The latest iPhone operating system will be rolled out to most users automatically.

The waiting for the new iPhone 14 and related iOS 16 operating system upgrade is almost over. We're expecting to get all the details on the new iPhone for 2022 and iOS 16 at Apple's "Far Out" event, this Wednesday, Sept. 7.

While the majority of current iPhone users will enjoy features like automatically removing people and objects from photos and unsending text messages, not everyone will get the chance to install iOS 16. If you've got an older iPhone, Apple's latest mobile operating system might not be compatible with your device. Here's everything we know about whether you'll be able to install iOS 16 on your iPhone once it's available to the general public.

If you want to get your hands on iOS 16 right now, you can download the sixth iOS 16 public beta, which also brings back the battery percentage back to your status bar.

The iPhone models that will support iOS 16
The following iPhones will be compatible with iOS 16 when it's released later this year:

iPhone 8
iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone SE (second generation and later)
It's also safe to assume that every model in the iPhone 14 series will run iOS 16 when it arrives. Apple is expected to announce and release its latest flagship device sometime in September during an annual special event keynote address.

How to see which iPhone model you have
Not sure which iPhone you own? You can easily figure out the model from within your settings to check if it will run iOS 16.

To find your iPhone model, launch the Settings app and go to General > About. Next to Model Name, you should see what type of iPhone you own. Underneath that, you'll see a Model Number, which you can use to find out more specifics about your model, such as capacity and year introduced, but that's not necessary (only for iPhone SE) for checking whether your phone will support iOS 16 or not.

What happens to older iPhone models like the iPhone 7 Plus?
Unfortunately, any iPhone older than the iPhone 8 will not support iOS 16, including the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Many people on Twitter were surprised by this, because many expected at least the iPhone 7 Plus to support iOS 16. Instead, the iPhone 7 series and some older models will only support up to iOS 15.

Will my iPad get iOS 16?
Yes, the iPad has its own version of iOS 16 that's known as iPadOS 16. This newest operating system will be supported on the following iPad models:

iPad Mini (fifth generation and later)
‌iPad‌ (fifth generation and later)
iPad Air (third generation and later)
iPad Pro (all models)