iOS 17 is no longer supported

[bogdanw]

iOS 17.7.2 released today (19 Nov 2024, https://support.apple.com/121754) is most likely the last iOS 17 update.

On my iPhone SE 2, the iOS 18 update appeared first and iOS 17.7.2 was in the other category. After updating to iOS 17.7.2, it displays a persistent notification in settings for iOS 18.1.1.

This is similar to what happened for iOS 15 & 16
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ios-15-no-longer-supported-on-iphone-se-2.2370718/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/is-ios-16-still-supported.2412501/

 

[russell_314]

Yup after the .1 update is when Apple starts showing the next version as an update. It’s nice because before once the .0 update was available there was no other option for updates.

 

[sdfox7]

I’m sure iPhone 8/8 Plus/X as well as the 2017 iPad Pro and iPad 6 will continue to get updates since iOS 17 is the end of the road—most likely another year or two of patches. iOS 15 has been patched for 3 years after its release.

 

[bogdanw]

I’m sure iPhone 8/8 Plus/X as well as the 2017 iPad Pro and iPad 6 will continue to get updates since iOS 17 is the end of the road—most likely another year or two of patches. iOS 15 has been patched for 3 years after its release.

According to Apple, iOS 17 is not compatible with iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, but they might get security fixes for iOS 16.
https://support.apple.com/guide/iph...atible-with-ios-17-iphe3fa5df43/17.0/ios/17.0
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/supported-models-iphe3fa5df43/16.0/ios/16.0

 

[WiscoNicky]

Don't they continue to push security updates for another couple of years? I thought it was like MacOS, where an OS would be supported for approximately three years total.

 

[posguy99]

Don't they continue to push security updates for another couple of years? I thought it was like MacOS, where an OS would be supported for approximately three years total.

Only for devices that can't run the later OS.

 

[posguy99]

Yup after the .1 update is when Apple starts showing the next version as an update. It’s nice because before once the .0 update was available there was no other option for updates.

Which sucks. There is literally nothing on the iOS 18 feature list that I care about.

 

[russell_314]

Which sucks. There is literally nothing on the iOS 18 feature list that I care about.

There’s nothing on the iOS 18 or iOS 17 feature list that I care about, but Apple isn’t going to keep supporting older versions on iOS. I believe they support two prior major versions on macOS, but I can see that being a PITA for iOS. They would need developer teams working on each version to implement security patches. It’s just not needed for the iPhone. I really appreciate that they support the older version till the .1 update on the new version comes out that way most of the bugs are ironed out.

 

[innovaTutor]

I have the option to buy a used iPhone SE 3 (in good shape) where an old iOS 17.4.1 is installed. For now I need to stay on iOS 17 so my question is:

Is it still possible to update that iPhone SE to the latest iOS 17.7.2 version?

 

[bogdanw]

See this post in thread 'Accidentally upgraded to iOS 18.1.1 and my day is ruined'
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-1-and-my-day-is-ruined.2443507/post-33585285

 

[innovaTutor]

It is actually quite simple. I found someone who had an iPhone with iOS 17.5.1 and asked them to check for the update.
And voilà, there was my desired update. So it surely will be the same for iOS 17.4.1 (as it cannot be a delta update only).

As mentioned in another post in that thread, Apple makes it harder to find the iOS 17 Security Update.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-1-and-my-day-is-ruined.2443507/post-33585157