Apple now allowing developers to submit iOS 9, OS X El Capitan and native Watch apps to the App Store |url=https://9to5mac.com/2015/09/11/apple-developers-os-9-apps/ |website=9to5Mac |date=September 11, 2015 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822090552/https://9to5mac.com/2015/09/11/apple-developers-os-9-apps/ |archive-date=August 22, 2016  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Steven |last=Sande |title=New iOS SDK features for developers |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/06/10/new-ios-sdk-features-for-developers/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115215751/https://www.engadget.com/2013/06/10/new-ios-sdk-features-for-developers/ |archive-date=January 15, 2018  }}</ref> In order to test applications, get technical support, and distribute apps through App Store, developers are required to subscribe to the Apple Developer Program.<ref name="SDK FAQ" />

Combined with [[Software:Xcode|Xcode]], the iOS SDK helps developers write iOS apps using officially supported programming languages, including [[Swift (programming language)|Swift]] and [[Objective-C]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Sinicki |title=Developing for Android vs developing for iOS – in 5 rounds |url=http://www.androidauthority.com/developing-for-android-vs-ios-697304/ |website=Android Authority |date=June 9, 2016 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626191841/http://www.androidauthority.com/developing-for-android-vs-ios-697304/ |archive-date=June 26, 2017  }}</ref> Other companies have also created tools that allow for the development of native iOS apps using their respective programming languages.<ref>{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Paul |title=MonoTouch drops .NET into Apple's walled app garden |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/09/monotouch-drops-net-into-apples-walled-app-garden/ |website=[[Ars Technica]]  |date=September 15, 2009 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122123311/http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2009/09/monotouch-drops-net-into-apples-walled-app-garden/ |archive-date=November 22, 2015  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Jackie |last=Dove |title=Adobe unleashes Creative Suite 5 |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1150522/cs5launch.html |website=Macworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=April 11, 2010 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924005201/http://www.macworld.com/article/1150522/cs5launch.html |archive-date=September 24, 2014  }}</ref>

=== Update schedule ===
{{Main|Software:IOS version history}}
{{pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Platform usage as measured by the [[Software:App Store (iOS)|App Store]] on May 31th, 2022<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.apple.com/support/app-store/|title=App Store – Support – Apple Developer|website=developer.apple.com|access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Software:IOS 15|iOS 15]]
| value1 = 82.00
| color1 = #79CDF8
| label2 = [[Software:IOS 14|iOS 14]]
| value2 = 14.00
| color2 = #B3E1FB
| label3 = [[Software:IOS 13|iOS 13]] and earlier
| value3 = 4.00
| color3 = #FFFFFF
}}

[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]] provides major updates to the iOS operating system annually via [[Software:ITunes|iTunes]] and, since iOS 5, also [[Engineering:Wireless|over-the-air]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Caldwell|first=Serenity|date=October 15, 2011|title=Up close with iOS 5: Wireless syncing and updating|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1163060/up_close_with_ios_5_wireless_syncing_and_updating.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808112956/http://www.macworld.com/article/1163060/up_close_with_ios_5_wireless_syncing_and_updating.html|archive-date=August 8, 2017|access-date=June 20, 2017|website=Macworld|publisher=International Data Group}}</ref> The device checks an XML-based PLIST file on mesu.apple.com for updates. Updates are delivered as unencrypted ZIP files. On all except the earlier iOS devices, update availability is checked regularly, and the user prompted to permit automatic installation.

Stable version [[Software:IOS 15|iOS 15]] was released on September 20, 2021, available for [[Engineering:IPhone 6S|iPhone 6S]] and later, and the [[Engineering:IPod Touch (7th generation)|seventh-generation iPod Touch]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clover|first=Juli|title=Apple Releases iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 With Safari Updates, Focus Mode, Live Text, iCloud+, System-Wide Translate, On-Device Siri and More|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/20/ios-15-now-available/|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=MacRumors}}</ref> [[Software:IPadOS 15|iPadOS 15]] was also released. Apple introduced iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 at its annual WWDC keynote conference on June 22, 2020.<ref>{{Cite press release|title=iOS 15 brings new ways to stay connected and powerful features that help users focus, explore, and do more with on-device intelligence|url=https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2021/06/ios-15-brings-powerful-new-features-to-stay-connected-focus-explore-and-more/|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=Apple Newsroom}}</ref> iPadOS 15 is available on the same devices as iOS 14. Devices supported are [[Engineering:IPad Air 2|iPad Air 2]] and later, [[Engineering:IPad (2017)|iPad fifth-generation and later]], [[Engineering:IPad Mini 4|iPad Mini 4]] and later and all versions of the [[Engineering:IPad Pro|iPad Pro]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Conner|first=Katie|date=September 16, 2020|title=iOS 14 compatible devices list: Will you be able to install it on your iPhone today?|url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/apple-iphone-ios-14-release-today-compatible-devices-list-will-you-be-able-to-install-operating-system-today/|access-date=September 17, 2020|website=CNET}}</ref> The update introduced new features including redesigned notifications, a more informative Weather app, Focus Mode, SharePlay, and Live Text [[Optical character recognition|OCR]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-ios-15-update-features-apps-wwdc-2021-6|title=Apple just unveiled its iOS 15 software update. Here are the biggest changes coming to your iPhone.|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=Business Insider}}</ref>

iPod Touch users originally had to pay for system software updates due to accounting rules that designated it not a "subscription device" like iPhone or Apple TV,<ref>{{cite web|date=January 15, 2008|title=About that $20 upgrade...|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/about-that-20-upgrade/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031215628/https://www.cnet.com/news/about-that-20-upgrade/|archive-date=October 31, 2017|access-date=June 20, 2017|website=CNET|publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dalrymple|first=Jim|date=February 7, 2008|title=Accounting rules behind iPod Touch update charge|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/189247/ipodtouch-3.html|access-date=February 16, 2022|website=Macworld|publisher=International Data Group}}</ref> causing iPod Touch owners not to update.<ref>{{cite web|last=Oliver|first=Sam|date=June 25, 2009|title=Upgrade fee sees few iPod Touch users updating to 3.0 software|url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/06/25/upgrade_fee_sees_few_ipod_touch_users_updating_to_3_0_software|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305192021/http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/06/25/upgrade_fee_sees_few_ipod_touch_users_updating_to_3_0_software|archive-date=March 5, 2017|access-date=June 20, 2017|website=AppleInsider}}</ref> In September 2009, a change in accounting rules won tentative approval, affecting Apple's earnings and stock price, and allowing iPod Touch updates to be delivered free of charge.<ref>{{cite web|last=Foresman|first=Chris|date=September 14, 2009|title=Accounting rules change could end iPod Touch update fee|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2009/09/accounting-rules-change-could-end-ipod-touch-update-fee/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708034000/https://arstechnica.com/apple/2009/09/accounting-rules-change-could-end-ipod-touch-update-fee/|archive-date=July 8, 2017|access-date=June 20, 2017|website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Elmer-DeWitt|first=Philip|date=September 14, 2009|title=Accounting rule change in Apple's favor|url=http://fortune.com/2009/09/14/accounting-rule-change-in-apples-favor/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711122406/http://fortune.com/2009/09/14/accounting-rule-change-in-apples-favor/|archive-date=July 11, 2017|access-date=June 20, 2017|website=Fortune}}</ref>

Apple significantly extended the cycle of updates for iOS-supported devices over the years. The [[Engineering:IPhone (1st generation)|iPhone (1st generation)]] and [[Engineering:IPhone 3G|iPhone 3G]] only received two iOS updates, while later models had support for five, six, and seven years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Infographic: How Long Does Apple Support Older iPhone Models?|url=https://www.statista.com/chart/5824/ios-iphone-compatibility/|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=Statista Infographics}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=July 3, 2019|title=Here's how long Apple supports older iPhone models|url=https://www.imore.com/apples-continual-software-support-iphones-major-reason-theyre-popular|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=iMore}}</ref>

=== XNU kernel ===
The iOS kernel is the [[Software:XNU|XNU]] kernel of [[Software:Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]]. The original iPhone OS (1.0) up to iPhone OS 3.1.3 used Darwin 9.0.0d1. iOS 4 was based on Darwin 10. iOS 5 was based on Darwin 11. iOS 6 was based on Darwin 13. iOS 7 and iOS 8 are based on Darwin 14. iOS 9 is based on Darwin 15. iOS 10 is based on Darwin 16. iOS 11 is based on Darwin 17. iOS 12 is based on Darwin 18. iOS 13 is based on Darwin 19.<ref>Available in iOS 5 to iOS 7 via General > About > Diagnostics & Usage > Diagnostics & Usage Data >(date and time).panic.plist, after a kernel crash <br />Available in iOS 8 to iOS 10 via Privacy > Diagnostics & Usage > Diagnostics & Usage Data > JetsamEvent-(date and time).ips, when low in memory <br />Available in iOS 11 and 12 via Privacy > Analytics > Analytics Data > JetsamEvent-(date and time).ips, when low in memory<br />Available in iOS 13 via Privacy > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data > SystemMemoryReset-(date and time).ips, when low in memory</ref>

In [[Software:IOS 6|iOS 6]] the kernel is subject to ASLR, similar to that of [[Software:OS X Mountain Lion|OS X Mountain Lion]]. This makes exploit possibilities more complex since it is not possible to know the location of kernel code.

Since XNU is based on the BSD kernel, it is [[Open source|open source]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://opensource.apple.com/source/xnu/|title=Source Browser|website=opensource.apple.com|access-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref> The source is under a 3-clause<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://opensource.org/licenses/BSD-3-Clause|title=The 3-Clause BSD License &#124; Open Source Initiative|website=opensource.org|access-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref> BSD license for the original BSD parts, with parts added by Apple under the Apple Public Source License.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://images.apple.com/publicsource/pdf/apple-public-source-license.pdf|title=Apple Public Source License, Version 1.0|date=March 16, 1999|access-date=March 3, 2021}}</ref> The versions contained in iOS are not available; only the versions used in [[Software:MacOS|macOS]] are available.

iOS does not have [[Software:Loadable kernel module|kernel extensions]] (kexts) in the file system, even if they are actually present. The kernel cache can be decompressed to show the correct kernel, along with the kexts (all packed in the __PRELINK_TEXT section) and their plists (in the __PRELINK_INFO section).

