How to Install iOS

How to install iOS 13 on your iPhone

The latest version of Apple’s operating system for iPhones, iOS 13, is being made available to download today.

The new operating system has a number of added features not available in the current version, iOS 12. These include Dark Mode which ensures you don't have to squint when looking at your phone in low light, as well a new way to type that involves dragging your finger across letters and even the ability to attach photos and files to emails directly from the Mail app.

iOS 13 comes as standard on the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max which were announced last week. However, you can also download the new operating system for free if you're an existing iPhone user. The GHI shows you how.

Got an iPad ? Apple is launching a tablet-specific operating system called PadOS which will come out on Monday 30 September.

It's also worth noting that it can take several hours for the update to be ready to install on your phone, so don't panic if it doesn't show up right away. Check again in a couple of hours.

Can I get iOS 13?

Apple says the operating system is compatible with the iPhone 6S or later. Unfortunately, if you have an earlier iPhone you can’t upgrade to iOS 13.

It’s also worth noting that you’ll need at least 2.2GB of space on your iPhone to install the upgrade. Open the Settings menu and tap General > iPhone Storage. The available space is displayed in the top left-hand corner. If you don’t have more than 2.5GB, then copy some of your photos or videos to your computer, using the USB cable the smartphone came with to free up some space or move them to Google Photos.

How do I install the update?

There are two ways to install iOS 13, either over the air, which means you can install the upgrade without connecting your iPhone to a PC or Mac, providing you have access to the internet. We recommend you only use wi-fi and not a 4G connection to download the upgrade to save using up your data allowance. Alternatively, you can connect your iPhone to a PC or Mac using a USB cable, then open iTunes and apply the update that way.

Before you begin, we recommend you back-up your iPhone to iCloud or via iTunes on your computer. It’s highly unlikely anything will go wrong during the update, but if it does, all your data will be stored safely and you won’t be at risk of losing anything.

When the update is available, a red icon will appear on the Settings Icon, to indicate it’s ready to download. Tap this, and then follow the instructions onscreen to install the iOS upgrade. If there’s no sign of the red notification, then check for the update yourself by pressings Settings > General > Software Update. Once again, follow the then follow the instructions onscreen to install the iOS upgrade.

Connect to a computer(Alternate Method)

If you prefer to upgrade to iOS 13 using your computer, make sure you’ve got the latest version of iTunes on your PC or Mac. Open iTunes, then from the Help menu select Check for Updates and if you’re not running the latest version, it will prompt you to download the most recent update. Now connect your iPhone to the PC or Mac and once iTunes has detected your phone or tablet, it will display a message saying the update is available. Then, follow the instructions.

If no message is displayed, click on your iPhone from the left-hand side of the screen and then press the Check for Update button, and follow the instructions.