How To: Update Your iPhone

It’s always good to keep your iPhone up-to-date. Keeping your iPhone updated ensures that your iPhone has the latest bug fixes, performance fixes, and has Apple’s latest and greatest features. In fact, Apple just released an iPhone update a few days ago on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

Updating is super easy, and in this tutorial, I will show you how to do it.

Updating Over-the-Air

The easiest way to update your iPhone is by a method called “over-the-air” (OTA). Updating over-the-air allows you to update your iPhone without needing to connect your iPhone to a computer.

Here is how to update over-the air:

First, go into your “Settings” app.

Find and tap “General”.

Next, tap “Software Update”.

You should now be at the following screen. As you can see, an update is available. By tapping “Download and Install,” you are able to update your iPhone to the latest version of the software (iOS 5.1 in this case)–without having to connect your iPhone to the computer.

Tap “Download and Install”.

You will presented with the Terms and Conditions for using the update (the iOS 5.1 software). You can find the “Agree” button on the bottom right of the screen.

You will get a pop-up that advises you to connect your iPhone to a power source (plugging your iPhone into your computer or your charger). You don’t have to connect your iPhone to a power source in order to go through with the update, but it is still a good idea. Now tap “OK”.

The update will begin to download. This process can take awhile. (Although the picture says “2 minutes remaining”, it really took between 5-10 minutes.)

Once the everything is downloaded, you will get a pop-up asking you to install the software. The installation process will begin when you either tap “Install” or allow the countdown to expire.

Your iPhone will now restart. Once it starts back up, you will see the normal silver Apple start-up logo. After a few seconds, you will see a loading bar appear. Wait about 3-5 more minutes and your iPhone will be ready to go with the latest update installed!

Updating Through iTunes

The other way to update your iPhone is through iTunes–which requires you to physically connect your iPhone to your computer.

To update through iTunes, plug your iPhone into your computer using the USB cable that came with your iPhone.

Start up iTunes.

On the left under “Devices” you will see your iPhone appear. Click on it to select it.

In the center of the screen you will see an option to “Check for Update”. Click on it.

If an update is available, you will have the option to download and install the update. If you are already updated, you will see a box pop up that looks like the here.

That’s all there is to updating your iPhone! As mentioned earlier, making sure your iPhone is updated to the current version is beneficial and easy to do. Now check to make sure your iPhone is up-to-date!