The kernel cache can also be directly decompressed (if decrypted) using third-party tools. With the advent of iOS 10 betas and default plain text kernelcaches, these tools can only be used after unpacking and applying lzssdec to unpack the kernel cache to its full size.

The kextstat provided by the [[Software:Cydia|Cydia]] alternative software does not work on iOS because the kextstat is based on <code>kmod_get_info(...)</code>, which is a deprecated API in [[Software:IOS 4|iOS 4]] and [[Software:Mac OS X Snow Leopard|Mac OS X Snow Leopard]]. There are other alternative software that can also dump raw XML data.

On developing devices, the kernel is always stored as a statically linked cache stored in /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/kernelcache which is unpacked and executed at boot.

In the beginning, iOS had a kernel version usually higher than the corresponding version of [[Software:MacOS|macOS]]. Over time, the kernels of iOS and macOS have gotten closer. This is not surprising, considering that iOS introduced new features (such as the ASLR Kernel, the default freezer, and various security-strengthening features) that were first incorporated and subsequently arrived on macOS. It appears Apple is gradually merging the iOS and macOS kernels over time. The build date for each version varies slightly between processors. This is due to the fact that the builds are sequential.

The latest version of the Darwin Kernel updated to [[Software:IOS 13|iOS 13]].6 is 19.6.0, dated July 27, 2020, while for [[Software:IOS 14|iOS 14]] beta 4 it is 20.0.0, dated July 27, 2020.

