Update iOS to the latest version in two ways - using the progressive media player iTunes or directly from a smartphone, tablet or player via a wireless network. There are no functional differences between the methods - the difference is in the way the update files are downloaded. In the first case, Apple equipment will have to be connected to the PC via USB, in the second, you will have to download data using Wi-Fi (intermediate updates can take up from 100 megabytes to several gigabytes of free space; downloading such volumes using a mobile network is too long and also expensive ).
Preparing your gadget for an update
And one more thing - both methods of updating iOS must always start with the same procedure - the process of creating a backup copy of the entire system as a whole. And there are two options:
- Go to the “Settings” of the device. At the top of the menu, open your personal profile, and then go to edit your iCloud profile;
- At the very bottom, find the “Backups” option and move the slider to the active, green position. Within a second, the system will begin to transfer the necessary data to the cloud storage - notes, contacts, browser bookmarks, autofill data, and some passwords and logins;
- If for some reason all the space in iCloud has long been exhausted, then you can create a “restore point” through iTunes, in the settings of your iPhone, iPad or iPod.
iOS 9 is one of the most stable versions of iOS
The version was announced at the opening of WWDC, June 8, 2015, along with tvOS 9, watchOS 2 and OSX El Capitan. The official release of the version came out on September 16 of the same year. As with iOS 8, the main goal of the version was not new features, but internal optimization. It was necessary to bring order to the system to the end - to complete what was not completed in time for the release of the previous version.
This took a lot of time and effort, but there were changes in the ninth version that were visible to users: Apple Maps and Siri were improved, a feature appeared that made it easier to migrate (transfer settings and data) from Android, a power saving mode and search in the Settings application. Multi-windowing appeared on the iPad - at the same time, on the same tablet screen, it became possible to place the windows of two different applications.
iOS 9 was the first to feature a power saving mode
Updating iOS from a gadget
The software update procedure begins with a mandatory connection to a Wi-Fi network. The connection must be stable and fast enough to download the required set of files. All that remains is to proceed according to the instructions described below:
- Open “Settings”, select the “General” menu item, and then “Software Update”;
- Within a second, the system will begin checking with the data center and check if any adjustments are available for the current software version. If yes, then the “Download and install” item will appear, and at the same time - a complete overview of current iOS changes with a link to the source;
- The update procedure is standard - first, the necessary installation files are downloaded, and the gadget reboots and carries out the necessary manipulations.
By the way, you can not update immediately, but at a certain time; you should choose not the “Download and install” option, which is described above, but click on the “Install later” item, after which you will be able to set a time period for the update. It is important to remember that the device must be charged, otherwise the system will not comply with the instructions.
And one more thing - the software installation will not begin until the user enters the lock password.
iOS 8 - Health app
There were few innovations in the eighth version of iOS. Its main task was to eliminate all the rubble that had accumulated during the emergency development of previous versions. Especially during the development of iOS 7. The system needed general cleaning and optimization, and this needs to be done from time to time.
A huge amount of work was completed, but in order for iOS 8 to be released on time, the cleaning of many nodes had to be postponed until next year. In the eighth version, despite everything, new applications appeared - for example, Health, and functions - for example, the function of searching for photos by the place and time of shooting in the Photo application.
iOS 8 was iOS 7 polished
From computer
An alternative option to install the latest version of iOS is to download the iTunes media player from the official Apple website, install (if an update is required, you must agree, otherwise access to the latest versions of the software may be blocked) and connect your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to your computer using USB.
- In the main menu of iTunes, find the button to go to the device settings;
- On the left side of the interface that appears, find the menu and select “Browse”, and on the right, click on the “Update” button that appears;
- Next, the system will calculate the time required for loading, and then begin the update (you will also have to enter a password). And most importantly, you shouldn’t touch your smartphone while the system is performing the necessary manipulations.
