How to update your iPhone automatically or manually, so that you always have the latest features

• To update your iPhone manually, you'll need to head to your phone's "Software Update" menu.
• In most cases, your iPhone will update automatically when left to charge overnight.
• You can also update your iPhone using your computer, but the only reason to do this is if your phone won't update normally.

Apple releases updates for the iPhone pretty regularly.

In addition to at least one major update to the OS each year, there are generally a few incremental updates throughout the year, often to fix bugs and perform security improvements.

You can allow your iPhone to update itself automatically, or manually update it yourself. Here's what you should know.

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How to update your iPhone automatically

The easiest (and most secure) way to manage iPhone updates is to let your device handle it.

Here's how to make sure your iPhone is ready to update automatically:

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap "General," and then tap "Software Update."

3. On the Software Updates page, tap "Customize Automatic Updates."

4. To let the iPhone do everything automatically, be sure both the "Download iOS Updates" and "Install iOS Updates" buttons are turned on by swiping them to the right.

When both switches are turned on, your iPhone will download update files to the phone and then install them automatically overnight, when your phone is charging and locked.

If you prefer, you can turn off "Install iOS Updates" but leave "Download iOS Updates" turned on. If you do this, the update will download to the phone and wait for you to install it manually.

How to update your iPhone manually

If you want to manage updates yourself, or the phone isn't installing updates automatically for some reason, you can do it yourself.

1. Start the Settings app.

2. Tap "General," and then tap "Software Update." Your phone will check to see if there's an update available.

3. If there is, tap "Download and Install." Wait while the update downloads to your phone.

4. Tap "Install."

How to update your iPhone using iTunes on your computer

On rare occasions, you might run into a glitch and find that your iPhone can't install an update, either automatically or manually.

If that happens, you can install it from a PC or Mac using iTunes.

1. Plug your iPhone into your computer.

2. If you're on a PC, open iTunes. If you're on a Mac, open the Finder and click your phone's name in the sidebar.

3. If you see a message on the computer if you want to allow the computer to access your iPhone, click "Continue." Likewise, tap "Trust" on your iPhone.

4. In iTunes, click "Library" and then click the iPhone icon on the left side of the toolbar. In the Finder, click "General."

5. Click "Check for Update."

6. If there's an update available, click "Download and Update."

Leave your phone connected for as long as it takes to update.

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