It is critical to always keep your iPhone software up to date. Apple regularly releases software updates to fix bugs, improve performance, add new features, and provide security updates. Additionally, 3rd party developers that create apps for your iPhone also regularly release updates as well.
In this guide we will be showing you how to update your iPhone software.
Operating System (iOS)
- Open the Settings application on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Software Update.
If there is an update available, you will see information about the update. Tap on Download and Install to begin the update process.
Please keep in mind that updating your iPhone will cause it to restart. Ensure you aren't working on anything important before beginning the update process.
If your iPhone is already up to date, you will see a message that says iOS is up to date, along with the current iOS version your device is running.
You can also enable Automatic Updates:
- Open the Settings application on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on Software Update.
- Tap on Automatic Updates.
- Toggle ON the Download iOS Updates, Install iOS Updates & Security Responses & System Files switches.
iOS Automatic Updates are typically installed overnight, when your iPhone is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. If you have Automatic Updates enabled, you can still manually update the iOS software manually by following the steps above. Finally, it is important to note that Apple stages Automatic iOS Updates, meaning it can take some time after the update is available for the automatic update process to occur. This is done to give Apple time to ensure the update is stable before automatically installing it on your iPhone.
Apps
- Open the App Store application on your iPhone.
- Tap on your Profile icon in the top right corner.
- Scroll down to the Available Updates section.
If you do not see an Available Updates section, you do not have any apps that need to be updated. You can verify this by pulling down on the list to refresh the Available Updates list.
- Update any apps that need to be updated.
- Update All - Tap on the Update All button to update all apps that need to be updated.
- Update Individual Apps - Tap on the Update button next to the app you want to update.
While an application is updating, you will be unable to use that application until the update process is complete.
You can also enable Automatic Updates:
- Open the Settings application on your iPhone.
- Tap on App Store.
- Toggle ON the App Updates switch.
Just like with iOS updates, 3rd party developers are able to stage Automatic App Updates, meaning it can take some time after the update is available for the automatic update process to occur. This is done to give the developer time to ensure the update is stable before automatically installing it on your iPhone.