{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%;font-size:88%;"
|-
!style="background:#fdb3ab;text-align:center;" colspan="3"|Kernel Builds
|-
!scope="col" style="width:8em;text-align:center;"|iOS Version
!scope="col" style="background::#fff;text-align:center;"|Kernel Build
!scope="col" style="background::#fff;text-align:center;"|Notes
|-
| |1A420
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Thu Mar 8 01:38:53 PST 2007; root:xnu-933.0.0.144.obj~1/DEVELOPMENT_ARM_S5L8900XRB
|
|-
| 1.0
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Tue May 22 21:15:55 PDT 2007; root:xnu-933.0.0.178.obj~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900XRB
|
|-
| 1.0.1
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Fri Jun 22 00:38:56 PDT 2007; root:xnu-933.0.1.178.obj~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900XRB
|
|-
| 1.0.2
|
|-
| 1.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Thu Sep  6 23:26:45 PDT 2007; root:xnu-933.0.0.203.obj~6/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900XRB
| [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] only
|-
| 1.1.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Wed Sep 19 00:08:42 PDT 2007; root:xnu-933.0.203~21/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900XRB
| First kernel that was 8900 encrypted
|-
| 1.1.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Wed Oct 10 00:07:49 PDT 2007; root:xnu-933.0.204~7/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900XRB
|
|-
| 1.1.3
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 9.0.0d1: Wed Dec 12 00:16:00 PST 2007; root:xnu-933.0.211~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900XRB
|
|-
| 1.1.4
|
|-
| 1.1.5
| [[Engineering:IPod Touch|iPod Touch]] only
|-
| 1.2 beta
| ?
|
|-
| 2.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.3.1: Wed Mar 19 22:40:09 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.6.34~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 2.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.3.1: Tue Apr  1 21:58:46 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.6.39~6/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 2.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.3.1: Tue Apr 15 21:09:34 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.6.49~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 2.0 beta 5
| ?
|
|-
| 2.0 beta 6
| ?
|
|-
| 2.0 beta 7
| ?
|
|-
| 2.0 GM
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 9.3.1: Sun Jun 15 21:37:01 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.6.76~45/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 2.0
|
|-
| 2.0.1
|
|-
| 2.0.2
|
|-
| 2.1 beta
| ?
|
|-
| 2.1 beta 2
| ?
|
|-
| 2.1 beta 3
| ?
|
|-
| 2.1 beta 4
| ?
|
|-
| 2.1
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 9.4.1: Sun Aug 10 21:25:25 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.7.27~12/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8720X
|
|-
| 2.1.1
|
|-
| 2.2 beta
| ?
|
|-
| 2.2 beta 2
| ?
|
|-
| 2.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.4.1: Sat Nov  1 19:13:13 PDT 2008; root:xnu-1228.7.36~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8720X
|
|-
| 2.2.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 9.4.1: Mon Dec  8 21:02:57 PST 2008; root:xnu-1228.7.37~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8720X
|
|-
| 3.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Mon Mar  9 22:51:44 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.2.65~12/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 3.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed Mar 25 21:56:57 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.2.71~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 3.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Fri Apr 10 15:52:33 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.2.78~8/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 3.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed Apr 22 21:48:01 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.2.83~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 3.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed Apr 29 22:05:19 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.2.86~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8900X
|
|-
| 3.0 GM
| ?
|
|-
| 3.0
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed May 13 22:16:49 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.2.89~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 3.0.1
|
|-
| 3.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed Jun 24 21:55:27 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.5.22~7/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8720X
|
|-
| 3.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed Jul  8 21:57:20 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.5.23~8/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 3.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Wed Jul 22 21:39:52 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.5.24~13/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 3.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Fri Aug 14 13:23:32 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.5.30~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 3.1.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Fri Sep 25 23:35:35 PDT 2009; root:xnu-1357.5.30~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 3.1.3
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.0.0d3: Fri Dec 18 01:34:28 PST 2009; root:xnu-1357.5.30~6/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
| Last release for [[Engineering:IPhone (1st generation)|iPhone (1st generation)]] and iPod Touch (1st generation)
|-
| 3.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Mon Mar 15 23:15:33 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.2.27~18/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
| rowspan="3" | [[Engineering:IPad|iPad]] only
|-
| 3.2.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Fri May 28 16:46:17 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.2.50~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|-
| 3.2.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed Aug  4 19:08:04 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.2.60~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|-
| 4.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Sat Apr 3 03:06:07 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.51.1~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 4.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed Apr 14 23:43:59 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.50.51~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 4.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed Apr 28 20:47:20 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.50.61~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 4.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Tue May 11 22:12:23 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.50.69~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 4.0 GM
| ?
|
|-
| 4.0
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed May 26 22:28:33 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.50.73~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.0.1
|
|-
| 4.0.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed Aug  4 18:46:06 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.50.80~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Mon Jul  5 20:15:12 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.55.27~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Tue Jul 20 21:31:09 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.55.32~9/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed Jul 28 01:26:23 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.55.33~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Wed Aug  4 22:35:51 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.55.33~10/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.3.1: Tue Sep  7 23:33:25 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.58.18~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Thu Sep 23 20:56:24 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.58.21~5/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Tue Oct  5 21:42:47 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.58.25~18/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.2 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Wed Oct 20 20:14:45 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.58.28~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.2.1 GM
|
|-
| 4.2.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Wed Oct 20 20:14:45 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.58.28~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
| Last release for [[Engineering:IPhone 3G|iPhone 3G]] and iPod Touch (2nd generation)
|-
| 4.2.5
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Thu Dec 30 19:38:02 PST 2010; root:xnu-1504.62~11/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
| rowspan="6" | [[Engineering:IPhone 4|iPhone 4]] only.
|-
| 4.2.6
|-
| 4.2.7
|-
| 4.2.8
|-
| 4.2.9
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 10.4.0: Fri Jul 8 18:32:26 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.63~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|-
| 4.2.10
|-
| 4.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Tue Jan  4 21:36:31 PST 2011; root:xnu-1735.24~10/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Mon Jan 10 22:08:15 PST 2011; root:xnu-1735.30~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Fri Jan 28 13:55:49 PST 2011; root:xnu-1735.39.80~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.3 GM
| ?
|
|-
| 4.3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Thu Feb 10 21:46:56 PST 2011; root:xnu-1735.46~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.3.1
|
|-
| 4.3.2
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Wed Mar 30 18:51:10 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1735.46~10/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.3.3
|
|-
| 4.3.4
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sat Jul  9 00:59:43 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1735.47~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 4.3.5
|
|-
| 5.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Mon May 30 20:28:35 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.2.52~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 5.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sun Jun 19 18:59:56 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.3.20~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 5.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Thu Jun 30 23:23:57 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.10~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 5.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sun Jul 17 19:21:53 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.20~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 5.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Tue Aug  2 22:31:30 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.80~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.0 beta 6
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sun Aug 14 19:04:49 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.31~5/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.0 beta 7
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Thu Aug 25 20:47:50 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.38~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.0 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Thu Sep 15 23:34:16 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.43~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.0
|
|-
| 5.0.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Wed Oct 19 19:05:07 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.45~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.0.1 beta 2
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Tue Nov 1 20:34:16 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1878.4.46~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 5.0.1
|
|-
| 5.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sun Nov 13 19:10:13 PST 2011; root:xnu-1878.10.61~7/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sun Dec  4 18:57:33 PST 2011; root:xnu-1878.10.68~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Mon Jan  2 18:46:01 PST 2012; root:xnu-1878.10.74~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 5.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Wed Feb 1 23:18:07 PST 2012; root:xnu-1878.11.8~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8945X
|
|-
| 5.1.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 11.0.0: Sun Apr 8 21:51:26 PDT 2012; root:xnu-1878.11.10~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
| Last release for [[Engineering:IPad (1st generation)|iPad (1st generation)]]
|-
| 6.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Wed May 30 19:23:03 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.1.78~18/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Jun 17 19:47:47 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.1.61~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Jul  8 20:15:17 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.2.9~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Jul 29 20:15:28 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.2.26~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.0 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Aug 19 00:27:34 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.2.33~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.0
|
|-
| 6.0.1
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Wed Oct 10 23:32:19 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.2.34~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 6.0.2
| [[Engineering:IPhone 5|iPhone 5]] only.
|-
| 6.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Oct 21 19:28:43 PDT 2012; root:xnu-2107.7.51~17/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Nov  4 19:02:54 PST 2012; root:xnu-2107.7.53~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Mon Nov 26 21:17:13 PST 2012; root:xnu-2107.7.53~27/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.1 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Dec  9 19:22:45 PST 2012; root:xnu-2107.7.55~6/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 6.1 beta 5
| rowspan="5" | Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Sun Dec 16 20:01:39 PST 2012; root:xnu-2107.7.55~11/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 6.1
|
|-
| 6.1.1 beta
|
|-
| 6.1.1
| iPhone 4s only
|-
| 6.1.2
|
|-
| 6.1.3 beta 2
| rowspan="5" | Darwin Kernel Version 13.0.0: Wed Feb 13 21:35:42 PST 2013; root:xnu-2107.7.55.2.2~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8920X
|
|-
| 6.1.3
|
|-
| 6.1.4
| [[Engineering:IPhone 5|iPhone 5]] only.
|-
| 6.1.5
| [[Engineering:IPod Touch (4th generation)|iPod Touch (4th generation)]] only.
|-
| 6.1.6
| [[Engineering:IPod Touch (4th generation)|iPod Touch (4th generation)]] and [[Engineering:IPhone 3GS|iPhone 3GS]] only.
|-
| 7.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed May 29 23:53:59 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.1.1.2~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jun 17 00:51:51 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.28~7/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jul  1 04:25:28 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.40~11/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jul 22 02:12:11 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.55~8/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.0 beta 5
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Sun Aug  4 22:40:14 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.70~6/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.0 beta 6
|
|-
| 7.0 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue Aug 13 21:39:05 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.73~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.0
|
|-
| 7.0.1
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Sep 9 20:56:02 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.1.74~2/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
| [[Engineering:IPhone 5C|iPhone 5c]] and 5s only
|-
| 7.0.2
|
|-
| 7.0.3
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Sep 27 23:08:32 PDT 2013; root:xnu-2423.3.12~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 7.0.4
|
|-
| 7.0.5
| iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s only.
|-
| 7.0.6
|
|-
| 7.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Nov 11 04:18:01 PST 2013; root:xnu-2423.10.33~9/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue Dec 10 21:25:34 PST 2013; root:xnu-2423.10.38.1.1~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Thu Jan  2 01:55:45 PST 2014; root:xnu-2423.10.45~5/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jan 13 03:33:00 PST 2014; root:xnu-2423.10.49.0.1~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jan 27 23:55:13 PST 2014; root:xnu-2423.10.58~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Feb 21 19:41:10 PST 2014; root:xnu-2423.10.67~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1
|
|-
| 7.1.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Mar 28 21:22:10 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2423.10.70~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8930X
|
|-
| 7.1.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Thu May 15 23:17:54 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2423.10.71~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
| Last release for iPhone 4
|-
| 8.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon May 26 22:09:06 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2729.0.0.0.9~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8942X
|
|-
| 8.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Sat Jun 14 16:36:40 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2775.0.0.1.1~3/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Jul  2 18:51:34 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.1.21~19/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Jul 16 21:55:26 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.1.40.0.3~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Jul 30 23:04:17 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.1.62~20/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.0 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue Aug 19 15:09:47 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.1.72~8/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.0
|
|-
| 8.0.1
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Thu Sep 18 21:52:21 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.1.72~23/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.0.2
|
|-
| 8.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Sat Sep 27 18:49:49 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.3.12~18/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Oct 3 21:52:09 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.3.13~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Fri Oct 7 00:04:37 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.3.13~4/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.1.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Sun Nov 2 20:21:29 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.3.21~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.1.1
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Nov 3 22:54:30 PDT 2014; root:xnu-2783.3.22~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.1.2
|
|-
| 8.1.3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jan 2 21:29:20 PST 2015; root:xnu-2783.3.26~3/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.2 beta
| ?
|
|-
| 8.2 beta 2
| ?
|
|-
| 8.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Sun Dec 14 20:59:15 PST 2014; root:xnu-2783.5.29.0.1~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 8.2 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue Jan  6 21:02:10 PST 2015; root:xnu-2783.5.32~9/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 8.2 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Jan 26 22:16:17 PST 2015; root:xnu-2783.5.37~11/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 8.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Feb 9 22:07:57 PST 2015; root:xnu-2783.5.38~5/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.3 beta
| ?
|
|-
| 8.3 beta 2
| ?
|
|-
| 8.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Mon Mar 4 20:55:58 PST 2015; root:xnu-2784.20.25~26/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.3 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Thu Mar 19 00:16:36 PST 2015; root:xnu-2784.20.31~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Sun Mar 29 19:44:04 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.20.34~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.4 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Apr 8 21:26:37 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.30.1~29/RELEASE_ARM64_T7000
|
|-
| 8.4 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Apr 21 21:49:05 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.30.2~9/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.4 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue May 5 23:09:22 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.30.5~7/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.4 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue Wed 3 23:19:49 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.30.7~13/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.4
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Jun 24 00:50:15 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.30.7~30/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 8.4.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Thu Jul  9 21:54:11 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.40.6~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.4.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Tue Jul 28 16:34:51 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.40.6~15/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 8.4.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 14.0.0: Wed Aug 5 19:24:44 PDT 2015; root:xnu-2784.40.6~18/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 9.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Fri May 29 22:14:48 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3216.0.0.1.15~2/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Mon Jun 15 21:51:54 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3247.1.6.1.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Sat Jul 11 20:01:45 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3247.1.56~13\/RELEASE_ARM64_T7001
|
|-
| 9.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Mon Aug  3 19:58:41 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3247.1.88.1.1~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_T7001
|
|-
| 9.0 GM
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Thu Aug  6 22:27:22 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.1.2~3\/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 9.0
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Thu Aug  20 13:11:13 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.1.3~1\/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 9.0.1
|
|-
| 9.0.2
|
|-
| 9.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Sat Aug 29 17:41:04 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.10.27~10\/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8940X
|
|-
| 9.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Mon Sep 14 01:24:55 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.10.38~3\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Fri Sep 25 17:14:21 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.10.41~11\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.1 beta 4
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Fri Oct 2 14:07:07 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.10.42~4\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.1 beta 5
|
|-
| 9.1
|
|-
| 9.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Sun Oct 18 23:34:30 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.20.33.0.1~7\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Sun Oct 25 21:50:56 PDT 2015; root:xnu-3248.20.39~8\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Fri Nov  6 22:12:13 PST 2015; root:xnu-3248.21.1~2\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.2 beta 4
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Fri Nov 13 16:08:07 PST 2015; root:xnu-3248.21.2~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.2
|
|-
| 9.2.1 beta
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.0.0: Wed Dec  9 22:19:38 PST 2015; root:xnu-3248.31.3~2\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.2.1 beta 2
|
|-
| 9.2.1
|
|-
| 9.3 beta
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.4.0: Tue Jan  5 21:24:25 PST 2016; root:xnu-3248.40.155.1.1~3\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 1.1
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.4.0: Tue Jan  19 00:18:39 PST 2016; root:xnu-3248.40.166.0.1~10\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.4.0: Sun Jan  31 22:48:58 PST 2016; root:xnu-3248.40.173.0.1~13\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.4.0: Sun Feb 14 23:17:56 PST 2016; root:xnu-3248.41.3~16\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 5
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.4.0: Sun Feb 22 01:48:23 PST 2016; root:xnu-3248.41.4~36\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 6
|
|-
| 9.3 beta 7
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.4.0: Fri Feb 19 13:54:52 PST 2016; root:xnu-3248.41.4~28\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3
|
|-
| 9.3.1
|
|-
| 9.3.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.5.0: Thu Mar 31 17:49:02 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.50.18~19\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.5.0: Tue Apr 5 15:12:03 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.50.20~12\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3.2 beta 3
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.5.0: Mon Apr 18 16:44:07 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.50.21~4\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3.2 beta 4
|
|-
| 9.3.2
|
|-
| 9.3.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.6.0: Tue May 17 19:53:27 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.60.3~3\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 9.3.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.6.0: Tue May 31 19:52:45 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.60.4~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 9.3.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 15.6.0: Thu Jun 16 18:08:00 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.60.8~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 9.3.3 beta 4
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.6.0: Mon Jun 20 20:10:21 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.60.9~1/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 9.3.3 beta 5
|
|-
| 9.3.3
|
|-
| 9.3.4
|
|-
| 9.3.5
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 15.6.0: Fri Aug 19 10:37:56 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3248.61.1~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
| Last release for [[Engineering:IPad 2|iPad 2]] (Wi-Fi)
|-
| 9.3.6
| Last release for iPad 2 (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
|-
| 10.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Wed May 25 21:19:24 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3705.0.0.2.3~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Tue Jun 28 21:38:14 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3757~291\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Sat Jul 9 23:57:18 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3777.0.0.0.1~28\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Wed Jul 27 19:44:34 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.1.4.2.1~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Fri Aug 5 22:15:30 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.1.24~11\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 6
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Wed Aug 10 21:55:58 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.2.2~4\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 7
|
|-
| 10.0 beta 8
|
|-
| 10.0
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Wed Aug 10 22:33:10 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.2.2~3\/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 10.0.1 GM
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.0.0: Sun Aug 28 20:36:54 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.2.4~3\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.0.1
