Apple iPadOS 16 End of Life
Support dates and upgrade guidance — rebuilt from live data.
End of Life
Apple iPadOS 16 reached end of life on 31 Mar 2025. It no longer receives security fixes.
496 days without security patches
Recommended action: upgrade to Apple iPadOS 26. Support timeline
Official dates from the Apple iPadOS release process.
| Milestone | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Initial release | 24 Oct 2022 | — |
| End of life | 31 Mar 2025 | 1.4 years ago |
| Active support ended | 18 Sept 2023 | security fixes only after this |
| Latest release | 16.7.16 · 11 May 2026 | final |
Where to go from 16
Recommended target: Apple iPadOS 26.
The newest actively supported branch is Apple iPadOS 26 (latest release 26.6).
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple iPadOS 16 still safe to use?
Apple iPadOS 16 reached end of life on 31 Mar 2025, 496 days ago, and is no longer covered by standard support. Running it means no guaranteed security fixes.
Can I still download Apple iPadOS 16?
Yes — the final release (16.7.16) generally remains available from vendor archives and OS package mirrors, but installing it means running software with known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
What should I upgrade Apple iPadOS 16 to?
Upgrade to Apple iPadOS 26, the newest actively supported branch.