Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the Finder

Learn how to update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS using your computer.

Finder icon, a smiling face made of two overlapping blue squares.

You can also update your device using the Finder on a Mac that you trust.

Prepare to update

  1. Back up your device using iCloud or your computer.

  2. If your Mac is using macOS Mojave or earlier, update your device using iTunes.

  3. Connect your Mac to a different Wi-Fi or Ethernet network if it's using Personal Hotspot on the device you're updating.

Update your device using the Finder

  1. Open the Finder window on your Mac.

  2. Connect your device to your computer.

  3. In the Finder sidebar, select your device.

  4. Click General, then click Check for Update.

    Finder window showing the General pane for an iPhone, with the pointer over the Check for Update button.

  5. Click Download and Update, then follow the onscreen instructions.

  6. Enter your passcode when prompted.

If you see alert messages on your computer

Get help with alerts while updating.

If you need more space to update

Free up storage space on your device.

Learn more

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