Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 16.1 update for iPhone and the software is currently in beta testing ahead of its official release later this year.
iOS 16.1 is a milestone upgrade which means it will likely bring more than just bug fixes and security patches to iPhone users. It should deliver new features as well.
Apple hasn’t confirmed the iOS 16.1 release date yet and it will be a few weeks before it touches down. If you don’t want to wait for the stable release, you can try an early version of the software on your iPhone right now.
With iOS 16.1 in the works, we want to take you through everything there is to know about the next major iOS 16 update for iPhone.
In this walkthrough we’ll take you through the iOS 16.1 update’s known changes, what you can expect from the iOS 16.1 release date and release time, information about the iOS 16.1 beta, and more.
iOS 16.1 Beta
If you want to start using iOS 16.1 on your iPhone you can do so right now.
Apple’s pushed the iOS 16.1 beta to developers which means those enrolled in the company’s developer program can download a pre-release version of the firmware right now.
The company will also push the iOS 16.1 beta to those enrolled in the Beta Software Program. A developer account requires an annual fee while the Beta Software Program is free to anyone with a compatible device and working Apple ID. The public iOS 16.1 beta should come soon.
Before you download the iOS 16.1 beta, note that pre-release software is typically always plagued with bugs and performance issues. These issues could impact the performance of your core apps, your iPhone’s battery life, and its overall speed which can make it tricky to use as a daily driver.
You should be able to fix some problems on your own, but some bugs and performance issues will probably require a fix from Apple down the road.
If you can’t stand the iOS 16.1 beta’s performance on your iPhone, you can downgrade back to iOS 16.0, iOS 15.7 or iOS 15.6.1. The downgrade path to older iOS firmware is closed.
Apple is currently on iOS 16.1 beta 1.
iOS 16.1 Release Date
Apple hasn’t confirmed the iOS 16.1 release date but it should arrive in October.
The company is planning to launch the first version of iPadOS, iPadOS 16.1, in October. It’s also planning to release macOS Ventura for Mac in October. We expect iOS 16.1 to arrive alongside these updates.
For more about the iOS 16.1 release date, check out our guide.
iOS 16.1 Release Time
We don’t have an official iOS 16.1 release date yet, but we know exactly when Apple will roll the software out on the date it chooses.
The official version of iOS 16.1 will most likely arrive in and around 10AM Pacific. It sometimes takes a few minutes for iOS updates to show up so there’s no need to worry if you don’t see new software right away.
Apple will also release iOS 16.1 beta updates for developers, and those enrolled in the Beta Software Program, around 10AM Pacific as well. The company typically releases new betas every 1-2 weeks.
Keep this timeline in mind if you plan to install new iOS 16.1 betas, or the official version of iOS 16.1, right away.
iOS 16.1 Features
Apple’s milestone updates (x.x) almost always bring new features, enhancements, security patches, and bug fixes to iPhone users and that’s what you should get from iOS 16.1.
Developers are digging through the iOS 16.1 beta and we’ll let you know if they find any substantial changes on board the new software.
Apple could add to, or subtract, from the iOS 16.1 beta as testing progresses and we’ll let you know if there are differences between the beta and the final release.
iOS 16.1 Jailbreak
If you still jailbreak, make sure you avoid the iOS 16.1 beta.
We don’t expect developers to release a tool that’s compatible with the iOS 16.1 beta. They haven’t released one for the official version of iOS 15 or iOS 16 yet.
We’ll let you know when we learn more.