When is iOS 12.1.2 not the same as 12.1.2?

IWT


Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
10,218
Reaction score
2,175
Points
113
Location
Born Scotland. Worked all over UK. Live in Wales
Your Mac's Specs
M2 Max Studio Extra, 32GB memory, 4TB, Sonoma 14.4 Apple 5K Retina Studio Monitor
I have an iPhone X.

I recently updated to iOS 12.1.2 via WiFi. On the iPhone it confirms 12.1.2 as the iOS and when seeking any updates on the iPhone, it confirms that I am running 12.1.2, the latest version of iOS.

After the update, I backed up to iTunes, iMazing and iCloud. No problems. 12.1.2 acknowledged as current iOS in each case.

Now, today, when attaching my iPhone to iTunes (USB), it tells me that I have an update waiting:

S1.jpg

Then, when I click on the iPhone icon, it comes up with this message:

S2.jpg

A message which tells me that my iPhone is running 12.1.2, but that a newer version 12.1.2 is ready for update!

Is this some iTunes glitch? Or is this a supplementary to 12.1.2, but bearing the same nomenclature?

And should I go ahead with the "update" or ignore it?

Ian
 
OP
IWT

IWT


Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
10,218
Reaction score
2,175
Points
113
Location
Born Scotland. Worked all over UK. Live in Wales
Your Mac's Specs
M2 Max Studio Extra, 32GB memory, 4TB, Sonoma 14.4 Apple 5K Retina Studio Monitor
I may have solved my own question.

This has happened on my wife's iPhone 7 as well. When I checked her version it was 12.1.2(16C101).

I took the plunge with her iPhone and it updated - to 12.1.2 - as before, but now shows 12.1.2(16C104)

So it seems that iOS 12.1.2 has got a supplementary update to 12.1.2 - but with 16.C.101 becoming 16C104. Same iOS number, but honestly, who checks the bit in brackets?

And why did both our iPhones under Settings > General > Software Update, say - you are running the latest version????

Hopefully, my question and answer may avoid confusion with other members who experience this.

Ian
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
10,702
Reaction score
1,158
Points
113
Location
Rhode Island
Your Mac's Specs
M1 Mac Studio, 11" iPad Pro 3rdGen, iPhone 13 ProMax, Watch S7, 2018 15" MBP, AirPods Pro
My iPhone 8+ doesn't show an available iOS update, while showing iOS 12.1.2 (16C101) as my current iOS.
 
OP
IWT

IWT


Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
10,218
Reaction score
2,175
Points
113
Location
Born Scotland. Worked all over UK. Live in Wales
Your Mac's Specs
M2 Max Studio Extra, 32GB memory, 4TB, Sonoma 14.4 Apple 5K Retina Studio Monitor
Even if you attach it to iTunes via USB?

I ask because if you are relying on your iPhone 8+ telling you about a software update via Settings > General > Software update, you're right. It doesn't. Nether did my iPhone X nor my wife's iPhone 7.

But iTunes DID notify me me, as stated above - 12.1.2 update to 12.1.2 as in my screenshot in post #1.

I have now updated both iPhones via iTunes and both are still showing 12.1.2, but under settings > General > About - the in-brackets details, both show a change from 16C101 to 16C104.

I've never come across this before.

If you use iTunes (not everybody does of course), Bob; try connecting your iPhone via USB and see what it turns up?

And thanks for your immediate response.

Ian
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
10,702
Reaction score
1,158
Points
113
Location
Rhode Island
Your Mac's Specs
M1 Mac Studio, 11" iPad Pro 3rdGen, iPhone 13 ProMax, Watch S7, 2018 15" MBP, AirPods Pro
Thanks Ian, yes, when I connected to iTunes, I found the update available. Although, I had to click the "Check for Update" button to get it.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
Good detective work there Ian.

EDIT:

If you use iTunes (not everybody does of course), Bob; try connecting your iPhone via USB and see what it turns up?

