Update your Apple software

If you didn’t turn on automatic updates when you first set up your device, you can do so now.

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.

2. Turn on all three options: Automatically Install [iOS or iPadOS] Updates, Security Responses & System Files and Automatically Download [iOS or iPadOS] Updates.

When an update is available, the device downloads and installs the update overnight while it’s charging and connected to Wi-Fi. You’re notified before an update is installed.

To turn off automatic updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, then turn off Automatically Install [iOS or iPadOS] Updates and Security Responses & System Files.

At any time, you can check for and install software updates manually.

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

  

The screen shows the currently installed version of iOS and alerts you if an update is available.

1. Make sure you have one of the following:

   • A Mac with a USB port and OS X 10.9 or later

   • A Windows device with a USB port and Windows 7 or later

2. Do one of the following:

   • Connect your device to your computer using the included Lightning to USB Cable. If your computer has a USB-C port, use a USB-C to USB Adapter or a USB-C to Lightning Cable (each sold separately).

   • If your device came with a USB-C to Lightning Cable and your computer has a USB port, use a Lightning to USB Cable (sold separately).

   • If your iPad came with a USB-C Charge Cable and your computer has a USB port, use a USB-C to USB Adapter and a USB-A cable (each sold separately).

   • If your iPad came with a Thunderbolt 4/USB-4 charging cable and your computer has a USB port, use a USB-C to USB Adapter and a USB-A cable (each sold separately). You can use Thunderbolt or USB cables with Thunderbolt devices like iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) and iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation).

3. After you’ve successfully connected your device to your computer, do one of the following:

   • In the Finder sidebar on your Mac: Select your device, then click General at the top of the window.

     To use the Finder to update your device to iOS 15 or iPadOS 15, you must have macOS 10.15 or later. With earlier versions of macOS, use iTunes to update your device.

   • In the iTunes app on your Windows device: Click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window, then click Summary.

4. Click Check for Update.

5. To install an available update, click Update.

1. Do one of the following:

   • On your Mac with macOS 13 or later: Choose Apple menu , select System Settings, click General, then click Software Update.

   • On your Mac with macOS 12 or earlier: Choose Apple menu , select System Preferences, click Software Update .

2. To automatically install macOS updates, select “Automatically keep my Mac up to date”.

3. To set advanced update options, click Advanced, then do any of the following:

   • To have your Mac check for updates automatically: Select “Check for updates”.

   • To have your Mac download updates without asking: Select “Download new updates when available”.

   • To have your Mac install macOS updates automatically: Select “Install macOS updates”.

   • To have your Mac install app updates from the App Store automatically: Select “Install app updates from the App Store”.

   • To have your Mac install system files and security updates automatically: Select “Install Security Responses and system files”.

4. Click OK.

To receive the latest updates automatically, it’s recommended that you select “Check for updates”, “Download new updates when available” and “Install system data files and security updates”.

You can manually update your Mac’s operating system and any software you’ve got from the App Store.

• Do one of the following:

  • On your Mac with macOS 13 or later: Choose Apple menu , select System Settings, click General, then click Software Update.

  • On your Mac with macOS 12 or earlier: Choose Apple menu , select System Preferences, click Software Update .

• To update software downloaded from the App Store, click the Apple menu. The number of available updates, if any, is shown next to App Store. Choose App Store to continue in the App Store app .