Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (NG) (2024)

FAQs

How to update your iPhone or iPad to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS? ›

Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates. Turn on Install iOS Updates. Your device automatically updates to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

If your device still doesn't have enough space, you can use your computer to update your device. If you can't connect your device to your computer, you can make room for the update by removing content and apps on your device that you don't use. Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage.

If you can't install the latest version of iOS or iPadOS on your iPhone or iPad. You might be unable to update your iPhone or iPad wirelessly, or over the air, for one of these reasons: Your device doesn't support the latest software. There isn't enough available storage space on your device.

While updating your iPhone may seem inconvenient, it's a necessary step to ensure optimal performance, privacy, and security. Neglecting updates can lead to a sluggish phone and potential security risks, making the brief inconvenience of updating well worth the effort.

The oldest model Apple makes that is still able to install iPadOS 18 is from 2018, but assuming that Apple continues support of iPadOS 16 until September 2025, the decade-old 1st gen 12.9-inch iPad Pro from 2015 will still be supported for another year, as will the 2016 9.7-inch iPad Pro and the 2017 iPad (5th gen).

On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

To find the software version installed on your device, go to Settings > General > About.

If your device is low on storage or has storage full, it automatically frees up space while installing an app, updating iOS or iPadOS, downloading music, recording videos, and more, To make more storage available, your device may also remove items that can be downloaded again or aren't needed anymore.

The two most common solutions to clear storage space on your iPad is to delete photos/videos from your photo library or to uninstall apps. Before you delete anything though, make sure that you know how to backup the files you would like to keep. For example, you can keep a backup of your photo library on iCloud.

Typically, iOS updates are between 1.5 GB and 2 GB. But you'll need twice the space to download and install the update. So, to be conservative, you should have about 4 GB of free space before you try to install a new iOS.

With each update, Apple releases a full list of devices that are able to download it. If you don't see your model on the list and it's more than 5-6 years old, it's likely that your iPad is too old to handle a new update.

Which iPads can update to iOS 16? ›

iOS 16 supports all iPhones starting at iPhone 8 and later and iPadOS 16 supports iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (5th generation and later) iPad mini (5th generation and later).

With an iPhone, you receive the latest iOS updates up to 5 years after the release of the device.

When you update to the latest version of iOS, your data and settings remain unchanged. Before you update, set up iPhone to back up automatically, or back up your device manually.

Your iPhone model isn't eligible for an update. It's not charged to at least 50%. You don't have enough storage space. You have a poor internet connection.

How do you update an iPad that won't update? If it's too old, you can't. Unfortunately, there's no way to get past the limitations of your older iPad model if it's too old to update. These models don't have enough internal RAM to run the new and improved technology of later updates like iPadOS 16.