I just did as you suggested and iTunes did indeed tell me there was an update available. Also, when you are installing the update in iTunes, iMazing may launch and report to you that the phone is in DFU mode, I assume that similar programs, such as iExplorer, would give a similar message. I'm choosing to ignore that at the moment because iTunes is mid update.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
1,227
Reaction score
8
Points
38
Location
UK
Your Mac's Specs
iMac 2.66 GHz 20", iPad Mini2 32GB, iPhone6 64GB, Watch Sport 42mm Black, iPad Air 2 128GB
MyiPhone Xr says it is up to date in Software Update but in About it says 12.1.2 (16C101)

Updated over Wifi not iTunes :)
 
Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
10,702
Reaction score
1,158
Points
113
Location
Rhode Island
Your Mac's Specs
M1 Mac Studio, 11" iPad Pro 3rdGen, iPhone 13 ProMax, Watch S7, 2018 15" MBP, AirPods Pro
MyiPhone Xr says it is up to date in Software Update but in About it says 12.1.2 (16C101)

Updated over Wifi not iTunes :)
That is not the most up to date iOS version. To get the most updated iOS version available at this time, you will need to connect to iTunes and select check for update.
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
Try the update through iTunes via USB. Ian's experience, and mine, suggests that the notice about a different update being available doesn't appear until you update by wire.
 
OP
IWT

IWT


Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
10,218
Reaction score
2,175
Points
113
Location
Born Scotland. Worked all over UK. Live in Wales
Your Mac's Specs
M2 Max Studio Extra, 32GB memory, 4TB, Sonoma 14.4 Apple 5K Retina Studio Monitor
@Sly

BTW, the waring about DFU Mode from iMazing can safely be ignored. It happens with every update or upgrade at the very time when iTunes indicates that all is complete and that your iPhone will restart in "x" seconds.

iMazing sees this apparent "disconnection" as being in DFU Mode. Just click the "No Thanks" (Often twice) in the window offering to restore things for you.

Ian
 

Slydude

Well-known member
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Nov 15, 2009
Messages
17,596
Reaction score
1,072
Points
113
Location
North Louisiana, USA
Your Mac's Specs
M1 MacMini 16 GB - Ventura, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 2015 iMac 16 GB Monterey
Thanks for the confirmation. By the time I made my post I had already ignored the warning. You're rigght I did have to click twice to get the message to disappear. It has been a while since I updaed via USB so I had forgotten about that. Thanks for the reminder/

The main reason for the post was to alert folks who may be new to programs like iMazing.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2014
Messages
629
Reaction score
52
Points
28
Your Mac's Specs
MacBookPro 13 v11.1, i5 2.4 GHz, 256 GBs SSD, 8 GBs DDRs
I may have solved my own question.

This has happened on my wife's iPhone 7 as well. When I checked her version it was 12.1.2(16C101).

I took the plunge with her iPhone and it updated - to 12.1.2 - as before, but now shows 12.1.2(16C104)

So it seems that iOS 12.1.2 has got a supplementary update to 12.1.2 - but with 16.C.101 becoming 16C104. Same iOS number, but honestly, who checks the bit in brackets?

And why did both our iPhones under Settings > General > Software Update, say - you are running the latest version????

Hopefully, my question and answer may avoid confusion with other members who experience this.

Ian

Your posting certainly helped, thanks...

Taking the "plunge with her iPhone"? You're a brave man...:Cool:

I seem to recall that the OTA is a delta, while iTunes is a whole update, at least used to be that way. In which case, Apple is probably tracking the type of update, via the build number, (16C101) vs. (16C104) for the same version of iOS, 12.1.2 in this case. This might have been the case all along since the OTA had become an option, or this something new that Apple has started not long ego.

The whole update via iTunes also used in the past to fix bugs in some cases, that were not resolved with the OTA update. It was a long shot, but it worked in some cases.

My iPhone 8+ update did the same, Build # (16C101) with OTA and (16C104) with iTunes...
 
Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
1,227
Reaction score
8
Points
38
Location
UK
Your Mac's Specs
iMac 2.66 GHz 20", iPad Mini2 32GB, iPhone6 64GB, Watch Sport 42mm Black, iPad Air 2 128GB
Why would they start pushing us back to iTunes?

Why not just update the Wifi version as usual?

Last time I updated via iTunes it messed up the Apps on the iPhone. Not risked it again since then :(
 
Last edited:

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top