|
|-
| 10.0.2
|
|-
| 10.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.1.0: Fri Sep 16 03:53:22 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.20.46~54\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.1 beta 2
| rowspan="5" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.1.0: Thu Sep 29 21:56:12 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.22.3~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.1 beta 3
|
|-
| 10.1 beta 4
|
|-
| 10.1
|
|-
| 10.1.1
|
|-
| 10.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Sun Oct 23 20:18:32 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.30.76~6\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Tue Nov 1 22:23:11 PDT 2016; root:xnu-3789.30.86~54\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Mon Nov 7 22:58:42 PST 2016; root:xnu-3789.30.92~36\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Mon Nov 7 19:32:10 PST 2016; root:xnu-3789.30.92~29\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2 beta 5
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Tue Nov 29 21:40:09 PST 2016; root:xnu-3789.32.1~4\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2 beta 6
|
|-
| 10.2 beta 7
|
|-
| 10.2
|
|-
| 10.2.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Thu Dec 1 19:49:21 PST 2016; root:xnu-3789.42.1~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2.1 beta 2
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.3.0: Thu Dec 15 22:41:46 PST 2016; root:xnu-3789.42.2~1\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.2.1 beta 3
|
|-
| 10.2.1 beta 4
|
|-
| 10.2.1
|
|-
| 10.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.5.0: Mon Jan 16 21:43:53 PST 2017; root:xnu-3789.50.189~28\/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 10.3 beta 2
| Kernel Version 16.5.0: Tue Jan 31 21:09:24 PST 2017; root:xnu-3789.50.195.1.1~2/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 10.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.5.0: Fri Feb 10 22:11:20 PST 2017; root:xnu-3789.50.208~47/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
|
|-
| 10.3 beta 4
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.5.0: Thu Feb 23 23:48:09 PST 2017; root:xnu-3789.52.2~9\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3 beta 5
|
|-
| 10.3 beta 6
|
|-
| 10.3 beta 7
|
|-
| 10.3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.5.0: Thu Feb 23 23:22:54 PST 2017; root:xnu-3789.52.2~7\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.1
|
|-
| 10.3.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.6.0: Mon Mar 20 22:28:31 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.60.12~10\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.6.0: Tue Apr 4 21:19:08 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.60.15~13\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.6.0: Tue Apr 11 22:03:42 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.60.20~11\/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.2 beta 4
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.6.0: Mon Apr 17 20:33:39 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.60.24~25/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.2 beta 5
|
|-
| 10.3.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.6.0: Mon Apr 17 17:33:34 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.60.24~24/RELEASE_ARM_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Mon May  8 21:45:24 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.9~13/RELEASE_ARM64_T7000
|
|-
| 10.3.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Wed May 24 22:28:55 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.11~6/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 10.3.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Tue Jun  6 21:56:23 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.15~6/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 10.3.3 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Thu Jun 15 22:48:15 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.16~6/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.3 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Thu Jun 15 22:48:16 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.16~6/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 10.3.3 beta 6
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Thu Jun 15 18:33:36 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.16~4/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 10.3.3
|
|-
| 10.3.4
| Darwin Kernel Version 16.7.0: Wed Jul 26 11:08:56 PDT 2017; root:xnu-3789.70.16~21/RELEASE_ARM_S5L8950X
| Last release for all 32-bit iDevices ([[Engineering:IPad (4th generation)|iPad (4th generation)]], [[Engineering:IPhone 5|iPhone 5]], etc.)
|-
| 11.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Sat May 27 21:47:07 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4397.0.0.2.4~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Tue Jun 13 21:19:50 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4481.0.0.2.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Thu Jun 29 22:31:39 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4532.0.0.0.1~30/RELEASE_ARM64_T7000
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Thu Jul 20 19:49:59 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4556.0.0.2.5~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S5L8960X
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Tue Aug  1 21:11:37 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.1.24.2.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 6
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Wed Aug  9 22:41:48 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.2.3~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 7
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Fri Aug 18 20:14:27 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.2.5~84/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 8
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 9
|
|-
| 11.0 beta 10
|
|-
| 11.0 GM
| rowspan="5" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.0.0: Fri Sep  1 14:59:17 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.2.5~167/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 11.0
|
|-
| 11.0.1
|
|-
| 11.0.2
|
|-
| 11.0.3
|
|-
| 11.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.2.0: Sun Sep 17 22:21:07 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.20.55~10/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.1 beta 2
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.2.0: Sat Sep 30 23:14:15 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.20.62~9/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.1 beta 3
|
|-
| 11.1 beta 4
| rowspan="5" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.2.0: Fri Sep 29 18:14:51 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.20.62~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.1 beta 5
|
|-
| 11.1
|
|-
| 11.1.1
|
|-
| 11.1.2
|
|-
| 11.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.3.0: Wed Oct 25 19:27:20 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.30.79~22/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.3.0: Sun Oct 29 17:18:38 PDT 2017; root:xnu-4570.30.85~18/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2 beta 3
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.3.0: Mon Nov  6 22:29:20 PST 2017; root:xnu-4570.32.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2 beta 4
|
|-
| 11.2 beta 5
|
|-
| 11.2 beta 6
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.3.0: Mon Nov  6 21:19:16 PST 2017; root:xnu-4570.32.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2
|
|-
| 11.2.1
|
|-
| 11.2.2
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.4.0: Sat Dec  2 21:26:33 PST 2017; root:xnu-4570.40.6~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta 2
| rowspan="5" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.4.0: Wed Dec 13 22:51:57 PST 2017; root:xnu-4570.40.9~7/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta 3
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta 4
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta 5
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta 6
|
|-
| 11.2.5 beta 7
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.4.0: Fri Dec  8 19:35:51 PST 2017; root:xnu-4570.40.9~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.2.5
|
|-
| 11.2.6
|
|-
| 11.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Sat Jan 13 00:03:04 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.50.243~9/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Fri Jan 26 22:56:33 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.50.257~6/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Sat Feb 10 17:01:35 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.50.279~9/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.3 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Sat Feb 24 20:24:10 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.50.294~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.3 beta 5
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Tue Mar  6 20:47:58 PST 2018; root:xnu-4570.52.2~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.3 beta 6
|
|-
| 11.3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Tue Mar 13 21:32:11 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.52.2~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 11.3.1
|
|-
| 11.4 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.5.0: Sun Mar 25 20:49:19 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.60.10.0.1~16/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.6.0: Thu Apr  5 22:33:56 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.60.16~9/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.6.0: Sun Apr 22 03:29:53 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.60.19~25/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4 beta 4
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.6.0: Tue May  1 16:16:12 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.60.21~7/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4 beta 5
|
|-
| 11.4 beta 6
|
|-
| 11.4
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.6.0: Mon Apr 30 18:48:32 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.60.21~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.7.0: Mon May 21 19:02:13 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.70.14~16/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.7.0: Sun Jun  3 20:38:12 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.70.19~13/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4.1 beta 3
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 17.7.0: Tue Jun 12 20:37:30 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.70.24~9/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 11.4.1 beta 4
|
|-
| 11.4.1 beta 5
|
|-
| 11.4.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 17.7.0: Mon Jun 11 19:06:27 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4570.70.24~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Fri May 25 21:25:37 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.199.12.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Wed Jun 13 21:04:46 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.249.22.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Tue Jun 26 21:06:03 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.274.32.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Mon Jul  9 21:17:19 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.304.42.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Wed Jul 25 22:51:45 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.327.52.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 6
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Wed Aug  1 21:11:01 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.342.62.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 7
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Sun Aug  5 21:44:00 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.200.354~11/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 8
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Fri Aug 10 21:57:57 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.202.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 9
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Wed Aug 15 21:51:15 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.202.2~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 10
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 11
|
|-
| 12.0 beta 12
|
|-
| 12.0 GM
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.0.0: Tue Aug 14 22:07:16 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.202.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.0
|
|-
| 12.0.1
|
|-
| 12.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Mon Sep 10 22:05:56 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.220.42~21/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Sun Sep 23 20:16:38 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.220.48~40/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Wed Oct  3 02:49:20 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.222.1~7/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Tue Oct  9 18:52:50 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.222.4~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Tue Oct 16 22:15:34 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.222.5~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Tue Oct 16 21:02:33 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.222.5~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Thu Oct 25 21:36:46 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.230.15~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Sat Nov  3 03:45:48 PDT 2018; root:xnu-4903.232.1~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1.1 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Mon Nov 12 21:07:36 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.232.2~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.1.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Mon Nov 12 20:32:01 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.232.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.1.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Sun Dec  2 20:53:08 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.240.8~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.1.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Mon Nov 12 20:32:01 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.232.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.1.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Sun Dec 16 20:44:43 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.240.10~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.1.3 beta 3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Wed Dec 19 22:27:19 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.242.2~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.1.3 beta 4
|
|-
| 12.1.3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.2.0: Wed Dec 19 20:28:53 PST 2018; root:xnu-4903.242.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.1.4
|
|-
| 12.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.5.0: Sun Jan 13 21:01:59 PST 2019; root:xnu-4903.250.305~10/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.5.0: Wed Jan 30 19:26:26 PST 2019; root:xnu-4903.250.319~58/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.5.0: Sun Feb 10 20:48:56 PST 2019; root:xnu-4903.250.336.0.1~10/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.2 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.5.0: Sun Feb 24 21:50:15 PST 2019; root:xnu-4903.250.349~13/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.2 beta 5
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.5.0: Tue Mar  5 21:34:09 PST 2019; root:xnu-4903.252.2~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.2 beta 6
|
|-
| 12.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.5.0: Tue Mar  5 19:52:18 PST 2019; root:xnu-4903.252.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Mon Mar 18 23:03:29 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.260.65.100.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Mon Apr  1 21:12:58 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.260.74.100.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.3 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Thu Apr 18 19:45:13 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.260.85.0.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.3 beta 4
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Thu Apr 25 23:57:27 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.262.2~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.3 beta 5
|
|-
| 12.3 beta 6
|
|-
| 12.3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Thu Apr 25 22:14:10 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.262.2~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.3.1 (12F203)
|
|-
| 12.3.1 (12F8202)
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Thu May  9 15:45:33 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.262.2~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 12.3.2
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Thu Apr 25 22:14:08 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.262.2~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.4 beta
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.6.0: Tue May  7 23:38:12 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.270.19.100.1~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.4 beta 2
|
|-
| 12.4 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Tue May 21 01:53:36 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.270.29~10/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.4 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Wed Jun  5 21:04:51 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.270.37~24/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.4 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Fri Jun 14 21:12:14 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.270.38~24/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.4 beta 6
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Tue Jun 25 22:53:57 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.270.47~11/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.4 beta 7
|
|-
| 12.4
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Fri Jun 21 22:24:16 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.270.47~7/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 12.4.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Mon Aug 19 22:24:08 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.272.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 12.4.2
| rowspan="7" | Darwin Kernel Version 18.7.0: Mon Aug 19 22:24:08 PDT 2019; root:xnu-4903.272.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T7000
|
|-
| 12.4.3
|
|-
| 12.4.4
|
|-
| 12.4.5
|
|-
| 12.4.6
|
|-
| 12.4.7
|
|-
| 12.4.8
| Last release for iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, and iPad mini 3
|-
| 13.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Tue May 21 03:52:25 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6041.0.0.112.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Sun Jun  9 18:57:16 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6110.0.0.120.8~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Thu Jun 27 20:08:29 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.13.132.4~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Tue Jul  9 00:52:55 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.59.0.2~63/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Sun Jul 21 19:17:20 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.98.0.2~30/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 6
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Tue Jul 30 23:56:43 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.103.8~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 7
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Fri Aug  9 23:13:23 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.103.11~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 beta 8
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Thu Aug 15 21:21:27 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.103.12~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.0 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Mon Aug 12 20:19:35 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.103.12~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 13.0
|
|-
| 13.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Sun Aug 18 23:18:25 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.0.166~14/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 13.1 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Thu Aug 29 23:02:07 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.2.2~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.1 beta 3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Fri Sep  6 09:12:32 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.2.3~7/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 13.1 beta 4
|
|-
| 13.1
| rowspan="4" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Tue Sep  3 21:52:14 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.2.3~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 13.1.1
|
|-
| 13.1.2
|
|-
| 13.1.3
|
|-
| 13.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Sun Sep 22 21:45:32 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.40.121.0.1~23/RELEASE_ARM64_T8020
|
|-
| 13.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Thu Oct  3 23:49:24 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.40.150.100.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 13.2 beta 3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Fri Oct 11 02:14:05 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.42.1~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.2 beta 4
|
|-
| 13.2
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.0.0: Wed Oct  9 22:42:11 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.42.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 13.2.2
|
|-
| 13.2.3
|
|-
| 13.3 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.2.0: Thu Oct 31 02:33:36 PDT 2019; root:xnu-6153.60.58.0.1~22/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.3 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.2.0: Wed Nov  6 02:29:57 PST 2019; root:xnu-6153.60.66~54/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 13.3 beta 3
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.2.0: Tue Nov 12 22:06:16 PST 2019; root:xnu-6153.60.66~63/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 13.3 beta 4
|
|-
| 13.3
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.2.0: Mon Nov  4 17:44:49 PST 2019; root:xnu-6153.60.66~39/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.3.1 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.3.0: Sun Dec  8 21:03:13 PST 2019; root:xnu-6153.80.8.0.1~13/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.3.1 beta 2
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.3.0: Thu Jan  9 22:14:53 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.82.3~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.3.1 beta 3
|
|-
| 13.3.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.3.0: Thu Jan  9 21:10:55 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.82.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.4.0: Wed Jan 29 20:44:26 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.100.178.100.2~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.4.0: Tue Feb 11 21:22:30 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.100.196~52/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.4.0: Thu Feb 20 00:09:27 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.102.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.4.0: Wed Feb 26 00:59:07 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.102.3~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.4.0: Wed Feb 26 00:59:07 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.102.3~5/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4 beta 6
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.4.0: Mon Feb 24 22:04:12 PST 2020; root:xnu-6153.102.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4
|
|-
| 13.4.1
|
|-
| 13.4.5 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.5.0: Tue Mar 24 15:35:36 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.120.15~29/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.4.5 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.5.0: Sun Apr  5 22:05:12 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.120.27~19/RELEASE_ARM64_T8027
|
|-
| 13.5 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.5.0: Sun Apr 19 23:40:03 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.120.31~15/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.5 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.5.0: Wed Apr 29 21:33:50 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.122.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8027
|
|-
| 13.5 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.5.0: Tue Apr 28 22:25:26 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.122.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.5
|
|-
| 13.5.1
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.5.0: Tue May 26 20:56:04 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.122.2~1/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 13.5.5 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Sun May 17 23:49:11 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.140.21~11/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.6 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Tue Jun  2 23:09:45 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.140.27.0.1~17/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.6 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Sun Jun 21 23:18:41 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.142.1~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 13.6 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Sat Jun 27 04:36:25 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.142.1~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 13.6
|
|-
| 13.6.1
|
|
|-
| 13.7 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 19.6.0: Sat Jul 11 00:58:54 PDT 2020; root:xnu-6153.142.1~8/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 14.0 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Thu Jun 11 21:44:34 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7090.0.0.112.4~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Tue Jun 30 22:45:10 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7147.0.0.122.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Mon Jul 13 22:51:19 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7168.0.0.132.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8030
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Mon Jul 27 02:44:58 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.0.8.0.1~21/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 5
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Wed Aug 12 22:56:55 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.0.33~64/RELEASE_ARM64_T8010
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 6
|Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Mon Aug 17 09:09:19 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.0.41~15/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 7
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Wed Aug 26 23:29:06 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.0.46~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.0 beta 8
|
|-
| 14.0 GM
| rowspan="3" | Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Fri Aug 28 23:05:58 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.0.46~9/RELEASE_ARM64_S8000
|
|-
| 14.0
|
|-
| 14.0.1
|
|-
| 14.1 GM
| rowspan="2" | Darwin Kernel Version 20.0.0: Wed Sep 30 03:24:26 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.0.46~41/RELEASE_ARM64_T8101
|
|-
| 14.1
|
|-
| 14.2 beta
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.1.0: Fri Sep 11 19:19:05 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.40.84.172.1~2/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.2 beta 2
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.1.0: Mon Sep 21 00:08:44 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.40.113.0.2~22/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.2 beta 3
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.1.0: Wed Oct  7 00:36:56 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.40.141~32/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.2 beta 4
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.1.0: Tue Oct 13 09:52:10 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.40.143~17/RELEASE_ARM64_T8015
|
|-
| 14.2 RC
| Darwin Kernel Version 20.1.0: Thu Oct 22 12:48:34 PDT 2020; root:xnu-7195.42.1~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8101
|
|}

