Checking for software updates on an iPhone
This short guide is a reference tool to help refresh your knowledge or practise what you have learned in the Checking for software updates on an iPhone online video course. You’ll learn how to:
- find your phone’s software information and check if an update is available
- install a software update.
About software updates
Keeping your software up to date can help your device run smoothly, fix security risks and provide you with the latest features. Your iPhone may update automatically, but it’s useful to know how to check manually, especially if it has been turned off for a while.
Step by step
You can check for a software update using the Settings app.
- From the Home screen, tap on the Settings app icon.
- From the Settings menu that appears, scroll down and tap General.
- Tap Software Update at the top of the screen.
- Your phone will check for available updates.
- If no updates are found, you will see a message that your software is up to date.
- If an update is available, details about the update will appear, along with options to Update Now or Update Tonight.
- Tap Update Now.
- If prompted, enter your passcode.
- Read the Terms and conditions and tap Agree.
- Tap Agree again to confirm.
- Your phone will download the update, which may take several minutes. The update will then install automatically after a countdown, or you can tap Install Now to start straight away.
- During installation, your phone will restart. When you next unlock your phone, it will be updated with the latest security and features.