Do I need to have iTunes 12.5.1 for compatibility with iOS 10?

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Level 1

21 points

Do I need to have iTunes 12.5.1 for compatibility with iOS 10?

Hey everyone!

I'm likely purchasing an iPhone 6S this weekend, and if it doesn't already come with iOS 10, I may have to download it during the iCloud Restore process (at least, when I last got a new iPhone, I had to update to the current OS before iCloud would populate the phone). Either way, by the end of Saturday, I'll probably be using an iPhone that has iOS 10 on it.

I have the most recent version of iTunes prior to 12.5.1 (12.4 I guess? I don't remember and I'm not currently at that computer), and my MBP has El Capitan, latest version. I know that some people had issues with OTA updates to iOS 10 and had to update iTunes to 12.5.1, but in the event that I don't run into problems with OTA, do I really need iTunes 12.5.1? I'm seeing that it messes some stuff up for some people, so I don't want to download it just yet unless I truly need it.

Basically, if I don't have iTunes 12.5.1, can I sync and backup an iOS 10 phone with iTunes as usual? Or do I truly need the update before I get iOS 10.

Specs:
13" non-Retina MBP, El Capitan, latest version (including recent security update)

Currently using an iPhone 6 with 9.3.5, will not upgrade to iOS 10. Will be purchasing iPhone 6S 128GB, which will either come with iOS 10 or will require me to upgrade to iOS 10 as part of set-up.

Thank you!

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 1:25 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 15, 2016 1:27 PM in response to hpsparrow

An iPhone 6S should come with iOS 10 pre installed but you should always backup your data prior to updating.

You can update via a Wi-Fi network right on the iPad by tapping Settings > General > Software Update

Or using iTunes > Update the iOS software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

hpsparrow Author

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21 points

Sep 15, 2016 1:32 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

How do you know the iPhone 6S would come with iOS 10 pre-installed? Just out of curiosity haha!

I have made and will continue to make several backups of my current iPhone 6 before purchasing the iPhone 6S, so I should be good when it comes to backups.

Do you know if I will need iTunes 12.5.1 in order to use an iPhone running iOS 10 for syncing, backups, etc.?

Thank you!

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Sep 15, 2016 1:34 PM in response to hpsparrow

Reading between the lines, and judging from my own OTA iOS upgrade before the iTunes upgrade iTunes 12.4.3 will talk to iOS 10.0.1, but not upgrade or restore it. Those that hadn't upgraded iTunes and ran into trouble on launch day were given 9.3.5 when restoring in recovery mode. That said I don't know exactly what controls this process under the hood.

tt2

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Answer 4

hpsparrow Author

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21 points

Sep 15, 2016 1:43 PM in response to turingtest2

Oh good - that's basically what I was asking about haha! I'm always hesitant to download software updates very soon after they are released and prefer to wait at least a week, which is why if 12.5.1 isn't necessary, I'd rather wait. That's really good to know that they will still "talk" to each other. And if an upgrade or restore becomes necessary via iTunes then I can update iTunes at that point.

Speaking of that, do you know if, when Sierra is released next week, iTunes 12.5.1 will still be available as a "separate" upgrade? I /definitely/ do not want to update to Sierra on Tuesday (I'm going to wait at least two weeks for that I think), so if iTunes will not be available as a separate update on Tuesday then I will go ahead and update now. Does that make sense?

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Sep 15, 2016 1:53 PM in response to hpsparrow

You should always be able to get a standalone download of the current version of iTunes, or get it via the app store. Getting older versions is the tricky bit, since not all are considered worthy of preserving in their own dl article at https://support.apple.com/downloads/itunes

tt2

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Answer 6

hpsparrow Author

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21 points

Sep 15, 2016 6:48 PM in response to turingtest2

Thank you! That makes sense. I just went ahead and got 12.5.1 and so far it's working fine. Just backed up my current iPhone 6 using it. I don't like the redesign so much but that's not what I'm worried about - as long as it "speaks" to my phone, all is well in my book. 🙂 Thank you for your help!

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Sep 15, 2016 7:15 PM in response to hpsparrow

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

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Answer 8

Sep 23, 2016 10:29 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi,

By "talk to", do you mean that syncing, downloading videos, etc. is possible between iTunes 12.4.3 and ios 10? When I attempted the ios upgrade from 9.3.5 on an iPhone using iTunes 12.4.3, the message "This version of iTunes (12.4.3) is the current version." came up instead of starting the upgrade. I'm concerned that if I do an OTA upgrade the phone will not work with my older iTunes.

Thanks.

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Answer 9

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Sep 23, 2016 10:36 AM in response to carvermon

Yes, iTunes backs up the device, and offered to transfer purchases into a test library. I didn't actually try syncing (since the library didn't have the right content) but I have no reason to believe there would be a problem. Upgrading is a different matter and it is clear that iTunes 12.5.1 is the minimum version of iTunes required to upgrade or restore a device to iOS 10.0.1. If the device is working then these actions can be performed over the air with iCloud, which makes syncing with an older version feasible in the short term, but there is no telling if or when an iOS update might break the backwards compatibility.

tt2

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Answer 10

Sep 23, 2016 10:48 AM in response to turingtest2

Thank you so much.

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Answer 11

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Sep 23, 2016 10:54 AM in response to carvermon

You're welcome. 🙂

tt2

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Answer 12

Sep 23, 2016 5:56 PM in response to turingtest2

A report on my experience -

I did the ios 10 update over the air, and now find that while I can sync if connected by cable - I can no longer sync with iTunes (12.4.3) over wifi. If I restart iTunes, the phone will appear in the sidebar, and I can view the settings and content, but clicking sync gives a "looking for iPhone" message for a bit, then the phone disappears from iTunes. Tsk.

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Answer 13

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Sep 24, 2016 3:07 AM in response to carvermon

Thanks for the update.

tt2

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Answer 14

Sep 29, 2016 9:42 PM in response to carvermon

A follow-up update - I just tried syncing over wifi for the first time since the last note, and it worked! Go figure...

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