=== Kernel Image ===
The kernel image base is randomized by the boot loader (iBoot). This is done by creating random data, doing a SHA-1 hash of it and then using a byte from the SHA-1 hash for the kernel slide. The slide is calculated with this formula:
 base=0x01000000+(slide_byte*0x00200000)
If the slide is 0, the static offset of 0x21000000 is used instead.

The adjusted base is passed to the kernel in the boot arguments structure at offset <code>0x04</code>, which is equivalent to gBootArgs->virtBase.

=== Kernel Map ===
The kernel map is used for kernel allocations of all types (<code>kalloc()</code>, <code>kernel_memory_allocate()</code>, etc.) and spans all of kernel space (<code>0x80000000</code>-<code>0xFFFEFFFF</code>). The kernel based maps are submaps of the <code>kernel_map</code>, for example <code>zone_map</code>, <code>ipc_kernel_map</code>, etc.

The strategy is to randomize the base of the <code>kernel_map</code>. A random 9-bit value is generated right after <code>kmem_init()</code> which establishes <code>kernel_map</code>, is multiplied by the page size. The resulting value is used as the size for the initial <code>kernel_map</code> allocation. Future <code>kernel_map</code> (and submap) allocations are pushed forward by a random amount. The allocation is silently removed after the first garbage collection and reused. This behaviour can be overridden with the "<code>kmapoff</code>" boot parameter.

=== Attacks ===
<code>Kext_request()</code> allows applications to request information about kernel modules, divided into active and passive operations. Active operations (load, unload, start, stop, etc.) require root access. iOS removes the ability to load kernel extensions. Passive operations were originally (before [[Software:IOS 6|iOS 6]]) unrestricted and allowed unprivileged users to query kernel module base addresses. iOS6 inadvertently removed some limitations; only the load address requests are disallowed. So attackers can use <code>kKextRequestPredicateGetLoaded</code> to get load addresses and mach-o header dumps. The load address and mach-o segment headers are obscured to hide the ASLR slide, but mach-o section headers are not. This reveals the virtual addresses of loaded kernel sections.

This information leak has been closed with iOS 6.0.1.

=== Versions codenames ===
Internally, iOS identifies each version by a '''codename''', often used internally only, normally to maintain secrecy of the project. For example, the codename for [[Software:IOS 14|iOS 14]] is ''Azul.''

=== Jailbreaking ===
Since its initial release, iOS has been subject to a variety of different hacks centered around adding functionality not allowed by Apple.<ref>{{cite web |first=Thomas |last=Ricker |title=iPhone Hackers: "we have owned the filesystem" |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/iphone-hackers-we-have-owned-the-filesystem/ |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=July 10, 2007 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401233052/https://www.engadget.com/2007/07/10/iphone-hackers-we-have-owned-the-filesystem/ |archive-date=April 1, 2017  }}</ref> Prior to the 2008 debut of Apple's native [[Software:App Store (iOS)|iOS App Store]], the primary motive for jailbreaking was to bypass Apple's purchase mechanism for installing the App Store's native applications.<ref>{{cite news|last=Healey|first=Jon|title=Hacking the iPhone|work={{wipe|Los Angeles Times}}|date=August 6, 2007|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-healey6aug06,0,3456267.story|access-date=August 6, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106035917/http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-healey6aug06,0,3456267.story|archive-date=November 6, 2007}}</ref> Apple claimed that it would not release iOS software updates designed specifically to break these tools (other than applications that perform SIM unlocking); however, with each subsequent iOS update, previously un-patched jailbreak exploits are usually patched.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.geek.com/apple/apples-joswiak-we-dont-hate-iphone-coders-1374199/ |title= Apple's Joswiak: We Don't Hate iPhone Coders |date= September 11, 2007 |access-date= February 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170220092613/https://www.geek.com/apple/apples-joswiak-we-dont-hate-iphone-coders-1374199/ |archive-date= February 20, 2017 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

When a device is booting, it loads Apple's own [[Software:Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] initially, so a jailbroken device must be exploited and have the kernel patched each time it is booted up.

