How to check which iOS version your iPhone is running

Where to find your iOS version

Engadget has published a short guide explaining how to check which version of iOS an iPhone is running, a step many owners skip between annual releases. The answer sits in the Settings app. Open Settings, choose General, then About, and the iOS version number is listed there.

Apple's long software support makes this worth knowing. Engadget notes that the iPhone 11, released in 2019, can still run the current iOS more than seven years after launch, so even older handsets remain eligible for updates.

Checking for and installing updates

To look for new software, go to Settings, then General and Software Update. This page shows the installed version and, when an update exists, a Download and Install button. A major release such as iOS 27 appears separately at the bottom of the screen under Also Available.

Installing is straightforward. Once the download finishes, tap Update Now, enter the passcode and accept the terms. The phone restarts on its own to complete the process. Owners can also enable Automatic Updates, which installs new versions in the background whenever the phone is on Wi-Fi with sufficient battery. For manual installs, the battery must hold at least a 20 percent charge.

Update sizes vary widely. Engadget reports that security patches can be a few hundred megabytes, while full annual upgrades may run to several gigabytes, so a reliable Wi-Fi connection helps.

Updating through a computer

If home Wi-Fi is unreliable, a computer offers another route. Connect the iPhone by cable, tapping Trust on its screen the first time it is paired with that machine. On a Mac with macOS 10.15 or newer, open Finder, select the phone in the sidebar and use the Check for Update button in the General tab.

Windows users can install Apple's dedicated Apple Devices app for the same purpose. iTunes still works on older Macs and Windows machines as well.

Back up before you update

Although iOS updates rarely cause serious problems, Apple recommends a backup beforehand, according to Engadget. On the phone itself, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then choose iCloud Backup and start a backup. If iCloud storage is full, the alternative is to back up through Finder, iTunes or the Apple Devices app on a computer.

Why iOS 27 is worth installing

The guide argues this is a good year to update. iOS 18 and iOS 26 were known for bugs, and neither delivered the smarter Siri Apple had promised. iOS 27 instead prioritises stability, and the writer's own experience suggests it runs far more smoothly than iOS 26 did on an iPhone 15 Pro.

Apple says iOS 27 brings an optimised CPU scheduler, the part of the system that decides how the processor divides its work, and can launch apps up to 30 percent faster. The gains are most visible on older models. The new Siri AI is also rolling out: owners of Apple Intelligence-capable phones can join a beta waitlist under Settings and Siri. Engadget describes it as improved at handling requests and conversational commands, though short of the vision Apple outlined at WWDC 2024.

Beyond features, updates also close security holes, which Engadget calls just as important as any new function.