Decryption of iPhone and iPad factory identifiers
All iPhone versions
iPhone10,6 - iPhone X iPhone10,5 - iPhone 8 Plus iPhone10,4 - iPhone 8 iPhone9,4 - iPhone 7 Plus iPhone9,3 - iPhone 7 iPhone9,2 - iPhone 7 Plus iPhone9,1 - iPhone 7 iPhone8,4 - iPhone SE iPhone8,2 - iPhone 6s Plus iPhone8,1 - iPhone 6s iPhone7,2 - iPhone 6 iPhone7,1 - iPhone 6 Plus iPhone6,2 - iPhone 5s iPhone6,1 - iPhone 5s iPhone5,4 - iPhone 5c iPhone5,3 - iPhone 5c iPhone5,2 - iPhone 5 iPhone5,1 - iPhone 5 iPhone4,1 - iPhone 4s iPhone3,3 - iPhone 4 iPhone3,2 - iPhone 4 iPhone3,1 - iPhone 4 iPhone2,1 - iPhone 3Gs iPhone1,2 - iPhone 3G iPhone1 ,1 – iPhone 2G (First “original” iPhone)
Possible errors during update
There may be several reasons why there are problems downloading updates:
- Lack of free space . Even before the procedure starts, the iOS operating system will try to automatically free up some space on the internal memory - it will move application data to cloud storage, delete information about past updates, or try to compress photos. If there is still little space, then users will have to manually look into “Storage” in “Settings” and delete at least a few programs, songs or videos that have not been needed for a long time;
- Update reset due to long download time . If the gadget cannot quickly save the necessary files from Wi-Fi, then the process is immediately reset. The problem can be solved either by updating via iTunes or by searching for a more stable wireless network for communication;
- Error accessing servers . There is no specific way to avoid such notification. Therefore, you will have to try different methods, starting from a standard reboot of the mobile device and up to resetting all settings to the factory level;
- If the smartphone stops turning on, go through the recovery procedure via iTunes . The firmware file must be downloaded from the IPSW.ME website;
- The last option is to re-download the update . If none of the above options helped solve the problem with installing new software, then all you have to do is go to “Settings”, then “General”, and then “iPhone Storage”. In the list of programs and applications already installed in the system, you need to find the “iOS update” item and click on the “Delete” button. Afterwards, all you have to do is restart the device and check for updates again. Most likely, this time everything will work as originally expected.
iOS 7 - skeuomorphism, goodbye!
Due to the departure of Apple's Senior Vice President Scott Forstall, who was responsible for design and development of iOS, these areas of responsibility were transferred to other top managers. From that moment on, Jonathan Ive, who became the company's senior vice president of design, was responsible for its design from that moment on. Before that, he was senior vice president of industrial design and had nothing to do with software design. Craig Federighi, chief of macOS, became chief of all operating systems.
Ive took his new area of responsibility too seriously - he carefully studied the works of flat design theorists. They were soon recognized as dubious and even harmful. Their recommendations had already been implemented into the design of iOS 7 by that time. Theorists, for example, believed that controls (buttons, sliders, switches, and the like) distracted the user from what they were doing. Therefore, they should be made as less distracting (that is, unnoticeable) as possible. The rejection of skeuomorphism (imitation of physical objects in the user interface), in itself, is just another style. There are no complaints about the style. But hiding controls is, in my opinion, an absolutely bad idea. Everything should be in moderation.
iOS 6 (left) and iOS 7 (right)
But the users' desire for a new design of their beloved system came true - they had been dreaming about it almost since iPhoneOS 2. Some people actively did not like the new design, others, on the contrary, but over time they got used to it, everything ended well.
New - Control Center, multitasking for all applications (albeit limited), AirDrop and much more.
Compared to the catastrophic version due to the failure of Apple Maps, the sixth version is a successful and calm version. Even despite the outrage of many users with the new design. There were also problems - we had to make changes to almost the entire system, and it was already very large and complex. Correcting inevitable side effects, given an acute lack of time, could not remain without consequences - compared to iOS 6, the system has become noticeably more thoughtful. Putting the system in order was left for later.
How to enable or disable auto-update?
The auto-update feature is still not available on all iOS operating systems below version 12. If the required version is already installed, then you can interact with the available settings in the “General”, “Software Update” menu. A kind of slider will appear there, which must be moved to the active position.
The function works as follows: a smartphone, tablet or player will determine the time when the user does not need equipment, and then in the background it will contact the server, download the necessary files and begin the update procedure. If there are too many files, then the device will definitely display a notification on the screen - they say, a lot of time is needed, is it possible to switch to operating mode for the benefit of the operating system?
iPhoneOS 1 - the first version of iOS
iPhone OS 1 on the first iPhone 2007
The secret of the iPhone operating system was not going to be revealed. The iPhone was introduced as three devices in one: an iPod with multi-touch interface and video support, a smart mobile phone, and the world's first full-fledged pocket Internet device. Although it had a real operating room inside, it was a consumer electronics product, and they were not equipped with systems. At the very least, it is not customary to talk about them.
At the presentation of the first iPhone and within six months before its appearance on the market, a few words were said about it:
A special version of OSX (macOS) is installed on iPhone.
But then they changed their minds: on the day the iPhone entered the market, its system got a name: iPhone OS 1.0. And by the way, no one had ever seen the system before June 29, 2007 - in January it had a period of instability, and most of what happened on the iPhone screen during its demonstration by Steve Jobs was an imitation. In June, the system looked and behaved exactly like Steve's.
Steve Jobs introduces the first iPhone, and at the same time iPhoneOS 1.0
The experts were right; without third-party apps, the iPhone was boring. But it was impossible to let outsiders into the miraculously working system, which had survived several years of continuous emergency work. In addition, third-party programs were dangerous for users, and the miracle that cost Steve the rest of his health was too expensive for him.