There are different types of jailbreak. An ''untethered'' jailbreak uses exploits that are powerful enough to allow the user to turn their device off and back on at will, with the device starting up completely, and the kernel will be patched without the help of a computer – in other words, it will be jailbroken even after each reboot.

However, some jailbreaks are tethered. A tethered jailbreak is only able to temporarily jailbreak the device during a single boot. If the user turns the device off and then boots it back up without the help of a jailbreak tool, the device will no longer be running a patched kernel, and it may get stuck in a partially started state, such as Recovery Mode. In order for the device to start completely and with a patched kernel, it must be "re-jailbroken" with a computer (using the "boot tethered" feature of a tool) each time it is turned on. All changes to the files on the device (such as installed package files or edited system files) will persist between reboots, including changes that can only function if the device is jailbroken (such as installed package files).

In more recent years, two other solutions have been created – ''semi-tethered'' and ''semi-untethered''.

A semi-tethered solution is one where the device is able to start up on its own, but it will no longer have a patched kernel, and therefore will not be able to run modified code. It will, however, still be usable for normal functions, just like stock iOS. To start with a patched kernel, the user must start the device with the help of the jailbreak tool.

A semi-untethered jailbreak gives the ability to start the device on its own. On first boot, the device will not be running a patched kernel. However, rather than having to run a tool from a computer to apply the kernel patches, the user is able to re-jailbreak their device with the help of an app (usually sideloaded using [[Software:Cydia|Cydia]] Impactor) running on their device. In the case of the iOS 9.2-9.3.3 and 64-bit 10.x jailbreaks, Safari-based exploits were available, thereby meaning websites could be used to rejailbreak.

In more detail: Each iOS device has a bootchain that tries to make sure only trusted/signed code is loaded. A device with a tethered jailbreak is able to boot up with the help of a jailbreaking tool because the tool executes exploits via USB that bypass parts of that "chain of trust", bootstrapping to a pwned (no signature check) [https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/IBSS iBSS], [https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/IBEC iBEC], or [[Software:IBoot|iBoot]] to finish the boot process.

Since the arrival of Apple's native iOS App Store, and—along with it—third-party applications, the general motives for jailbreaking have changed.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-06-26-iphone-review_N.htm |title= Apple's iPhone isn't perfect, but it's worthy of the hype |author= Baig, Edward C. |work= [[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |date= June 26, 2007 |access-date= June 28, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070629012206/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2007-06-26-iphone-review_N.htm |archive-date= June 29, 2007 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> People jailbreak for many different reasons, including gaining filesystem access, installing custom device themes, and modifying SpringBoard. An additional motivation is that it may enable the installation of pirated apps. On some devices, jailbreaking also makes it possible to install alternative operating systems, such as Android and the Linux kernel. Primarily, users jailbreak their devices because of the limitations of iOS. Depending on the method used, the effects of jailbreaking may be permanent or temporary.<ref name="WhatIsJB">{{cite web
 |last        = IPad
 |first       = MAX
 |title       = Jailbreaking Explained
 |publisher   = IPad Forums
 |date        = May 6, 2010
|url         = http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-hacking/2838-jailbreaking-explained.html
 |access-date  = November 4, 2012
|url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121102053916/http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-hacking/2838-jailbreaking-explained.html
 |archive-date = November 2, 2012
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>

In 2010, the [[Organization:Electronic Frontier Foundation|Electronic Frontier Foundation]] (EFF) successfully convinced the U.S. Copyright Office to allow an exemption to the general prohibition on circumvention of copyright protection systems under the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]] (DMCA). The exemption allows jailbreaking of iPhones for the sole purpose of allowing legally obtained applications to be added to the iPhone.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/|title= U.S. Declares iPhone Jailbreaking Legal, Over Apple's Objections|author= Kravets, David|magazine= Wired|date= July 26, 2010|access-date= December 13, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120803003029/http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/07/feds-ok-iphone-jailbreaking/|archive-date= August 3, 2012|df= mdy-all}}</ref> The exemption does not affect the contractual relations between Apple and an iPhone owner, for example, jailbreaking voiding the iPhone warranty; however, it is solely based on Apple's discretion on whether they will fix jailbroken devices in the event that they need to be repaired. At the same time, the Copyright Office exempted unlocking an iPhone from DMCA's anticircumvention prohibitions.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2010/75fr43825.pdf|title= U.S. Copyright Office Final 2010 Anti-Circumvention Rulemaking|publisher= U.S. Copyright Office|date= July 27, 2010|access-date= August 21, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120501085441/http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2010/75fr43825.pdf|archive-date= May 1, 2012|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Unlocking an iPhone allows the iPhone to be used with any wireless carrier using the same GSM or CDMA technology for which the particular phone model was designed to operate.<ref name="WhatisUnlock">{{cite web
 |last         = Mobile
 |first        = Know Your
 |title        = Locked / Unlocked – a definition of the terms Locked and Unlocked from the Know Your Mobile mobile phone glossary
 |publisher    = Know Your Mobile
 |date         = May 19, 2010
|url          = http://www.knowyourmobile.com/glossary/l/488285/locked_unlocked.html
 |access-date  = November 4, 2012
|url-status   = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120831061738/http://www.knowyourmobile.com/glossary/l/488285/locked_unlocked.html
 |archive-date = August 31, 2012
|df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>

=== Unlocking ===
Initially most wireless carriers in the US did not allow iPhone owners to unlock it for use with other carriers. However AT&T allowed iPhone owners who had satisfied contract requirements to unlock their iPhone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532|title=AT&T – What are the eligibility requirements for unlocking iPhone?|publisher=AT&T|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803185724/https://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532|archive-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> Instructions to unlock the device are available from Apple,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014|title=iPhone: About unlocking|publisher=[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] Website|date=March 4, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017021001/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5014|archive-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref> but it is ultimately at the sole discretion of the carrier to authorize unlocking the device.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1937|title=iPhone: Wireless Carrier Support and Features|publisher=[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] Website|date=April 12, 2013|access-date=May 13, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424042251/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937|archive-date=April 24, 2013}}</ref> This allows the use of a carrier-sourced iPhone on other networks. Modern versions of iOS and the iPhone fully support LTE across multiple carriers wherever the phone was purchased.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.macworld.com/article/2991494/carriers/new-iphones-use-lte-on-any-american-carrier-despite-the-way-theyre-listed.html|title= New iPhones use LTE on any American carrier, despite the way they're listed|first=Glenn|last=Fleishman|work= MacWorld|date= October 9, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170713084749/http://www.macworld.com/article/2991494/carriers/new-iphones-use-lte-on-any-american-carrier-despite-the-way-theyre-listed.html|archive-date= July 13, 2017|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Programs to remove SIM lock restrictions are available, but are not supported by Apple, and most often not a permanent unlock – a soft unlock,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3743|title=Unauthorized modification of iOS can cause security vulnerabilities, instability, shortened battery life, and other issues|publisher=[[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]]|date=June 15, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510123825/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3743|archive-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> which modifies the iPhone so that the baseband will accept the SIM card of any GSM carrier. SIM unlocking is not jailbreaking, but a jailbreak is also required for these unofficial software unlocks.

The legality of software unlocking varies in each country; for example, in the US, there is a DMCA exemption for unofficial software unlocking of devices purchased before January 26, 2013.<ref>{{Cite report|title=Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies|url=https://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2012/2012-26308_PI.pdf|id=37 CFR Part 201 [Docket No. 2011-7]|date=October 26, 2012|publisher=United States Copyright Office}}</ref>

== Digital rights management ==
The closed and proprietary nature of iOS has garnered criticism, particularly by [[Digital rights|digital rights]] advocates such as the [[Organization:Electronic Frontier Foundation|Electronic Frontier Foundation]], computer engineer and activist Brewster Kahle, Internet-law specialist Jonathan Zittrain, and the [[Organization:Free Software Foundation|Free Software Foundation]] who protested the iPad's introductory event and have targeted the iPad with their "[[Defective by Design]]" campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defectivebydesign.org/ipad |title= Tell Tim Cook: No more DRM for Apple |access-date= September 4, 2020 |website= [[Defective by Design]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Nate |last=Anderson |title=Protestors: iPad is nothing more than a golden calf of DRM |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/01/protestors-ipad-is-nothing-more-than-a-golden-calf-of-drm/ |website=[[Ars Technica]]  |date=January 27, 2010 |access-date=April 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081221/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2010/01/protestors-ipad-is-nothing-more-than-a-golden-calf-of-drm/ |archive-date=April 2, 2017  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-02-03/mobile-devices-and-next-computing-revolution-0 |title= Mobile Devices and the Next Computing Revolution |date= February 3, 2010 |access-date= June 9, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101201053215/http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-02-03/mobile-devices-and-next-computing-revolution-0 |archive-date= December 1, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/feb/01/apple-ipad-choke-innovation |title= Apple iPad will choke innovation, say open internet advocates |work= {{wipe|The Guardian}} |date= February 1, 2010 |author= Bobbie Johnson |access-date= February 7, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140316141036/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/feb/01/apple-ipad-choke-innovation |archive-date= March 16, 2014 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> Competitor [[Company:Microsoft|Microsoft]], via a PR spokesman, criticized Apple's control over its platform.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://technologizer.com/2010/01/28/microsoft-ipads-closed-platfor-is-humorous/ |title= Microsoft PR spokesman condemns iPad for being "locked down" |date= January 29, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120305021357/http://technologizer.com/2010/01/28/microsoft-ipads-closed-platfor-is-humorous/ |archive-date= March 5, 2012 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

At issue are restrictions imposed by the design of iOS, namely [[Engineering:Digital rights management|digital rights management]] (DRM) intended to lock purchased media to Apple's platform, the development model (requiring a yearly subscription to distribute apps developed for the iOS), the centralized approval process for apps, as well as Apple's general control and lockdown of the platform itself. Particularly at issue is the ability for Apple to remotely disable or delete apps at will.

