Release record

iOS 16.0

Full article

Public release

Recorded milestones: 12
Beta cycle: 98d
Average interval: 10d
Public release: Sep 12, 2022

Release notes

Overview

Editorial synthesis with inline references and a source ledger when citations are available.

iOS 16 made the Lock Screen a configurable surface for photos, typography, widgets, and notifications, with different Lock Screens linked to Focus modes. It also expanded Messages with editing, undo send, unread markers, SharePlay, and collaboration.^[1]

Mail gained scheduling and follow-up tools, while Safari added shared tab groups and passkeys. Live Text could work with paused video, Visual Look Up could separate a subject from its background, and Maps introduced multi-stop driving routes. Hardware, language, and regional requirements varied by feature.^[2]^[3]

Source ledger

References

Sources are linked to the claims they support. Publication and access dates are shown when available.

About iOS 16 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 16 — Lock Screen, Focus, and Messages
Back to text ↑
iOS 16 is available today
Apple Newsroom · 2022-09-12T12:00:00Z · Availability
Back to text ↑
About iOS 16 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 16 — Mail, Safari and Passkeys, Live Text, Visual Look Up, and Maps
Back to text ↑
iOS 16 is available today
Apple Newsroom · 2022-09-12T12:00:00Z · iOS 16 is available today
iOS 16 Release Notes
Apple Developer · 2026-07-29 · iOS 16 Release Notes
About iOS 16 Updates
Apple Support · 2026-07-29 · iOS 16

Documented & observed

Changes in this version

Source-linked features, fixes, known issues, removals, and community-observed behavior recorded across this version’s appearances and verified builds.

Release changes

Changed in this release

Features, fixes, removals, and regressions first observed in this release record.

developerApi · introduced

StoreKit transaction environment metadata

documentedconfirmed

Apps can distinguish the server environment associated with transaction and subscription-renewal information.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · App Store — New Features; 85988753

knownIssue · knownIssue

Emoji Lock Screen search

documentedconfirmed

Apple identifies a missing search control in the iPhone Lock Screen’s emoji editor.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Emoji — Known Issues; 88603664

knownIssue · knownIssue

Unavailable voicemail transcriptions

documentedconfirmed

Apple flags voicemail transcription as unavailable during this initial prerelease milestone.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Voicemail — Known Issues; 93907701

developerApi · introduced

SwiftUI multiline text fields

documentedconfirmed

Developers can configure a text field to grow across multiple lines without replacing it with a long-form text editor.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features; 51463718

developerApi · changed

StoreKit concurrency annotations

documentedconfirmed

The SDK applies concurrency annotations across StoreKit, affecting compile-time isolation and sendability checks.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · StoreKit — New Features; 84157048

developerApi · introduced

StoreKit app-purchase verification

documentedconfirmed

The initial SDK notes describe an app-purchase verification capability for checking App Store provenance.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · App Store — New Features; 86739279

developerApi · introduced

RoomPlan interior capture

documentedconfirmed

The initial state introduces a framework for guided room scanning, live capture data, and 3D model export.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · RoomPlan — New Features; 84170837

behavior · changed

SwiftUI automatic content transitions

documentedconfirmed

Text and image updates adopt automatic animation unless an app explicitly requests no content transition.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features; 89558882

knownIssue · knownIssue

Siri after using TV Remote

documentedconfirmed

The first beta notes an iPhone Siri activation failure associated with the TV Remote interfaces.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Siri — Known Issues; 94008258

enhancement · introduced

Broader game-controller support

documentedconfirmed

Apple’s initial notes explicitly list iOS 16 among the systems gaining support for additional controllers.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Game Controller — New Features; 82409809

knownIssue · knownIssue

Matter accessory pairing ownership

documentedconfirmed

Matter accessory setup had account and ownership restrictions in the first retained beta state.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Home — Known Issues; 76012945

knownIssue · knownIssue

Emoji wallpaper modifiers

documentedconfirmed

The initial Lock Screen tooling could prevent selection of emoji modifiers during wallpaper setup.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Emoji — Known Issues; 93095669

knownIssue · knownIssue

App Intents release-build failure

documentedconfirmed

Apple documents a Release-build compatibility problem and a visibility-based workaround for affected intent types.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Swift — Known Issues; 93668260

behavior · changed

SwiftUI scroll-driven keyboard dismissal

documentedconfirmed

Scrolling a list or form now dismisses the keyboard by default, and apps can opt back out.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features; 89588639

developerApi · introduced

HealthKit vision prescriptions

documentedconfirmed

The iOS baseline adds prescription data and attachment support with granular authorization for access to sensitive samples.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · HealthKit — New Features; 82940646

behavior · changed

SwiftUI navigation-bar defaults

documentedconfirmed

Apps adopting the new SDK need to account for revised title presentation and automatic hiding of empty navigation bars.

