Apple encourages users to upgrade to iOS 15: The option to stay on iOS 14 has been cancelled

For users still running iOS 14, Apple is encouraging them to upgrade to iOS 15. This is a reversal of its earlier policy, where the company allowed iOS 14 users to opt out of installing the iOS 15 update. When iOS 15 launched, Apple said iOS offered a "choice between two software update versions," promising security updates for users who chose to stick with iOS 14.

Apple said at the time: "iOS now offers a choice between two software update versions in the Settings app. You can update to the latest version of iOS 15 as soon as it is released to get the latest features and the most complete security updates. Or continue to use iOS 14 and still get important security updates until you are ready to upgrade to the next major version."

In normal release scenarios, iOS updates are front and center in the Software Update section of the Settings app, but when iOS 15 first came out, on devices running iOS 14, it was a footnote at the bottom of the Software Update interface and was easily avoidable.

Apple's patience with those who have avoided iOS 15 over the past few months appears to be wearing thin, and the company is now pushing the update to iOS 14 users. On devices running iOS 14, the iOS 15 update is no longer a footnote at the bottom of the "Software Update" section, and Apple has also stopped releasing iOS 14 security updates.

There was a clear option to stay on iOS 14 and receive updates, but that option appears to have been removed with the launch of iOS 15.2. In yesterday's iOS 15.2.1 update, Apple did not reintroduce the option to stay on iOS 14, which seems to be a clear sign that Apple now wants people to upgrade. iPhone users must now update to iOS 15 if they want to have the latest security protections.

For example, Apple released iOS 14.8.1 with security updates in October. On iPhones still running iOS 14.8, the update to iOS 14.8.1 is no longer available, and Apple only offers iOS 15.2.1 as an installation option. iOS 15 is available to all devices capable of running iOS 14, and removing the option to stay on iOS 14 may incentivize people to upgrade. iOS 15 is currently installed on 72% of devices with the last four iPhones, which is significantly lower than the adoption rate we have seen for previous versions of iOS.