When is iOS 12.1.2 not the same as 12.1.2?

[IWT]

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:



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



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

 

[IWT]

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

 

[ferrarr]

My iPhone 8+ doesn't show an available iOS update, while showing iOS 12.1.2 (16C101) as my current iOS.

 

[IWT]

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

 

[ferrarr]

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]

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.

 

[Nighthawk4]

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

 

[ferrarr]

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]

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.

 

[IWT]

@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]

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.

 

[Cr00zng]

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...

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...

 

[Nighthawk4]

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