iPhone (iOS) · System
Understand updates for iPhones that can't run the latest iOS
Apple sometimes continues issuing security-focused updates for older iPhone models that can no longer run the newest major iOS version, keeping them protected without adding new features.
How to open Security-Only Updates for Older Devices
- Open Settings and tap General.
- Tap Software Update.
- Review any available update, checking whether it's a full version or a security-only patch.
- Tap Download and Install if available.
What you should know
- Appears in Settings > General > Software Update as an update to the last major iOS version supported by that specific device.
- Does not include new features introduced in the current major iOS release for newer devices.
- Availability and duration of security-only support varies by model and is decided by Apple on a case-by-case basis.
- Distinct from Rapid Security Responses, which target devices already on the newest iOS version.
Why it matters
As iPhone hardware ages, it eventually can't support the processing or feature requirements of the newest iOS release, but that doesn't mean the device should be left permanently exposed to newly discovered vulnerabilities. Apple has periodically extended security-only patches to older, otherwise unsupported major iOS versions, giving owners of legacy devices a meaningful way to stay protected against known threats even without new features. Understanding that a device showing 'no updates available' isn't necessarily fully secure, and checking for these legacy patches specifically, matters for anyone continuing to use an older iPhone.
Best practices
- Install any available security-only update promptly, even on an older device kept for basic use.
- Check Settings > General > Software Update periodically, since legacy support isn't guaranteed or always obvious.
- Consider replacing a device that's stopped receiving even security-only updates, since it will accumulate unpatched vulnerabilities over time.
Common problems and fixes
- An old iPhone shows no updates but seems out of date.
- Confirm whether Apple has ended all support for that specific model, which happens eventually even for security-only patches.
- Unsure whether an installed update included security fixes.
- Check the update's release notes in Settings > General > Software Update or Apple's security release notes page.
Tips and tricks
- Check Settings > General > About > iOS Version after installing to confirm exactly what was applied.
Frequently asked questions
Do all older iPhones get security-only updates?
No, Apple decides this on a case-by-case basis and it isn't guaranteed for every unsupported model indefinitely.
Are security-only updates the same size as full iOS updates?
They're typically smaller since they don't include new features, though size varies by the specific fixes included.
Related settings
- Software UpdateSoftware Update keeps iOS current with the latest security fixes, features, and app compatibility. You can update wirelessly, overnight while charging, or via a computer.
- Update HistoryUpdate History, found on the General → About screen, lists every iOS and iPadOS version that has ever been installed on this specific device, along with the date each one was installed.
More System guides for iPhone (iOS)
- BatteryThe Battery screen shows your battery's current health and charging behavior, breaks down which apps used the most power recently, and includes Low Power Mode for stretching a low charge further.
- Automatic UpdatesAutomatic Updates, found inside Software Update settings, controls whether iOS downloads and installs new versions on its own overnight — while charging and on Wi-Fi — without you needing to tap through it manually.
- Beta UpdatesBeta Updates lets you opt an iPhone into Apple's Developer or Public Beta program directly from Software Update settings, so it receives pre-release iOS versions ahead of the general public release.
- Rapid Security ResponsesRapid Security Responses deliver urgent security fixes between full iOS releases, installing quickly and, unlike major updates, without requiring a full device restart in most cases.
- Carrier Settings UpdateCarrier Settings Updates are small packages issued by a mobile carrier to improve network performance, enable new features like VoLTE or Wi-Fi Calling, and fix connectivity bugs, independent of iOS software updates.
- App Store Automatic App UpdatesSeparate from iOS software updates, the App Store has its own setting for automatically installing new versions of installed apps as developers release them.