Some in the tech community have expressed concern that the locked-down iOS represents a growing trend in Apple's approach to computing, particularly Apple's shift away from machines that hobbyists can "tinker with" and note the potential for such restrictions to stifle software innovation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/01/31/1657233/Apples-Trend-Away-From-Tinkering |title= Apple's Trend Away From Tinkering |publisher= Slashdot |date= January 31, 2010 |access-date= June 9, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100208164828/http://apple.slashdot.org/story/10/01/31/1657233/Apples-Trend-Away-From-Tinkering |archive-date= February 8, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite video
 |url         = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrJd7GkkNA
 |title       = Campus Party Brasil 2011 – Geek Pride e Wozniak
 |people      = [[Biography:Steve Wozniak|Steve Wozniak]] (Interviewee)
 |date        = January 22, 2011
|publisher   = Fragoso, Victor
 |access-date  = March 7, 2011
|url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110512222742/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDrJd7GkkNA
 |archive-date = May 12, 2011
|df          = mdy-all
}}</ref>
Former [[Company:Facebook|Facebook]] developer Joe Hewitt protested against Apple's control over its hardware as a "horrible precedent" but praised iOS's [[Sandbox (computer security)|sandboxing]] of apps.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cultofmac.com/pundits-on-the-ipads-closed-system-its-doom-for-pcs-no-its-great/28440 |title= Pundits On The iPad's Closed System: It's Doom For PCs, No It's Great |author= Leander Kahney |date= January 30, 2010 |access-date= June 9, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100515124959/http://www.cultofmac.com/pundits-on-the-ipads-closed-system-its-doom-for-pcs-no-its-great/28440 |archive-date= May 15, 2010 |df= mdy-all }}</ref>

== Security and privacy ==
{{See also|Mobile security|WARRIOR PRIDE}}iOS utilizes many security features in both hardware and software. Below are summaries of the most prominent features.

=== Secure Boot ===
Before fully booting into iOS, there is low-level code that runs from the Boot [[Read-only memory|ROM]]. Its task is to verify that the Low-Level [[Booting|Bootloader]] is signed by the Apple [[Root certificate|Root]] [[Certificate authority|CA]] public [[Key (cryptography)|key]] before running it. This process is to ensure that no malicious or otherwise unauthorized software can be run on an iOS device. After the Low-Level Bootloader finishes its tasks, it runs the higher level bootloader, known as [[Software:IBoot|iBoot]]. If all goes well, iBoot will then proceed to load the iOS kernel as well as the rest of the operating system.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/business/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf|title=iOS Security Guide|last=Apple Inc.|date=May 2016|website=Apple.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227071343/http://www.apple.com/business/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf|archive-date=February 27, 2016}}</ref>

=== Secure Enclave ===
The Secure Enclave is a [[Coprocessor|coprocessor]] found in iOS devices part of the A7 and newer chips used for data protection, [[Touch ID]] and [[Face ID]]. The purpose of the Secure Enclave is to handle keys and other info such as biometrics that is sensitive enough to not be handled by the Application Processor (AP). It is isolated with a hardware filter so the AP cannot access it. It shares RAM with the AP, but its portion of the RAM (known as TZ0) is encrypted. The secure enclave itself is a flashable 4&nbsp;MB AKF processor core called the secure enclave processor (SEP) as documented in [http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220130308838%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20130308838&RS=DN/20130308838 Apple Patent Application 20130308838]. The technology used is similar to [http://www.arm.com/products/processors/technologies/trustzone/index.php ARM's TrustZone/SecurCore] but contains proprietary code for Apple KF cores in general and SEP specifically. It is also responsible for generating the UID key on A9 or newer chips that protects user data at rest.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

It has its own secure boot process to ensure that it is completely secure. A hardware [[Random number generation|random number generator]] is also included as a part of this coprocessor. Each device's Secure Enclave has a unique ID that is given to it when it is made and cannot be changed. This identifier is used to create a temporary key that [[Encryption|encrypts]] the [[Random-access memory|memory]] in this portion of the system. The Secure Enclave also contains an anti-replay counter to prevent [[Brute-force attack|brute force attacks]].<ref name=":0" />

The SEP is located in the devicetree under IODeviceTree:/arm-io/sep and managed by the AppleSEPManager driver.<ref>{{Cite web|title=I/O registry dump|url=http://winocm.com/images/ioregdump.txt|access-date=August 11, 2020|website=winocm blag.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923194253/http://winocm.com/images/ioregdump.txt|archive-date=September 23, 2013}}</ref>

In 2020, security flaws in the SEP were discovered, causing concerns about Apple devices such as iPhones.<ref>{{cite web|first=Filipe|last=Espósito|title=New 'unpatchable' exploit allegedly found on Apple's Secure Enclave chip, here's what it could mean|date=August 1, 2020|url=https://9to5mac.com/2020/08/01/new-unpatchable-exploit-allegedly-found-on-apples-secure-enclave-chip-heres-what-it-could-mean/|website=9to5Mac}}</ref>

=== Face ID ===
{{Main|Face ID}}
Face ID is a face scanner that is embedded in the notch on [[Engineering:IPhone|iPhone]] models [[Engineering:IPhone X|X]], [[Engineering:IPhone XS|XS]], [[Engineering:IPhone XS Max|XS Max]], XR, [[Engineering:IPhone 11|11]], [[Engineering:IPhone 11 Pro|11 Pro]], [[Engineering:IPhone 11 Pro|11 Pro Max]], 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, and 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max. It can be used to unlock the device, make purchases, and log into applications among other functions. When used, Face ID only temporarily stores the face data in encrypted memory in the Secure Enclave, as described above. There is no way for the device's [[Central processing unit|main processor]] or any other part of the system to access the raw data that is obtained from the Face ID sensor.<ref name=":0" />

=== Passcode ===
iOS devices can have a passcode that is used to unlock the device, make changes to system settings, and encrypt the device's contents. Until recently, these were typically four numerical digits long. However, since unlocking the devices with a fingerprint by using Touch ID has become more widespread, six-digit passcodes are now the default on iOS with the option to switch back to four or use an alphanumeric passcode.<ref name=":0" />

=== Touch ID ===
{{Main|Touch ID}}
Touch ID is a fingerprint scanner that is embedded in the home button and can be used to unlock the device, make purchases, and log into applications among other functions. When used, Touch ID only temporarily stores the fingerprint data in encrypted memory in the Secure Enclave, as described above. There is no way for the device's [[Central processing unit|main processor]] or any other part of the system to access the raw fingerprint data that is obtained from the Touch ID sensor.<ref name=":0" />

=== Address Space Layout Randomization ===

Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) is a low-level technique of preventing [[Memory corruption|memory corruption]] attacks such as [[Buffer overflow|buffer overflow]]s. It involves placing data in randomly selected locations in memory in order to make it more difficult to predict ways to corrupt the system and create exploits. ASLR makes app bugs more likely to crash the app than to silently overwrite memory, regardless of whether the behavior is accidental or malicious.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/ASLR|title=ASLR – The iPhone Wiki|website=Theiphonewiki.com|access-date=December 6, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223020839/https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/ASLR|archive-date=December 23, 2016}}</ref>

=== Non-executable memory ===
iOS utilizes the [[ARM architecture]]'s [[NX bit|Execute Never (XN)]] feature. This allows some portions of the memory to be marked as non-executable, working alongside ASLR to prevent buffer overflow attacks including [[Return-to-libc attack|return-to-libc attack]]s.<ref name=":0" />

=== Encryption ===
As mentioned above, one use of encryption in iOS is in the memory of the [https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec59b0b31ff/web Secure Enclave]. When a passcode is utilized on an iOS device, the contents of the device are encrypted. This is done by using a hardware [[Advanced Encryption Standard|AES]] 256 implementation that is very efficient because it is placed directly between the [[Flash memory|flash storage]] and RAM.<ref name=":0" />

iOS, in combination with its specific hardware, uses [[Crypto-shredding|crypto-shredding]] when erasing all content and settings by obliterating all the keys in 'effaceable storage'. This renders all user data on the device cryptographically inaccessible.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://uit.stanford.edu/security/data-sanitization |title=Crypto-shredding using effaceable storage in iOS on stanford.edu |access-date=September 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911114417/https://uit.stanford.edu/security/data-sanitization |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

=== Keychain ===
The iOS keychain is a [[Database|database]] of login information that can be shared across apps written by the same person or organization.<ref name=":0" /> This service is often used for storing passwords for web applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/Security/Conceptual/keychainServConcepts/iPhoneTasks/iPhoneTasks.html|title=iOS Keychain Services Tasks|website=developer.apple.com|access-date=December 6, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220123800/https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/Security/Conceptual/keychainServConcepts/iPhoneTasks/iPhoneTasks.html|archive-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref>

=== App security ===
Third-party applications such as those distributed through the App Store must be code signed with an Apple-issued [[Public key certificate|certificate]]. In principle, this continues the [[Chain of trust|chain of trust]] all the way from the Secure Boot process as mentioned above to the actions of the applications installed on the device by users. Applications are also [[Sandbox (computer security)|sandboxed]], meaning that they can only modify the data within their individual [[Home directory|home directory]] unless explicitly given permission to do otherwise. For example, they cannot access data owned by other user-installed applications on the device. There is a very extensive set of privacy controls contained within iOS with options to control apps' ability to access a wide variety of permissions such as the camera, contacts, background app refresh, cellular data, and access to other data and services. Most of the code in iOS, including third-party applications, runs as the "mobile" user which does not have [[Superuser|root privileges]]. This ensures that system files and other iOS system resources remain hidden and inaccessible to user-installed applications.<ref name=":0" />

==== App Store bypasses ====
Companies can apply to Apple for enterprise developer certificates. These can be used to sign apps such that iOS will install them directly (sometimes called "sideloading"), without the app needing to be distributed via the App Store.<ref name="tc-edc-explain" /> The terms under which they are granted make clear that they are only to be used for companies who wish to distribute apps directly to their employees.<ref name="tc-edc-explain" />

