How to Update Your iPhone or iPad?

It’s essential to keep your iPhone or iPad updated with the latest software to ensure that it runs smoothly. iOS and iPadOS updates can fix bugs, enhance security, and add useful new features to your device. So let’s learn more about the update process and how you can carry it out wirelessly, automatically, or through your computer.

• Prepare Your Device for Update
• How to Update iPhone or iPad Wirelessly
• How to Automatically Update iPhone or iPad
• How to Update iPhone or iPad using iTunes or Finder

Prepare Your Device for Update 

Before you update your device, it’s highly recommended that you first take a backup, This is because in case something goes wrong during the update process, you can easily restore your device to its previous state with the help of your backup.

How to Update iPhone or iPad Wirelessly

Follow the below steps to update your iOS device through OTA.

1. Go to Settings → General.
2. Now, click on Software Updated and select Download and Install. If there’s not enough space on your device, you will be asked to temporarily remove some apps. You can choose to Continue or Cancel.
3. If you tap Continue, iOS will uninstall some apps and later reinstall them after the update is complete.
4. If you opt to Cancel, you will need to free up space manually by deleting apps or other storage. 
5. Once the update is downloaded, you can choose to install it immediately by tapping on Install. Or, you can select Install Tonight or Remind Me Later
6. If you choose the Install Tonight option, you will need to put your device on charge before you go to bed and it will update overnight
7. If you opt to Install immediately, enter your passcode if prompted

How to Automatically Update iPhone or iPad 

For a hassle-free experience, it’s a good idea to allow automatic updates on your device. Once enabled, your device will get all the latest updates without you needing to do anything. Here’s how to turn on automatic updates:

1. Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
2. Toggle ON Automatic Updates.

You can go to the same setting to toggle off Automatic Updates whenever you want.

If your device running iOS 13.6 or iOS 14:

1. Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
2. Tap on Customize Automatic Updates.
3. Toggle on Download iOS Updates.
4. Enable Install iOS Updates.

Note: Make sure your iPhone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi network to complete the auto-update process. Apple also notifies you before updates are installed.

How to Update iPhone or iPad using iTunes or Finder

Usually, updating your device from the Settings app is straight forward and easy. But in case you cannot do it for whatever reason, you can also use your Mac or Windows computer.

1. If you are running macOS Catalina, open the Finder. If you’re using an older version of macOS or a Windows system, open iTunes.
2. Use a lightning cable to connect your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to your computer.
3. In Finder, you’ll see your iPhone or iPad listed in the sidebar – Click it to select it.
4. In iTunes, click on the small device icon at the top left corner of the window.
5. Now, click General in Finder or click Settings in iTunes. Then select Check for Update.
6. If you see that an update is available, click on Download and Update.
7. If prompted, enter your passcode on your iPhone or iPad.

Wait for the update process to complete. In case something goes wrong and you encounter an error message or failure, restart your device. If that doesn’t work, you can restore your device from the backup you made before attempting the update.

Summing Up 

Which of these 3 methods do you prefer to update your iPhone or iPad? Let us know in the comments below.