How do I update iOS?

[whiteboard]

Hello. Sorry for the dumb question, but how do I update iOS?

I have an iPhone 11 Pro Max that I use as a camera/videocamera and never use my phone as a phone, so I am pretty ignorant to how mobile works.

Apparently my iOS is outdated, and I would like to download the latest iOS, but am unsure of how to do this.

In the past, I accessed the Internet using my the mobile hotspot that is part of my AT&T mobile plan.

Apparently you cannot download iOS onto your iPhone using this mobile hotspot, and I didn't feel safe using a free Wi-Fi like at McDonalds.

So how exactly do I download and install the latest iOS?

I guess I have to connect my iPhone to the Internet using some Wi-Fi source?

Would like to understand this ASAP, because I hope to go over to the local AT&T store and use their Wi-Fi to download a version of macOS Big Sur which is 12GB in size!

I figure that I can trust the AT&T store's Wi-Fi, plus it should be fast.

So if someone can help me understand how to download and update iOS, then maybe I can do that also at the AT&T stor ethis morning?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Settings/General/software update.. If your phone requires an update it will be listed there.

 

[chrfr]

Hello. Sorry for the dumb question, but how do I update iOS?

I have an iPhone 11 Pro Max that I use as a camera/videocamera and never use my phone as a phone, so I am pretty ignorant to how mobile works.

Apparently my iOS is outdated, and I would like to download the latest iOS, but am unsure of how to do this.

In the past, I accessed the Internet using my the mobile hotspot that is part of my AT&T mobile plan.

Apparently you cannot download iOS onto your iPhone using this mobile hotspot, and I didn't feel safe using a free Wi-Fi like at McDonalds.

So how exactly do I download and install the latest iOS?

I guess I have to connect my iPhone to the Internet using some Wi-Fi source?

Would like to understand this ASAP, because I hope to go over to the local AT&T store and use their Wi-Fi to download a version of macOS Big Sur which is 12GB in size!

I figure that I can trust the AT&T store's Wi-Fi, plus it should be fast.

So if someone can help me understand how to download and update iOS, then maybe I can do that also at the AT&T stor ethis morning?

You need to be on Wifi to update the iOS update. If you don't have your own access, then sure, AT&T's wifi should work too. AT&T might block software updates over their free wifi because they're so large, however.

 

[whiteboard]

Settings/General/software update.. If your phone requires an update it will be listed there.

Um, you missed what I said above...

I am asking what my options are to connect to the Internet so I can download things.

Please see what I said about my mobile hotspot not working...

 

[whiteboard]

You need to be on Wifi to update the iOS update. If you don't have your own access, then sure, AT&T's wifi should work too. AT&T might block software updates over their free wifi because they're so large, however.

Okay, so WI-Fi is the only way to connect to the Internet to install a download.

Hopefully AT&T doesn't block things.

How big are iOS updates?

About how long will it take to download things?

Also, do you trust downloading iOS updates using free Wi-Fi like at an AT&T store or the library?

Or do I need to be paranoid and use a VPN or something?

 

[TiggrToo]

Um, you missed what I said above...

I am asking what my options are to connect to the Internet so I can download things.

Please see what I said about my mobile hotspot not working...

Just to clarify: right now I think only iPhone 12 models using a 5G connection can update via cellular.

Fingers crossed that AT&T don’t block you. Another alternative is if you have a local Apple store nearby.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Okay, so WI-Fi is the only way to connect to the Internet to install a download.

Hopefully AT&T doesn't block things.

How big are iOS updates?

Some updates can be over 4gb...

 

[whiteboard]

Just to clarify: right now I think only iPhone 12 models using a 5G connection can update via cellular.

Fingers crossed that AT&T don’t block you. Another alternative is if you have a local Apple store nearby.

Well, I think my mobile hotspot not working is an AT&T issue - they won't let the iPhone connect to itself.

It seems really stupid to me that I am paying for a mobile hotspot so I can access the Internet when I don't have access to a wired or Wi-Fi option, and yet i cannot use that to download an iOS update?!

Cellphone confuse me...

I see cellphone as phones and have to remind myself that you can surf the Internet from a phone. And I guess the way you do that is by connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot.

And so I guess that is how you download iOS.

 

[0128672]

… It seems really stupid to me that I am paying for a mobile hotspot so I can access the Internet when I don't have access to a wired or Wi-Fi option, and yet i cannot use that to download an iOS update?!