Recorded at Beta 1

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features; 84996257

bugFix · fixed

WidgetKit Lock Screen preview fix

documentedconfirmed

The retained state records a resolved Xcode preview issue for the new Lock Screen widget families.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · WidgetKit — Resolved in beta 2; 93480607

developerApi · introduced

HealthKit multisport workouts

documentedconfirmed

Beta 2 adds a structured workout type for transitions among the three supported endurance activities.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · HealthKit — New Features in beta 2; 82588168

knownIssue · knownIssue

Custom wallpapers after iCloud restore

documentedconfirmed

Beta 2 adds a data-restoration risk specific to customized iOS 16 wallpapers.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Wallpapers — Known Issues; 94306911

knownIssue · knownIssue

CloudKit simulator launch failure

documentedconfirmed

Beta 2 adds a Simulator-only CloudKit launch problem with a deployment-target workaround.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · CloudKit — Known Issues; 94331191

knownIssue · knownIssue

RealityKit Beta 2 SDK crash risk

documentedconfirmed

The preserved Beta 2 state adds a broad SDK stability warning for the affected RealityKit API.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · RealityKit — Known Issues; 95647020

removal · removed

SKDownload and hosted purchase assets

documentedconfirmed

The Beta 2 document records the retirement path for StoreKit-hosted nonconsumable assets.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · StoreKit — Deprecations; 89764253

compatibility · changed

CoreGraphics image byte-order validation

documentedconfirmed

The Beta 2 notes warn that stricter parameter checking can expose invalid image creation code.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · CoreGraphics — Deprecations; 94855401

developerApi · introduced

HealthKit AFib History data

documentedconfirmed

The retained Beta 2 notes identify a new HealthKit data type for AFib History.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · HealthKit — New Features in beta 2; 95315701

bugFix · fixed

Focus Filter deletion after intent rename

documentedconfirmed

The issue moves from App Intents known issue in Beta 1 to resolved in Beta 2.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · App Intents — Known Issues to Resolved in beta 2; 94235463 status transition

developerApi · introduced

HealthKit running metrics

documentedconfirmed

The Beta 2 SDK exposes a broader set of running-workout measurements.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · HealthKit — New Features in beta 2; 82974514

bugFix · fixed

Localized App Intents parameters

documentedconfirmed

The localization failure changes from known in the first state to resolved in Beta 2.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Shortcuts — Known Issues to Resolved in beta 2; 93520037 status transition

enhancement · introduced

Device backup over LTE

documentedconfirmed

Apple explicitly scopes the new LTE backup option to customers using iOS 16.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Backup — New Features in beta 2; 95276719

feature · introduced

Dual-SIM message filtering

documentedconfirmed

Beta 2 lets dual-SIM iPhone users separate messages according to their SIM lines.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Messages — New Features in beta 2; 95276784

feature · introduced

SMS event extraction in India

documentedconfirmed

The feature converts supported event and appointment messages into Siri and Calendar suggestions.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Messages — New Features in beta 2; 95276513

bugFix · fixed

SwiftUI custom Layout children

documentedconfirmed

The compiler problem is retained under a resolved Beta 2 heading after appearing as a Beta 1 known issue.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — Known Issues to Resolved in beta 2; 92914226 status transition

enhancement · introduced

SMS transaction and promotion subcategories

documentedconfirmed

Beta 2 gives developers more categories for organizing transaction and promotional SMS.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Messages — New Features in beta 2; 95276296

developerApi · introduced

StoreKit price and subscription format styles

documentedconfirmed

Beta 2 adds product-level localization APIs for monetary values and subscription durations.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · StoreKit — New Features in beta 2; 93780442

enhancement · introduced

Carrier SMS and MMS junk reporting

documentedconfirmed

The Beta 2 capability is carrier-limited and appears within the unknown-senders workflow.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Messages — New Features in beta 2; 95276623

knownIssue · knownIssue

MetalFX temporal-scaler minimum input

documentedconfirmed

Developers need to respect a temporary minimum input resolution when constructing the temporal scaler.

Recorded at Beta 2

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 2 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · MetalFX — Known Issues; 95390607

knownIssue · knownIssue

Per-app cellular settings on China-region iPhones

documentedconfirmed

Apple documents a regional cellular-settings problem and directs users to re-enable affected app switches.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Telephony — Known Issues; 95570535

knownIssue · knownIssue

Parameterized App Shortcut phrases

documentedconfirmed

Beta 3 adds a Siri integration failure limited to parameterized App Shortcut phrases.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Siri — Known Issues; 96128292

bugFix · fixed

StoreKit recent subscription start date

documentedconfirmed

The issue moves from known in the retained Beta 2 state to resolved in Beta 3.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · StoreKit — Known Issues to Resolved in beta 3; 93794298 status transition

knownIssue · knownIssue

WeatherKit device authentication

documentedconfirmed

Beta 3 adds an intermittent physical-device authentication issue with relaunch as the workaround.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · WeatherKit — Known Issues; 95866480

knownIssue · knownIssue

Focus state after creating a poster

documentedconfirmed

The Beta 3 document adds a Focus and Lock Screen poster state mismatch in the Photos sharing flow.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Posters — Known Issues; 94060721

developerApi · introduced

SwiftUI focused objects

documentedconfirmed

The new modifiers pair with FocusedObject so focus can supply an observable object through a view hierarchy.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features in beta 3; 83637876

