Apple has released a suite of updates across iOS, iPadOS and macOS to ensure users can stay up-to-date on system health without upgrading to iOS 16 or purchasing newer supported products. In the process of releasing iOS 16 on Monday, Apple also released key operating system updates for the 2021 release. These updates serve a dual purpose – to provide patches for devices that cannot be updated to the latest operating system and to provide users with the updates they need without requiring them to switch to a new operating system.
Apple released iOS 15.7, iPadOS 15.7, macOS Big Sur 11.7, and macOS Monterey 12.6 in one fell swoop without providing specific release notes, but since they were released with iOS 16, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16, it appears that these updates may be designed to keep older devices up to date.
While a new OS version may be exciting for many, some users fear the transition to a new OS because it may break compatibility with key tools they use for their careers or hobbies. Some people wait months or more before updating to ensure that the applications they use have been updated multiple times and to optimize compatibility without losing data.
Those who wait for updates and those who can’t still need critical security patches and bug fixes. That’s why Apple regularly provides interim updates for older systems. Update cycles for older operating systems often span several months, but updates continue to arrive in the years following the transfer of newer products.
Updates can be done through the Settings app by navigating to General, then clicking Software Update and selecting the new OS version to install. Where applicable, you should see an option to update both the old and new operating systems.