… I see cellphone as phones and have to remind myself that you can surf the Internet from a phone. And I guess the way you do that is by connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot.

And so I guess that is how you download iOS.

Yes, it’s been one of the frustrating limitations about iOS system updates and iCloud backups, which also require wi-fi. I found a workaround using my hotspot on my Mac, opening the finder and doing iCloud backups for my iphone and iPad that way. It might also work with an iOS system update but I haven’t tested it. If I truly need WiFi for something, I pop over to my nearby library and use it from the parking lot.

 

[chrfr]

I see cellphone as phones and have to remind myself that you can surf the Internet from a phone. And I guess the way you do that is by connecting to a Wi-Fi hotspot.

You use the internet on a phone either by connecting to wifi or using the cellular data plan you're already paying for. Software updates are a separate thing from web/email/messaging/etc. access. You do not turn on the hotspot to use the phone's own data plan.
Apple and the cell providers have blocked doing software updates over cellular data for unknown reasons but some cell providers allow updates when connected to a 5G network on an iPhone 12 series phone.

 

[Falhófnir]

Assuming you have one available, can you get around it by plugging into a Mac/PC with iTunes, and downloading the update on there? It might recognise your connection as WiFi if being used as a hotspot. Other than that, maybe an Apple store?

 

[0128672]

Assuming you have one available, can you get around it by plugging into a Mac/PC with iTunes, and downloading the update on there? It might recognise your connection as WiFi if being used as a hotspot. Other than that, maybe an Apple store?

That’s what I had posted up above, except it’s not via iTunes anymore; it’s just in the Finder > Sidebar > Device.

 

[Falhófnir]

That’s what I had posted up above, except it’s not via iTunes anymore; it’s just in the Finder > Sidebar > Device.

I meant iTunes for the PC in particular, though I guess also for any Mac pre-Catalina (assuming you don't need to update from Mojave or earlier in order to connect to iOS 13+). Sounds like the best solution if it works for you though!

 

[whiteboard]

Apple and the cell providers have blocked doing software updates over cellular data for unknown reasons but some cell providers allow updates when connected to a 5G network on an iPhone 12 series phone.

Okay, that is good to know for the future.

 

[whiteboard]

If I truly need WiFi for something, I pop over to my nearby library and use it from the parking lot.

Well, I have been on here all week because I couldn't connect to the library's Wi-Fi on my MacBook Pro.

Turns out that the library has upped their security protocols, and my older macOS Sierra has an expired TLS certificate which prevents me from connecting to the library's Wi-Fi.

Initially, that confused me and Iw as thinking I had no Internet here at the library. However, upon thinking about it, I should have access to the library's Wi-Fi on my iPhone, so I guess the easiest way to update iOS is to do it from the comfort of a desk and chair here at the library!

 

[whiteboard]

Assuming you have one available, can you get around it by plugging into a Mac/PC with iTunes, and downloading the update on there? It might recognise your connection as WiFi if being used as a hotspot. Other than that, maybe an Apple store?

So you are saying that I can download iOS onto my MacBook Pro and then transfer it from my laptop to my iPhone?

Is that correct?

I just wrote that I should be able to use the library's WI-Fi on my iOS - just not my laptop - however to your point, I guess I could fire up my mobile hotspot, tether my MBP to my ipHone, and then download iOS onto my laptop, and then use iTunes to install the iOS copy that I downloaded onto my laptop onto my iPhone?

 

[iHorseHead]

You need to be on Wifi to update the iOS update. If you don't have your own access, then sure, AT&T's wifi should work too. AT&T might block software updates over their free wifi because they're so large, however.

Offtopic, but why does iPhone require to be on WiFi to update the OS or apps? Never really understood that.

 

[chrfr]

Offtopic, but why does iPhone require to be on WiFi to update the OS or apps? Never really understood that.

That’s a question for Apple and the cell providers. It’s not always true with 5G and iPhone 12 anymore, however.

 

[whiteboard]

I was able to connect to the library's Wi-Fi via my iPhone yesterday and update my iPhone to iOS 14.6

It only took about 30 minutes plus another 10 to unpackage the download.

Things seem to be working well.

I feel so dumb not knowing how to update my iPhone, but as mentioned, you'd think if you pay $80/month for a mobile hotspot, that would be the way you'd update your phone?!

Live and learn...