knownIssue · knownIssue

Share ETA localization

documentedconfirmed

The retained Beta 3 state adds a localization gap in the Maps Share ETA workflow.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Maps — Known issues; 86537613

knownIssue · knownIssue

WeatherKit Simulator requests

documentedconfirmed

The Beta 3 document separately identifies intermittent WeatherKit failures in Simulator.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · WeatherKit — Known Issues; 96101505

developerApi · introduced

SwiftUI scroll-content backgrounds

documentedconfirmed

Beta 3 exposes direct scroll-content background customization in SwiftUI.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · SwiftUI — New Features in beta 3; 45928055

knownIssue · knownIssue

Calls after physical-SIM to eSIM conversion

documentedconfirmed

Beta 3 adds a telephony regression tied to same-device SIM conversion.

Recorded at Beta 3

[1] iOS & iPadOS 16 Beta 3 Release Notes (preserved snapshot) · Telephony — Known Issues; 96261293

feature · introduced

Live Text in video and subject lifting

documentedconfirmed

Supported devices could interact with text in paused video and lift a recognized photo subject for use in other apps.

Recorded at Public

[1] About iOS 16 Updates · iOS 16 — Live Text and Visual Look Up

feature · introduced

Configurable Lock Screens

documentedconfirmed

iOS 16 made the Lock Screen configurable with photo effects, fonts, colors, widgets, notification layouts, and multiple switchable designs.

Recorded at Public

[1] About iOS 16 Updates · iOS 16 — Lock Screen

feature · introduced

Lock Screen Focus linking and filters

documentedconfirmed

A saved Lock Screen could activate its linked Focus, while Focus filters limited selected content in apps such as Calendar, Mail, Messages, and Safari.

Recorded at Public

[1] About iOS 16 Updates · iOS 16 — Focus

feature · introduced

Passkeys and Shared Tab Groups

documentedconfirmed

Safari introduced passkeys as a password alternative and let participants collaborate in shared tab groups.

Recorded at Public

[1] About iOS 16 Updates · iOS 16 — Safari and Passkeys

feature · introduced

Messages editing and undo send

documentedconfirmed

Messages added editing, undo send, unread markers, SharePlay, and collaboration invitations with thread activity.

Recorded at Public

[1] About iOS 16 Updates · iOS 16 — Messages

Milestones

Release history

Every recorded channel appearance in chronological order. Open an appearance for any available build, scope, notes, and sources.

Jun 6, 2022
Developer beta
Beta 1
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 16 Beta 1 is represented by 16 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 143-record initial state; unsupported routes and build numbers are not inferred.
Availability
available
Sources
21 linked
Open this appearance
Jun 22, 2022+16 days
Developer beta
Beta 2
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 16 Beta 2 is represented by 19 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 175-record initial Beta 2 state; unsupported routes and build numbers are not inferred.
Availability
available
Sources
26 linked
Open this appearance
Jul 6, 2022+14 days
Developer beta
Beta 3
Full articleEditorially verified
iOS 16 Beta 3 is represented by 10 source-supported changes selected from Apple’s preserved 192-record Beta 3 state; unsupported routes and build numbers are not inferred.
Availability
available
Sources
17 linked
Open this appearance
Jul 11, 2022+5 days
Developer beta
Beta 3 v2
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Jul 11, 2022+0 days
Public beta
Public Beta 1
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Jul 27, 2022+16 days
Developer beta
Beta 4
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Aug 8, 2022+12 days
Developer beta
Beta 5
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Aug 15, 2022+7 days
Developer beta
Beta 6
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Aug 23, 2022+8 days
Developer beta
Beta 7
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Aug 29, 2022+6 days
Developer beta
Beta 8
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Sep 7, 2022+9 days
Release candidate
RC
Timeline onlyLegacy record
Availability
available
Sources
Awaiting claim-level sources
Open this appearance
Sep 12, 2022+5 days
Public release
Public
Source-linked recordEditorially verified
The public iOS 16 release rebuilt Lock Screen personalization and expanded communication, productivity, sign-in, and visual-recognition workflows.
Availability
available
Sources
7 linked
Open this appearance

Historical context

Cycle comparison

Pace, intervals, and duration compared with earlier releases on the same platform.

Historical avg for major releases

102 days, 9.9 milestones

Based on 17 previous iOS .0 releases

Cycle vs. platform average

98d (avg: 57d)

41 days longer than the iOS average

Duration ranking

#15 of 92

Middle of the pack iOS beta cycles

Longest gap in this cycle

16 days

Between Beta 1 and Beta 2

Previous .0 releases (iOS)

Previous comparable iOS releases
Version	Year	Cycle	Milestones	Avg. Interval
iOS 26.0	2025	98d	15	8d
iOS 18.0	2024	98d	12	9d
iOS 17.0	2023	105d	13	9d
iOS 15.0	2021	105d	12	11d
iOS 14.0	2020	86d	10	10d
iOS 13.0	2019	108d	11	11d

Scroll horizontally to compare every historical field.

Official release notes