Instead of accessing the system, he suggested creating web applications for the iPhone.
Amid mass outrage and protests, web programmers have developed thousands of applications for iPhoneOS. And in August, curious people with skillful hands managed to get into the iPhone, learned to write “native” applications for it, and published instructions online. In October 2007, Steve promised to release the official iPhone SDK (programming kit) in February 2008. The company, which had not had time to recover, began a new emergency.
The emergence of the iPhone SDK and the App Store
On March 6, 2008, at a special event, Apple presented the long-awaited programming kit for iPhoneOS, the App Store, and unprecedentedly strict rules for those who decided to develop programs for the new platform. The App Store has become the only legal and official way to distribute third-party programs for the iPhone.
After this, third-party applications began to appear on the iPhone.
In order for a developer's app to make it onto his virtual shelves, the developer had to join the iPhoneOS Development Program (membership in which cost and costs $99 a year, although the name of the program changed several times), where not everyone was accepted. The finished application was sent to Apple for review, and if it met all the store's requirements, it appeared on the shelves of the App Store. And immediately on all iPhones and iPod touches in the world with iPhoneOS 2.0 or higher installed. By the time the App Store opened, it already had 500 applications. There could be more; Apple selected the 500 best, in its opinion, applications.
iOS 14 - Widgets and App Library
In iOS 14, normal widgets appeared for the first time
It was announced at Apple's first-ever virtual WWDC launch on June 22, but the system somehow ended up in the hands of journalists from two publications long before its announcement. iOS 14 was released on September 16, 2020.
During its testing, surprisingly few problems were identified. The first bug fix of the version, iOS 14.0.1, was released on September 24 - when those who installed the new version had not yet encountered the fixed problems. There are problems in iOS 14, but not many. Another difference of the new version is that Apple has become more attentive to the wishes of users - an unprecedented number of their wishes have been fulfilled.
For many, this was the main innovation of iOS 14
In general, there are a lot of new things in iOS 14, I will limit myself to only a small part of them:
- Desktop widgets that can be combined into miniature icons;
- Safari and Mail can be replaced with a third-party browser and email client;
- Built-in translator application “Translation”, supporting Russian;
- Application library and much, much more.
For example, blitz applications, picture-in-picture mode, unprecedented measures to protect the user’s personal data, as well as the user himself, from intrusive advertising and the transfer of information about him by third-party applications. Their developers are now required to report what data about the user’s device and himself is collected by their applications, in what cases and for what purpose.
Is iOS 10 the most problematic version of iOS?
The tenth version of iOS, according to tradition, was announced during the opening of WWDC, on June 13, 2016 - and was released on September 13. Despite cleaning and optimizing the system in iOS 8 and 9, there were still problems, including serious ones. We had to release numerous bug fixes and minor versions with their corrections. Because of which Apple was criticized and even ridiculed - but basically everything was in order with the system.
iOS 10 introduces an additional screen with widgets and Siri suggestions
Without general cleaning, there would already be impenetrable and uncontrollable chaos. In release 10.2, the TV application was added to the set of built-in applications, but only for the USA. The version was generally rated positively, although detractors noted that now many functions in the system appear first in Android, and not in iOS - as was before. But in my opinion, the reasons for this lag were understandable and respectful, and in the next versions there were even too many innovations.
iOS 13 - the emergence of iPadOS
This system is already similar to what we see now
The version was announced on June 3, 2022 and released on September 19. For the first time since the separate existence of operating systems for the iPhone and iPad in 2010-2011 (from iPhone 3.2 to iOS 4.2.1), this time most likely forever, the operating systems for the iPhone and iPad were separated. All iPad models that support version 13 of the mobile operating system now come with iPadOS 13.
iOS 13 had three complex and huge parts: something that only the iPhone needs, something that only the iPad needs, and a part of the system that they all need. The separation of iOS into iOS and iPadOS is important to ensure the quality of both systems and facilitates the development of each of them. The separation will also affect users, but it would be naive to expect this to happen immediately.
According to developer Stephen Trafton-Smith, iOS 13 is the most problematic release since iOS 8. There were cases when iOS 13.0 behaved normally, but for the first time in the history of iOS, there were an order of magnitude fewer lucky ones than victims. This has happened on macOS, but never on iOS. The first bug fix came out a week later. The next one is in three days. Then, again and again, releases with fixes were released, but the situation was more or less brought under control only in December.
QuickPath speeds up typing in iOS
But there was a lot of new stuff in iOS 13, in abundance:
- Dark theme;
- The security of user personal data has become stronger;
- The system user interface has been improved;
- Siri began to sound more natural;
- Gestures for working with text (QuickPath);
- Sign in with Apple feature;
- Possibility of using external media (connecting them via USB).
The dark theme also works in third-party applications, for example in our AppleInsider.ru application
And much more, plus new versions of built-in applications with numerous improvements.
