Many have been awaiting the release of iOS 6 since it was unveiled in June, and now it’s nearly here…but what now? Apple will be releasing iOS 6 later today, but what should you do? Install it, of course! Once you’ve prepared your device and backed up your data, you’re ready to upgrade and give it a go. Here’s how to install the update once it becomes available.
Downloading & Install An iOS Update Through iTunes
iOS updates can be downloaded through iTunes, and if you have multiple devices (such as an iPhone and an iPad), you’ll need to download a separate version for each. To download the firmware, simply select your device in the left-hand column in iTunes, and click “Check for Updates.”
iTunes will then ask you if you’d like to download and install the update, or if you’d just like to download it to install later. I recommend that you install iOS 6 from scratch and begin with a clean slate on your device. To do this, click “download only.” Once the download is complete, select your device once more in the left-hand column in iTunes, and click the “Restore” button. This will reset all of your content and settings and install iOS 6.
If you don’t want to go through setting up your device again, and just want to update to iOS 6, then simply click “download and update” and iTunes will download iOS 6 and install it on your device while keeping your old settings.
With brand new iOS releases like this, it’s recommended that you completely restore your device and start with a fresh install. This will not only help your device run smoother, but will also make sure you aren’t missing out on new features that aren’t enabled at first if you use your old settings.
If you downloaded iOS 6 directly from Apple’s website, you can restore by navigating to your device in the left-hand column in iTunes, and click “Restore” while holding down the option button. Then, select the location where you saved the iOS 6 update, and iTunes will take care of the rest!
Downloading and Installing iOS 6 Over The Air
You can also update to iOS 6 directly from any device running iOS 5.1 or later – check out our separate post for the full instructions!
Not sure whether to upgrade to iOS 6 right away? We’ve put together an upgrade guide to help you decide – check it out! Make sure to check out our full iOS 6 coverage for all the details.
