iOS 15 Facts for Kids

iOS 15
Support status
Version of the iOS operating system

The home screen of iOS 15 on an iPhone 7 Plus
Developer	Apple
Source model	Closed with open-source components
General availability	September 20, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-09-20)
Latest release	15.8.2 (19H384) (March 5, 2024; 17 months ago (2024-03-05))
Repository	Lua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Update method	Software Update
Package manager	App Store
Platforms	iPhone, iPod Touch
Kernel type	Hybrid (XNU)
Default user interface	Cocoa Touch (multi-touch, GUI)
License	Proprietary software with open-source components
Preceded by	iOS 14
Succeeded by	iOS 16
Tagline	In touch. In the moment.
Receiving security updates for devices that cannot be upgraded to iOS 16 or later. Widespread third-party app support.
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iPadOS 15 (derived from iOS 15)

iOS 15 is the fifteenth major version of the iOS mobile operating system made by Apple for its iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Apple announced it at their big developer conference on June 7, 2021. It was released for everyone on September 20, 2021, as the replacement for iOS 14.

A year later, iOS 16 was announced and took its place as the main operating system on September 12, 2022.

iOS 15 was the last version that could be installed on some older devices, like the iPhone 6s, the first-generation iPhone SE, and the iPhone 7. It was also the very last version to support the iPod Touch, marking the end of an era for the music player.

New System Features
Cool App Updates
- FaceTime
- Messages
- Apple Maps
- Safari
- Weather
Security and Privacy
Supported Devices
- iPhone
- iPod Touch
See also

New System Features

iOS 15 brought many new features to iPhones and iPods, changing how people use their devices every day.

Focus Mode

Focus mode is an upgrade to the old "Do Not Disturb" feature. It lets you set up different "modes" for what you're doing, like "Work," "Sleep," or a custom one you create.

Depending on the mode, you can choose which notifications and apps you want to see. For example, in "Work" mode, you might only get notifications from your work apps and colleagues. You can even have different Home Screen pages for each mode. Focus can turn on automatically based on your location or the time of day.

Better Notifications

Notifications got a new look, showing pictures of your contacts and bigger app icons. You can quickly mute notifications from an app for an hour or the whole day.

A new feature called "Notification Summary" groups less important notifications together. It delivers them all at once at a time you choose, so you're not interrupted as often.

Live Text

On newer iPhones (with an A12 chip or later), a feature called Live Text was added. It uses the camera to "read" text in photos. You can copy and paste text from a picture, look up words, or even translate them. This works in the Photos app, Camera, and Safari.

Smarter Widgets

Widgets, the small app windows on your Home Screen, became smarter. The system can now automatically add or remove widgets from a "smart stack" based on what you're doing. For example, if you have an event in your calendar, the Calendar widget might appear just before it starts.

Cool App Updates

Many of Apple's own apps got major upgrades in iOS 15.

FaceTime

FaceTime received a lot of new features to make video calls better.

Grid View: See everyone in a group call in a neat grid.
Portrait Mode: Blur the background behind you to keep the focus on you.
Spatial Audio: Makes it sound like your friends' voices are coming from where they are on the screen.
FaceTime Links: You can create a link to a FaceTime call and share it. This allowed people with Android and Windows devices to join FaceTime calls from their web browser for the first time.
SharePlay: Watch movies, listen to music, or share your screen with friends during a FaceTime call.

Messages

The Messages app became more organized.

Shared with You: When friends send you links, photos, or music, this feature puts that content into the matching app. For example, a news article link will show up in the Apple News app, making it easy to find later.
Photo Stacks: If someone sends you multiple photos, they now appear as a neat stack that you can swipe through.

Apple Maps

Apple Maps got a big redesign to make it easier to get around.

3D City Views: In some cities, maps show 3D buildings, bridges, and trees, which helps when you're driving in complex areas.
Better Driving Directions: The map shows more details like turn lanes and crosswalks.
Augmented Reality Walking: On newer iPhones, you can get walking directions in augmented reality (AR). You hold up your phone, and it shows arrows on top of the real world to guide you.

Safari

The Safari web browser was completely redesigned. The address bar was moved to the bottom of the screen to be easier to reach, though you could switch it back to the top.

It also introduced "Tab Groups," which let you save and organize your tabs. For the first time, you could install browser extensions on Safari for iPhone, just like on a computer.

Weather

The Weather app was updated with a new design, full-screen maps, and new animations that show the current weather. It could also send you a notification right before it starts to rain or snow in your area.

Security and Privacy

Apple added several features to give users more control over their data.

App Privacy Report: This feature shows you how often apps are using your location, photos, camera, and microphone. It also shows which websites the apps are contacting.
iCloud Private Relay: This is like a VPN for Safari. It hides your IP address (your device's unique internet address) from websites and trackers, making your browsing more private.
Hide My Email: This lets you create random, unique email addresses when you sign up for things online. Emails sent to these addresses are forwarded to your real inbox, so you don't have to share your actual email address.

Supported Devices

iOS 15 works on all the same devices that supported iOS 13 and iOS 14. However, some features, like Live Text and AR walking directions, only work on iPhones with an A12 Bionic chip or newer.

iPhone

iPod Touch

iPod Touch (7th generation)

iOS 15 facts for kids

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