Why is my iPhone SE not updating to iOS 18?

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Gandolf243 Author

Level 2

328 points

Why is my iPhone SE not updating to iOS 18?

So the device I tagged is not running 18, but an Apple article said that it could:

iOS 18 is compatible with these devices.

Learn more about iPhone

iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XR
iPhone SE
(2nd generation or later)

(Taken from Apple.com)

is that correct? If so, were do I download the update?

iPhone SE

Posted on Apr 15, 2025 11:35 PM

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Answer 1

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Servant of Cats

Level 8

38,411 points

Apr 16, 2025 12:29 AM in response to Gandolf243

Gandolf243 wrote:

SE 1st generation

iOS: 15

The iPhone SE (1st generation) originally ran iOS 9.3. You can update it to the latest release of iOS 15 – currently iOS 15.8.4 – but iOS 15 is the end of the line.

You cannot update it past iOS 15, and Apple does not say that you can. The compatibility list to which you refer says "iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)" (emphasis mine).

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