Apple to Release iOS 16 and watchOS 9 on September 12

Apple today announced that iOS 16 and watchOS 9 will be available to all users with compatible iPhone and Apple Watch models on Monday, September 12.

iOS 16 Customizable Lock Screen
iOS 16 was first previewed by Apple in June, and over the last several months, it has undergone beta testing with app developers and members of the public beta program. iOS 16 is a significant release, with major features including an entirely redesigned and customizable Lock Screen, the ability to temporarily edit iMessages, and much more.

The new Lock Screen allows customers to customize various visual elements to create their perfect Lock Screen. Customers can choose different fonts and colors for the clock, add widgets, add new wallpapers with depth effects, and more.

ios 16 lock screen customization
Besides the newly redesigned Lock Screen, Apple has also brought highly requested features to the Messages app. Users in iOS 16 can now edit messages up to 15 minutes after they've been sent and can unsend a message up to 2 minutes after they may have accidentally sent it. Improvements to SharePlay and collaboration within Messages are also a part of iOS 16.

iMessage
In other core apps such as Mail and Safari, Apple is also improving features like Spotlight search and adding new ones like undo and schedule send for emails, Shared Tab Groups, Safari Passkeys, and more. Apple Maps is also gaining noteworthy features, including multi-stop routing and transit card support.

Unlike in previous years, Apple is not releasing iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 simultaneously. While iOS 16 will be available to ‌iPhone‌ users on Tuesday, September 13, iPadOS 16 will be available later this fall. iOS 16 is compatible with the following iPhones, but some features may require newer models:

  • iPhone 13
  • ‌iPhone 13‌ mini
  • ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro
  • ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11
  • ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ XS
  • ‌iPhone‌ XS Max
  • ‌iPhone‌ XR
  • ‌iPhone‌ X
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8
  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus
  • iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

watchOS 9 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.

For a complete rundown of every new feature and change coming part of iOS 16, be sure to read our comprehensive roundup.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Launch Is Just One Month Out – Here's Everything We Know

Saturday August 10, 2024 5:00 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series in the fall, and a possible September 10 announcement date has been floated this year, which means we are just one month away from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design...
macbook pro bb cyber

Apple's M3 MacBook Pro Gets Up to $1,000 Off In Major New Sales, Starting at $1,299 [Updated]

Sunday August 11, 2024 1:54 pm PDT by
Apple's M3 MacBook Pro is seeing multiple high value discounts on Best Buy and Amazon today, with up to $1,000 off select models. This includes a new all-time low price on the entry-level M3 512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,299.00, down from $1,599.00, and a massive $1,000 discount on the high-end 16-inch model exclusively for Best Buy members. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best...
iPhone 16 Pro Right Side Feature

The iPhone 16 is Getting a New Button: Here's What It Can Do

Tuesday August 13, 2024 4:01 pm PDT by
Multiple rumors have suggested that the iPhone 16 models are going to have an all-new button that's designed to make it easier to capture photos when the devices are held in landscape mode. Apple calls the button the Capture Button internally, and it is going to be one of the most advanced buttons that's been introduced to date with support for multiple gestures and the ability to respond to ...
iOS 18 on iPhone Feature

Everything New in iOS 18.1 Beta 2 and iOS 18 Beta 6

Monday August 12, 2024 2:32 pm PDT by
Apple is beta testing iOS 18 and the first update to iOS 18 concurrently, and we got the second betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 today alongside the sixth betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15. Many of the changes in iOS 18.1 are focused on bringing the .1 betas in line with the standard betas, which recently received updates to Photos and Safari, while...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID Single Camera Hole

10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Thursday August 8, 2024 4:40 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different – already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2

Next Year's Slim iPhone 17 Could Be an 'iPhone Air'

Monday August 12, 2024 8:43 am PDT by
Apple's rumored iPhone 17 "Slim" could be positioned as an iPhone "Air" to boost sales, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained how the "fourth" model in the iPhone lineup since 2020 (the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 15 Plus) has largely been a commercial failure. In the case of the Plus model,...

Top Rated Comments

theapplehead Avatar
25 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/07/ios-16-to-launch-september-12/')


While iOS 16 will be available to iPhone users on Tuesday, September 13,

Article Link: iOS 16 to Launch on September 12, Featuring Redesigned Lock Screen, Unsend and Edit in iMessage, and More ('https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/07/ios-16-to-launch-september-12/')
Will the release be on Monday or Tuesday? The title of the thread says Monday but in the text it says we won’t have access til Tuesday. Which is correct?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unfunfionn Avatar
25 months ago
The beta doesn’t feel ready. It’s very stable but it has halved the battery life on my 13 Pro Max and there are still quite a few annoying bugs, most notably issues with swiping notifications in the latest public beta. Swiping to open the camera from the Lock Screen is also very patchy in the latest update.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gstevie Avatar
25 months ago

GM coming today?
Likely the RC today.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SaguaroSeven Avatar
25 months ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/07/ios-16-to-launch-september-12/')

Will the release be on Monday or Tuesday? The title of the thread says Monday but in the text it says we won’t have access til Tuesday. Which is correct?
Well, they managed to correct the headline, but the story still says "Tuesday." This is what happens when you write your stories and headlines before the facts are in. Touché Apple!
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SaguaroSeven Avatar
25 months ago
What's the feeling about installing iOS 16 next week? A little bit risky, or a lot risky?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
25 months ago
I can’t wait to try out the new Lock Screen.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)