Apple has released a pair of surprise software updates – iOS 15.8.7 and 16.7.15 – for older devices, which usually means a serious security vulnerability has been discovered. If you have an older iPhone or iPad that never made it to iOS 17 or iPadOS 17, you’re the target here. We’d recommend you grab this update ASAP to ensure you’re protected.
Which devices is this for?
Specifically, these updates are available for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPad 7th generation.
What’s changed?
Apple hasn’t said much publicly beyond the release itself, which is pretty normal for updates like this. The company often keeps the fine details vague until enough people have installed the patch, which helps stop bad actors from turning the published information into a how-to guide. What we do know is that the fix stops “maliciously crafted web content” corrupting your device’s memory. That sounds pretty important.
If you’ve fallen behind on an older iPhone, it’s worth keeping up. While iOS 15 and 16 aren’t getting flashy headline features anymore, these smaller releases still matter because they keep aging hardware secure and stable.
How to update
To install the update, open Settings > General > Software Update and follow the prompts to download and restart your iPhone. If you have automatic updates enabled, it may update on its own when the conditions are right – but it’s quicker to trigger the update yourself.