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Release appearance

iOS 9.0 Public

Source-linked record
Public release

Recorded context

About this appearance

The public iOS 9 release introduced proactive intelligence, iPad multitasking, major built-in app redesigns, power and performance improvements, and a broad security update.

Date
Sep 16, 2015
Availability
available
Revision
No

Chronology evidence

Appearance sources

These sources support the recorded date, channel, or availability. A researched release-notes article has not been added.

  1. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — All-new News app

  2. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — Foundation security

  3. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — Foundation

  4. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — Intelligence

  5. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — Mail improvements

  6. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — Map improvements

  7. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — New iPad Features

  8. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — QuickType improvements

  9. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 — Redesigned Notes app

  10. Apple security updates (2015)

    Apple Support · Apple · 2023-11-06T00:00:00.000Z · iOS 9 — September 16, 2015

  11. About the Security Content of iOS 9

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9 security content

  12. About iOS 9 Updates

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · iOS 9

  13. About the Security Content of iOS 9

    Apple Support · 2026-07-30 · Safari — CVE-2015-7118

Release changes

Changed in this release

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

feature · introduced

iPad multitasking

documentedconfirmed

The iPad experience added a temporary second-app panel, side-by-side interaction on supported hardware, and a floating video window that remained visible while using other apps.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — New iPad Features

feature · introduced

Proactive intelligence, Siri, and Spotlight

documentedconfirmed

iOS began surfacing context-aware information before typing, expanded Spotlight answers and contact actions, and let Siri search personal media, set reminders from visible content, and request transit directions.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — Intelligence

security · introduced

Account and passcode security defaults

documentedconfirmed

iOS 9 strengthened account and device access through two-factor authentication support and a six-digit default passcode on Touch ID hardware.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — Foundation security

feature · introduced

Apple News app

documentedconfirmed

News launched with publication and topic discovery, personalized For You recommendations, media-rich article layouts, sharing, and offline reading.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — All-new News app

feature · changed

Redesigned Notes

documentedconfirmed

The redesigned Notes app supported camera and library images, tappable checklists, finger sketches, and saving material shared from other applications.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — Redesigned Notes app

enhancement · changed

Expanded iPad QuickType tools

documentedconfirmed

QuickType on iPad introduced multitouch cursor selection, faster access to editing tools, and application shortcuts for connected keyboards.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — QuickType improvements

enhancement · changed

Mail search, Markup, and attachments

documentedconfirmed

Users could narrow Mail searches by message fields, annotate image and PDF attachments without leaving Mail, and attach or save files through iCloud Drive and compatible providers.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — Mail improvements

enhancement · introduced

Low Power Mode and platform efficiency

documentedconfirmed

iOS 9 added a power-saving mode, made software updates smaller and schedulable, and moved more app and interface rendering onto Metal for smoother interaction.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — Foundation

security · fixed

Safari bookmark data protection

documentedconfirmed

Apple addressed CVE-2015-7118 by changing Safari bookmark encryption so a locked device’s bookmark data was not protected solely by the hardware identifier.

  1. [1] About the Security Content of iOS 9 · Safari — CVE-2015-7118

feature · introduced

Maps transit and nearby discovery

documentedconfirmed

Maps could plan public-transport trips in selected cities, expose station entrances and schedules, browse nearby places by category, and show Apple Pay and landmark information on place cards.

  1. [1] About iOS 9 Updates · iOS 9 — Map improvements