Circa January–February 2019, it emerged that a number of software developers were misusing enterprise developer certificates to distribute software directly to non-employees, thereby bypassing the App Store. Facebook was found to be abusing an Apple enterprise developer certificate to distribute an application to underage users that would give Facebook access to all private data on their devices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/01/29/facebook-project-atlas/|title=Facebook pays teens to install VPN that spies on them|website=Social.techcrunch.com|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/01/30/apple-has-revoked-facebooks-enterprise-developer-certificates-after-sideload-violations|title=Apple has revoked Facebook's enterprise developer certificates after sideload violations [u]|first1=Malcolm|last1=Owen|date=January 30, 2019|website=AppleInsider|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/1/30/18203551/apple-facebook-blocked-internal-ios-apps|title=Apple blocks Facebook from running its internal iOS apps|first=Tom|last=Warren|date=January 30, 2019|website=The Verge|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> Google was abusing an Apple enterprise developer certificate to distribute an app to adults to collect data from their devices, including unencrypted data belonging to third parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/01/30/googles-also-peddling-a-data-collector-through-apples-back-door/|title=Google will stop peddling a data collector through Apple's back door|website=Social.techcrunch.com|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref><ref name="tc-edc-explain">{{cite web|url=http://social.techcrunch.com/2019/02/01/facebook-google-scandal/|title=Everything you need to know about Facebook, Google's app scandal|website=Social.techcrunch.com|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> TutuApp, Panda Helper, AppValley, and TweakBox have all been abusing enterprise developer certificates to distribute apps that offer pirated software.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/loophole-allows-pirated-apps-be-installed-apple-iphones-n971491|title=Loophole allows pirated apps to be installed on Apple iPhones|website=NBC News|access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref>

=== Network security ===
iOS supports [[Transport Layer Security|TLS]] with both low- and high-level [[Application programming interface|APIs]] for developers. By default, the App Transport Security framework requires that servers use at least TLS 1.2. However, developers are free to override this framework and utilize their own methods of communicating over networks. When Wi-Fi is enabled, iOS uses a randomized [[MAC address]] so that devices cannot be tracked by anyone [[Packet analyzer|sniffing]] wireless traffic.<ref name=":0" />

=== Two-factor authentication ===
{{Main|Multi-factor authentication}}

Two-factor authentication is an option in iOS to ensure that even if an unauthorized person knows an [[Apple ID]] and password combination, they cannot gain access to the account. It works by requiring not only the Apple ID and password, but also a verification code that is sent to an iDevice or mobile phone number that is already known to be trusted.<ref name=":0" /> If an unauthorized user attempts to sign in using another user's Apple ID, the owner of the Apple ID receives a notification that allows them to deny access to the unrecognized device.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915|title=Two-factor authentication for Apple ID|newspaper=Apple Suppor|access-date=December 6, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220123803/https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915|archive-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Market share ===
{{Main|Software:Usage share of operating systems}}

iOS is the second most popular mobile operating system in the world, after [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]. Sales of iPads in recent years are also behind Android, while, by web use (a proxy for all use), iPads (using iOS) are still the most popular.<ref>{{cite web|title=StatCounter Global Stats – Browser, OS, Search Engine including Mobile Usage Share|url=https://gs.statcounter.com/#tablet-os-ww-monthly-201612-201612-map|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=[[Company:StatCounter|StatCounter]] GlobalStats}}</ref>

By the middle of 2012, there were 410&nbsp;million devices activated.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 24, 2012|title=iOS leapfrogs Android with 410 million devices sold and 650,000 apps|url=http://www.insidemobileapps.com/2012/07/24/ios-device-sales-leapfrog-android-with-410-million-devices-sold|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120727000853/http://www.insidemobileapps.com/2012/07/24/ios-device-sales-leapfrog-android-with-410-million-devices-sold/|archive-date=July 27, 2012|access-date=July 24, 2012|publisher=InsideMobileApps}}</ref> At WWDC 2014, Tim Cook said 800&nbsp;million devices had been sold by June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ingraham|first=Nathan|date=June 2, 2014|title=Apple has sold more than 800 million iOS devices, 130 million new iOS users in the last year|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/2/5772344/apple-wwdc-2014-stats-update|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210135711/http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/2/5772344/apple-wwdc-2014-stats-update|archive-date=February 10, 2017|access-date=April 1, 2017|website=[[The Verge]]|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]}}</ref>

During Apple's quarterly earnings call in January 2015, the company announced that they had sold over one billion iOS devices since 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rossignol|first=Joe|date=January 27, 2015|title=Tim Cook: Apple Has Sold More Than 1 Billion iOS Devices|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/27/apple-one-billion-ios-devices/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623144503/http://www.macrumors.com/2015/01/27/apple-one-billion-ios-devices/|archive-date=June 23, 2016|access-date=June 21, 2017|website=MacRumors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kahn|first=Jordan|date=January 27, 2015|title=Apple announces 1 billion iOS devices sold|url=https://9to5mac.com/2015/01/27/apple-announces-1-billion-ios-devices-sold/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704104006/https://9to5mac.com/2015/01/27/apple-announces-1-billion-ios-devices-sold/|archive-date=July 4, 2017|access-date=June 21, 2017|website=9to5Mac}}</ref>

By late 2011, iOS accounted for 60% of the market share for smartphones and tablets.<ref name="Saylor33">{{cite book|last=Saylor|first=Michael|title=The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything|publisher=Vanguard Press|year=2012|isbn=978-1-59315-720-3|page=33}}</ref> By the end of 2014, iOS accounted for 14.8% of the smartphone market<ref name="idcq414">{{cite press release|url=http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25450615|title=Android and iOS Squeeze the Competition, Swelling to 96.3% of the Smartphone Operating System Market for Both 4Q14 and CY14, According to IDC|publisher=IDC|date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225074430/http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25450615|archive-date=February 25, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 27.6% of the tablet and two-in-one market.<ref name="idctabq414">{{cite press release|url=http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25480015|title=Worldwide Tablet Growth Hits the Brakes, Slowing to the Low Single Digits in the Years Ahead, According to IDC|publisher=IDC|date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313224458/http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25480015|archive-date=March 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2015, [[Company:StatCounter|StatCounter]] reported iOS was used on 23.18% of smartphones and 66.25% of tablets worldwide, measured by internet usage instead of sales.<ref>{{cite web|title=StatCounter Global Stats: Top 7 Mobile Operating Systems on Feb 2015|url=https://gs.statcounter.com/#tablet-os-ww-monthly-201502-201503-bar|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=[[Company:StatCounter|StatCounter]] GlobalStats}}</ref>

In the third quarter of 2015, research from Strategy Analytics showed that iOS adoption of the worldwide smartphone market was at a record low 12.1%, attributed to lackluster performance in China and Africa. Android accounted for 87.5% of the market, with Windows Phone and BlackBerry accounting for the rest.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sui|first=Linda|date=November 2, 2016|title=Strategy Analytics: Android Captures Record 88 Percent Share of Global Smartphone Shipments in Q3 2016|url=https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/news/strategy-analytics-press-releases/strategy-analytics-press-release/2016/11/02/strategy-analytics-android-captures-record-88-percent-share-of-global-smartphone-shipments-in-q3-2016#.WDqfU-YrKUl|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127153018/https://www.strategyanalytics.com/strategy-analytics/news/strategy-analytics-press-releases/strategy-analytics-press-release/2016/11/02/strategy-analytics-android-captures-record-88-percent-share-of-global-smartphone-shipments-in-q3-2016#.WDqfU-YrKUl|archive-date=November 27, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2016|publisher=Strategy Analytics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rossignol|first=Joe|date=November 2, 2016|title=iOS Adoption Remains at Lowest Levels Since 2014 as Android Captures Record 87.5% Market Share|url=http://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/02/ios-vs-android-market-share-3q16/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127215126/http://www.macrumors.com/2016/11/02/ios-vs-android-market-share-3q16/|archive-date=November 27, 2016|access-date=November 27, 2016|publisher=MacRumors}}</ref>

== Devices ==
{{Main|Engineering:List of iOS devices}}

== See also ==
* [[Software:Comparison of mobile operating systems|Comparison of mobile operating systems]]
* [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android (operating system)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book
| last1 = Hillegass
| first1 = Aaron
| last2 = Conway
| first2 = Jon
| date = March 22, 2012
| title = iOS Programming: The Big Nerd Ranch Guide
| publisher = Pearson
| edition = 3rd
| isbn = 978-0-321-82152-2
}}
* {{Cite book
| last1 = Mark
| first1 = Dave
| last2 = LaMarche
| first2 = Jeff
| date = July 21, 2009
| title = Beginning iPhone 3 Development: Exploring the iPhone SDK
| publisher = Apress
| edition = 1st
| isbn = 978-1-4302-2459-4
| url = https://archive.org/details/beginningiphone300davi/page/584
}}
* {{Cite book
| last1 = Mark
| first1 = Dave
| last2 = LaMarche
| first2 = Jeff
| date = December 29, 2009
| title = More iPhone 3 Development: Tackling iPhone SDK 3
| publisher = Apress
| edition = 1st
| isbn = 978-1-4302-2505-8
| url = https://archive.org/details/moreiphone3devel00mark/page/552
}}
* {{Cite book
| last1 = Turner
| first1 = Kirby
| date = December 19, 2011
| title = Learning iPad Programming: A Hands-on Guide to Building iPad Apps with iOS 5
| publisher = Pearson
| edition = 1st
| isbn = 978-0-321-75040-2
}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* Dev Center at Apple Developer Connection
* [https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/navigation/ iOS Reference Library] – on the Apple Developer Connection website

{{iOS}}
{{Apple Inc. operating systems}}
{{Unix-like}}
{{Operating system}}
{{Mobile operating systems}}
{{Apple Inc.}}

[[Category:Apple Inc. operating systems]]
[[Category:Mach (kernel)]]
[[Category:Mobile operating systems]]
[[Category:Smartphones]]
[[Category:Tablet operating systems]]

{{Sourceattribution|IOS}}