iOS 9 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

iOS 9
Support status
Version of the iOS operating system

iOS 9 home screen, showing some of the default apps, running on iPhone 6s.
Developer	Apple Inc.
Source model	Closed, with open source components
Initial release	September 16, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-09-16)
Latest release	9.3.6 (13G37) / July 22, 2019; 5 years ago (2019-07-22)
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 iPhone 4s iPhone 5 iPhone 5c iPhone 5s iPhone 6 & 6 Plus iPhone 6s & 6s Plus iPhone SE (1st generation) iPod Touch iPod Touch (5th generation) iPod Touch (6th generation) iPad iPad 2 iPad (3rd generation) iPad (4th generation) iPad Air iPad Air 2 iPad Mini (1st generation) iPad Mini 2 iPad Mini 3 iPad Mini 4 iPad Pro (1st generation)
Kernel type	Hybrid (XNU)
License	Proprietary EULA except for open-source components
Preceded by	iOS 8
Succeeded by	iOS 10
Tagline	The most advanced mobile experience. Now even more so.
Obsolete, unsupported

iOS 9 was a big update for Apple's iOS mobile operating system. It came after iOS 8 and was announced on June 8, 2015. Apple officially released iOS 9 to everyone on September 16, 2015. Later, iOS 10 took its place on September 13, 2016.

This update brought many new features to popular apps. For example, the Notes app let you draw sketches and add pictures. A new Apple News app gathered articles from different places. Apple Maps also got public transportation directions, though only in a few cities at first.

A cool new system feature was "proactivity." This meant that Siri and search worked together to understand what you might need. For example, it could suggest information based on the time or your location. When you searched, it could show quick results like weather or sports scores.

For iPad users, iOS 9 added new ways to do many things at once, called multitasking. In a later update (iOS 9.3), Apple added a "Night Shift" mode. This feature changed the screen's colors to be warmer at night. This helps reduce eye strain and can make it easier to sleep. iOS 9 also introduced "Quick Actions" and "Peek and Pop" for the iPhone 6s. These features used the phone's special screen that could sense how hard you pressed it. Quick Actions were shortcuts on app icons. Peek and Pop let you quickly preview content without fully opening it.

People generally liked iOS 9. They thought the new Siri and proactive features were helpful. The multitasking for iPad and the drawing tools in Notes were also praised. However, some felt the Apple News app didn't have enough good articles. Also, the public transit feature in Apple Maps was only available in a few places.

Just five days after its release, Apple announced that iOS 9 was installed on more than half of all active iOS devices. This was the fastest adoption rate for a new operating system at the time. iOS 9 was the last version of iOS to use the classic "slide to unlock" feature. iOS 10 changed this to a new "Today view." It was also the last iOS version for older devices like the iPhone 4s and the first iPad Mini (1st generation).

What's New in iOS 9

iOS 9 was first shown at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, 2015. Developers got to try out the first test version right away. For the first time, the public could also test new iOS versions before they were officially released. This public test program started because of problems with Apple Maps when it first launched.

The official release of iOS 9 was on September 16, 2015.

Cool System Features

3D Touch

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus had a special screen feature called 3D Touch. It was like a stronger tap. When you pressed harder on an app icon, it could show "Quick Actions" or shortcuts. This also brought "Peek and Pop." You could press firmly to "Peek" at content in a small window. If you pressed even harder, you could "Pop" into the full content.

The phone also gave a small vibration (haptic feedback) when you pressed harder.

Battery Life

iOS 9 had two important updates to help save battery. If your phone was face-down, the screen wouldn't light up for notifications. This saved power. Apple also added a "Low Power Mode." This mode reduced how much energy background apps and animations used. For example, apps wouldn't refresh in the background as often. When your phone's battery reached 20%, it would ask if you wanted to turn on Low Power Mode. The battery icon would turn yellow to show it was on. It would turn off automatically when your battery charged past 80%.

Design Changes

iOS 9 introduced a new system font called San Francisco. It replaced the older Helvetica Neue font.

A new battery widget was added to the Notification Center. This showed the battery life of your phone and any connected Bluetooth devices.

The keyboard also changed. When the shift key was off, the letters on the keyboard showed up in lowercase, not all capital letters like before.

Easier Installation

iOS 9 was a smaller update than iOS 8, needing less space to install. It only needed about 1.3 gigabytes (GB), while iOS 8 needed 4.58 GB. iOS 9 also had a clever option: it could temporarily delete some apps to make space for the update. After the update, it would automatically put those apps back from the App Store.

Another feature was "app thinning." This meant your device only downloaded the parts of an app it needed. For example, if you downloaded an app on an iPhone 6S, it would only download the images and data for that specific phone, saving space.

Multitasking for iPad

For the first time, iOS 9 added new ways for iPads to do more at once. These features included "Slide Over," "Split Screen," and "Picture in Picture."

Slide Over: You could swipe from the right edge of the screen to bring in a second app. This app would take up about one-third of the screen. You could quickly use it and then slide it away.
Split Screen: If you pulled the Slide Over app further, it would become Split Screen. This let you use two apps side-by-side at the same time, each taking up half the screen.
Picture in Picture: This mode let you shrink FaceTime calls or videos into a small window. You could then move this window around and keep watching while doing other things on your iPad.

Not all iPads supported all features. Split Screen was only for iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, and iPad Pro. Slide Over and Picture in Picture worked on iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 2 and newer, and iPad Pro.

On iPhones, when you tapped a notification that opened a new app, a "back" button appeared in the top-left corner. This made it easy to go back to the app you were using before.

Night Shift

Night Shift was a display mode added in iOS 9.3. It made your screen's colors warmer, especially at night. This is similar to how some computer programs work. It used your device's clock and location to know when to turn on and off. You could also set your own schedule or adjust how warm the colors looked.

