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.

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If you can't update wirelessly on your device, you can update manually using the Finder on a computer that you trust.

Before you update

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

  2. Check that your computer is running macOS Catalina or later. If you are using a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, update your device using iTunes.

  3. If your computer is using Personal Hotspot on the device that you're updating, connect your computer to a different Wi-Fi or Ethernet network.

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using your computer

  1. Open a Finder window on a Mac with macOS Catalina or later.

  2. Connect your device to your computer.

  3. Select your device in the left sidebar of the Finder window. Learn what to do if you don't see your device.

  4. Click General, then click Check for Update.

    A Finder window showing showing the options to check for an update or restore your iPhone
  5. Click Download and Update. Continue following the onscreen instructions.

  6. If asked, enter your passcode. Learn what to do if you don't know your passcode.

If you see alert messages on your computer

Get help if you see alert messages while updating your device with your computer.

If you need more space to update

If you need more space for an update, you can delete content from your device manually.

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