Apple More Aggressively Pushing iOS 14 Users to Upgrade to iOS 15

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Apple is encouraging people who are still running iOS 14 to update to iOS 15, a reversal of an earlier policy that saw the company allowing iOS 14 users to choose not to install the iOS 15 update.

iOS 14 vs 15 feature
When iOS 15 launched, Apple said that iOS offered a "choice between two software update versions," pledging to offer security updates for those who opted to stick with iOS 14.

iOS now offers a choice between two software update versions in the Settings app. You can update to the latest version of iOS 15 as soon as it's released for the latest features and most complete set of security updates. Or continue on iOS 14 and still get important security updates until you're ready to upgrade to the next major version.

With normal releases, iOS updates are front and center in the Software Update section of the Settings app, but when iOS 15 first came out, it was a footnote at the bottom of the Software Update interface on devices running iOS 14, and easily avoidable.

Apple's patience for those avoiding iOS 15 seems to have dwindled over the last few months, and the company is now pushing iOS 14 users to update. The iOS 15 update is no longer a footnote at the bottom of the Software Update section on a device running iOS 14, and Apple has also stopped releasing iOS 14 security updates.

There was a clear option to stay on iOS 14 and receive updates, which appears to have been eliminated with the launch of iOS 15.2. Apple did not reintroduce the remain on iOS 14 option in the iOS 15.2.1 update that came out yesterday, which seems to be a clear sign that Apple is now expecting people to upgrade. iPhone users who want to have the latest security protections must now update to iOS 15.

As an example, Apple in October released iOS 14.8.1 with security updates. On an ‌iPhone‌ still running iOS 14.8, the iOS 14.8.1 update is no longer available, and Apple is only offering iOS 15.2.1 as an installation option.

iOS 15 is available on all of the devices that are able to run iOS 14, and removing the option to stay on iOS 14 will likely spur people to upgrade. At the current time, iOS 15 is installed on 72 percent of devices from the last four years, which is a notably lower adoption rate than we've seen with prior versions of iOS.

(Thanks, DhinakG!)

Related Roundup: iPadOS 15
Related Forum: iOS 15

Top Rated Comments

julesme Avatar
julesme
9 months ago
The menu screen option to stay on iOS 14 was so uncharacteristic of Apple; it seemed (to me) they were silently admitting that iOS 15 wasn’t finished yet.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheIguana Avatar
TheIguana
9 months ago
The marketing churn need for a major release every year really needs to come to an end. When features are ready, release them.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cosmosent Avatar
Cosmosent
9 months ago
Would love to know if Apple's CSAM is the main reason.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
letsGoOn2 Avatar
letsGoOn2
9 months ago
I actually want to update, mainly for shareplay, but I’ve been holding out for a clear message on where the CSAM efforts are going.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DBZmusicboy01 Avatar
DBZmusicboy01
9 months ago
iOS 15 has been hot garbage since day one.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
_Spinn_
9 months ago
I figured this would happen at some point. I was surprised that Apple initially gave users a choice to stay on iOS 14.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

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