Night Shift needed a newer, 64-bit processor. So, older devices like the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 did not get this feature.

Better Performance

iOS 9 made iPhones and iPads faster. It used something called the Metal API more often. Metal helps games and apps run smoother. In iOS 9, Metal was used for many parts of the system's look and graphics, making everything feel quicker.

Smart "Proactivity"

A big part of iOS 9 was its "intelligence." This combined Siri and Search (which used to be called Spotlight). iOS became smarter about what you might need. It could suggest information based on the time or your location, saving you time.

When you searched, it could show quick answers like weather, sports scores, or news. You could find this search screen by swiping down on the home screen or to the left of the home screen.

This intelligence also worked in apps. For example, in the Mail app, if an email mentioned an event, it could suggest adding it to your Calendar. Siri also understood what was on your screen when you held down the home button.

Stronger Security

iOS 9 brought important security updates. The default passcode became 6 digits instead of 4. This made it much harder for someone to guess your passcode (1 million possible combinations instead of 10,000). It also added support for two-factor authentication, which is an extra layer of security for your accounts.

The first version of iOS 9 also fixed a security problem where someone nearby could install harmful software on your device through AirDrop.

Settings App

The Settings app in iOS 9 got a new search bar. This made it much easier to find specific settings. You could also choose to group notifications by the app they came from.

Other Handy Changes

On the iPad, you could drag two fingers on the keyboard to move the cursor freely, like a computer mouse. This made it easier to select text. This feature also came to the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus if you used 3D Touch on the keyboard.

iPads also got a shortcut bar above the keyboard for cut, copy, paste, undo, and redo. Folders on iPad could now hold 16 apps per page, allowing for up to 240 apps in one folder.

iOS 9 introduced Wi-Fi Assist. This feature, turned on by default, would automatically switch your phone to cellular data if your Wi-Fi signal was weak.

App Updates

iBooks

With iOS 9.3 and later, PDF files saved to the iBooks app could be synced with iCloud.

iCloud

iOS 9 added a setting to put an iCloud Drive app on your home screen. This app let you see and manage your files and folders stored in iCloud.

Health

The Health app, first seen in iOS 8, could now be used in landscape mode on iPhone. It also added support for tracking more types of health data, like reproductive health and water intake.

In iOS 9.3, it also started tracking sleep, exercise, and weight from the Apple Watch.

Messages

The Messages app now let you search for specific text within conversations. The search results would highlight the text you were looking for.

Maps

Apple Maps added directions for public transportation (like buses and trains) in many major cities around the world.

The Maps app also got a "Nearby" feature. This recommended shops, restaurants, and other places close to you. You could even search for specific types of food.

News

iOS 9 included a new Apple News app, which replaced the old Newsstand app. It gathered news articles from different sources and showed them in a nice, easy-to-read format with pictures. The News app could also use RSS feeds from the Safari web browser. At first, it was only in the United States, but it later came to the United Kingdom and Australia.

Photos

The Photos app in iOS 9 got an improved way to scroll through pictures. It also automatically created "Screenshots" and "Selfies" albums. You could easily select multiple photos by holding and dragging. A new "Hide" option let you hide sensitive pictures. You could also zoom in on videos while they were playing.

Safari

With iOS 9, the Safari web browser allowed third-party apps to block unwanted content, like ads. Safari also let you change how Reader mode looked, with options for different fonts and background colors.

Watch

The Apple Watch app was simply renamed to "Watch."

Wallet

The Passbook app was renamed Wallet in iOS 9. It added support for store loyalty cards, gift cards, and Apple Pay in the UK. You could also quickly open the Wallet app from the lock screen.

Common Problems

"Error 53" Issue

In early 2016, some users found that their iPhones became unusable after updating to iOS 9. This happened if their phone had been repaired by someone other than Apple, especially if the Touch ID fingerprint sensor was replaced. Apple explained that this was a security feature. If the Touch ID sensor wasn't properly linked to the phone, it would disable the device to protect your fingerprint data. Apple later released an update (iOS 9.2.1) to fix this "Error 53" problem.

Date Reboot Issue

Another bug was found in February 2016. If you set the date on a 64-bit device to January 1, 1970, the device would get stuck in a loop of restarting. iOS 9.3, released in March 2016, fixed this issue.

iPad Pro Bricking Issue

In May 2016, an update (iOS 9.3.2) caused some 9.7-inch iPad Pros to stop working. They would show a "Connect to iTunes" message and an "Error 56." Apple temporarily stopped the update and later released a new version in June 2016 that fixed the problem.

Spyware Attack

In August 2016, a serious security problem was found in iOS 9. This problem could allow a special kind of harmful software, called "Pegasus," to be secretly installed on iPhones. Pegasus could spy on text messages, emails, calls, and even track the phone's location. It could also gather information from apps like iMessage, WhatsApp, and Skype.

Apple quickly released an update (iOS 9.3.5) to fix these security weaknesses. This attack was called one of the "most sophisticated" smartphone attacks ever.

Wi-Fi Vulnerability ("Broadpwn")

In July 2017, a major Wi-Fi security problem called "Broadpwn" was discovered. It affected many iOS and Android devices. This problem could allow an attacker to take control of nearby devices through Wi-Fi. Apple fixed this in iOS 10.3.3. However, older devices running iOS 9, like the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S, did not get this update, which raised concerns about their safety.

iPhone 4S Lawsuit

Some users with an iPhone 4S felt that the iOS 9 update made their phones very slow or even unusable. The iPhone 4S had less memory (RAM) than newer phones, so it struggled with the update. A lawsuit was filed, and in 2022, Apple agreed to pay money to some iPhone 4S users who downloaded iOS 9 in certain areas.