When Does the iPhone 13 Stop Getting Updates? (October 2026 answer)

Updated

Short answer: not any time soon. All four models, the iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, are on Apple's list of iPhones that run iOS 27, the newest version, released on 14 September 2026. The latest update is iOS 27.0.1 (28 September 2026). Apple never announces an end-of-support date, so nobody can give you an exact one. Based on how Apple treated older iPhones, our estimate is that it stops getting new major iOS versions in 2027 or 2028, with security fixes until around 2030. That's our reading of Apple's history, not a promise from Apple.

The facts (checked 16 October 2026)

Released24 September 2021 (with iOS 15), all four models
Current iOS versioniOS 27 (released 14 Sep 2026), supports iPhone 11 and later
Latest updateiOS 27.0.1, 28 Sep 2026
Still on iOS 26?iOS 26.7.1 (28 Sep 2026) is also available for iPhone 11 and later
Official end-of-support dateNone published by Apple

Apple's How to download iOS 27 page lists the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max as compatible. The Apple security releases page lists iOS 27 for "iPhone 11 and later" on 14 September 2026, followed by iOS 27.0.1 and iOS 26.7.1 on 28 September 2026. So right now the iPhone 13 gets exactly the same updates as the newest iPhones.

How long will it keep getting updates? (our estimate)

Apple doesn't publish a support period for older iPhones, so the best guide is what it did before. All dates below come from Apple's own pages.

  • iPhone 8 (in stores from 22 September 2017, with iOS 11): got new major versions up to iOS 16. iOS 17 (18 Sep 2023) dropped it, about 6 years after launch. Security-only updates kept coming: iOS 16.7.16 arrived on 11 May 2026. The iPhone X followed the same path.
  • iPhone XS (in stores from 21 September 2018, with iOS 12): got new major versions up to iOS 18. iOS 26 (15 Sep 2025) dropped it, about 7 years after launch. iOS 18.7.10 still arrived on 17 August 2026, also for the iPhone XS Max and XR.
  • iPhone 6s and iPhone 7: stuck on iOS 15 since iOS 16 arrived in 2022, but iOS 15.8.8 still came out for them on 11 May 2026.

The iPhone 13 is now 5 years old and has had six major versions (iOS 15, 16, 17, 18, 26 and 27). If it follows the iPhone 8 or XS pattern, iOS 27 or iOS 28 could be its last major version, so it may drop off the list in September 2027 or September 2028. After that, Apple has so far kept shipping security-only fixes for two to three years or more (the iPhone 8 was still getting them two years and eight months after iOS 17 dropped it; the iPhone 6s and 7, three years and eight months after iOS 16), which points to roughly 2030. Treat this as an educated guess. Apple can change course at any time, and it's under no obligation to follow its old pattern.

What happens when updates stop?

  • First, no new iOS features. The phone stays on its last major version and gets small security-only updates for a while.
  • Then the fixes thin out. Security-only updates for old versions tend to be smaller and less frequent, and Apple doesn't announce when they end.
  • Apps follow eventually. Banking, payment and messaging apps start requiring a newer iOS version at some point, not overnight.

What should you do?

  1. Install the latest update now: Settings → General → Software Update. You should see iOS 27.0.1 (or iOS 26.7.1 if you chose to stay on iOS 26).
  2. Keep using it. An iPhone 13 is fully supported in October 2026, including for banking, DigiD and work email.
  3. Thinking of buying one used? It's still a reasonable pick in 2026. Just remember it's already 5 years old: a newer iPhone will most likely get updates for longer, so weigh the price difference against the extra years.

Buying a used replacement?

A cheap used phone can still be a bad deal if it's Activation-Locked, reported stolen, carrier-locked or close to its own end-of-support date. Our own guide, Safe to Buy Used? The Second-Hand Phone & Gadget Checklist, walks you through every check before you pay. It's a paid PDF we make ourselves; you can also check any model for free on our iPhone 13 page and the full device list.

Looking for a replacement with years of updates left? Compare prices for iPhone 15 at bol.com or iPhone 16 at bol.com (search results; check the seller, condition and warranty before you buy).

Affiliate disclosure: bol.com links are affiliate links; we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure.

Sources

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