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Apple issues a big update to iOS (the operating system that runs on all iPhones) once a year, bringing new features and interface tweaks to many iPhones. The latest of these major iOS updates – iOS 26 – arrived on September 15, 2025. Following the arrival of iOS 26 there will be subsequent updates to iOS 26 with new features, bug fixes and security upgrades. These tend to come out every six to eight weeks on average.
In this article, we run through how to update an iPhone to the latest version of the iOS software, including how to prepare your iPhone for a major update, and what to do if you encounter problems, like not having enough space or not being able to connect to Wi-Fi. We’ll also address how to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS to apply the bug fixes, security patches and additional new features, that arrive throughout the year.
Now that iOS 26 has arrived you are probably itching to install it, but there are a few reasons why you might want to wait a little longer:
If you are wondering how iOS 26 and iOS 18 compare read iOS 26 vs iOS 18: What’s different, what’s new, and should you update?
Finding the iOS 26 update on an iPhone.
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Whether it’s a full operating system update, or a smaller ‘point update’, updating iOS is easy.
You will need to check that your iPhone is compatible with the update though. In the case of iOS 26, compatible iPhones include the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation), but the iPhone XR and iPhone XS that were able to run iOS 18 are excluded.
See our list of every version of iOS where you can see the latest versions and how long Apple supports iPhones for.
Before you update iOS, especially if it’s a major update, we recommend that you do the following:
Unfortunately, as easy as an iOS update should be, and even if you have done all the preparation recommended above, there can be problems. We run through fixes for the most common issues encountered while installing a new version of iOS below.
If you have an iPhone with limited space available, perhaps a 64GB model, clearing sufficient space to install an iOS update can be stressful.
If you’re low on space you may be worried that you will lose some of your data if you install the new iPhone update. It’s understandable that some people are concerned about this because it’s happened to them in the past. However, it should be the case that once the iOS update has been installed, all your data will be intact, and if it isn’t, well you have a backup don’t you?
We give advice about clearing space on your iPhone in a separate article, but if you don’t want to delete lots of your data there is another option available.
Downloading and installing iOS via the Finder (or iTunes on a PC or an older Mac) is a great way to update iOS if you don’t have enough space on your iPhone.
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By downloading and installing the software this way the iPhone will not require as much space.
Alternatively, you could try these steps to make some more space on your iPhone.
Are you really excited about updating iOS but don’t have access to Wi-Fi right now? Or maybe you do, but it’s hotel/restaurant Wi-Fi, and you aren’t sure you can trust it? You might be wondering whether you can update iOS using cellular data or mobile data.
Apple used to have a download cap, meaning you couldn’t download more than 200MB over a data connection. This cap was lifted in iOS 13, so you can now download apps of any size.
Before you start, make sure you don’t use up all your data for the month! Even “unlimited data” isn’t always completely unlimited and you might be penalized later on.
Alternatively, if your Mac happens to be connected to the internet via Ethernet, or another way, you could download iOS using the Finder in exactly the same way as we describe above.
You may be wondering why your iPhone isn’t showing the iOS update as available.
You don’t need to install the update to the older version of iOS, you can just jump to the new version. Just make sure you do keep which ever version of iOS you choose to run up to date with additional updates.
There are a few other reasons why you might not seen an update.
If those points don’t apply to you, try installing via the Finder as we detailed above. Your Mac may be able to see the update.
If your iPhone doesn’t run the new version of iOS, you might want to check our roundup of the Best iPhone deals so you can save money while bagging yourself a shiny new device.
So, you followed all our advice and yet the update is taking AGES! Perhaps your iPhone appears to have frozen, or the update is stuck near the end. What should you do?
First off, it might just be slow, especially if you are updating just after a major update has been issued. Sometimes an update can take all night! Whenever a new iteration of iOS comes out, we recommend giving it a few days just to let the clamor die down and any bugs get ironed out before you put it on your device.
Another reason why an iPhone update might stop is if your Wi-Fi connection has dropped. If you are installing the update a few months after the launch there should be no problems with busy servers or long delays. In that case, if you are having issues with the download time, it may be that your Wi-Fi network isn’t performing. Read this: How to fix problems with WiFi on iPhone or iPad.
If you think your update has frozen wait a little longer just in case it’s just taking a long time. If you are sure that the update has frozen, rather than just slowed to a snail’s pace, you should restart your iPhone. The process to restart your iPhone depends on the model you have, but since iOS 26 won’t run on anything older than the iPhone 11 you will only need to know the following steps:
Hopefully, you will be able to start the installation again without any problems.
Once the iOS update is downloaded on your device it will be verified by Apple.
If your device gets stuck on this screen it may be because your Wi-Fi connection has dropped, so check your internet connection.
If that’s not the culprit then try restarting your device as per the steps above.
If you previously tried out a beta version of iOS ahead of its full release, you should be able to update to the full version once it launches.
Now the next time a non-beta update arrives you should be able to install that version of iOS, without being offered any beta updates.
If you wish to remove an iOS beta and there isn’t a newer version of the full version of iOS follow the steps in this article: How to remove an iOS beta from your iPhone.
What happens if you change your mind later and want to downgrade to the previous version of iOS? Downgrading is really tricky, so we can’t guarantee that even if you have the installer for an old version of the iOS you can revert to it, but here’s the method to try.
We have a separate article that investigates whether it possible to downgrade my iPhone to an older version of iOS.
Karen has worked on both sides of the Apple divide, clocking up a number of years at Apple’s PR agency prior to joining Macworld more than two decades ago. Karen’s career highlights include interviewing Apple’s Steve Wozniak and discussing Steve Jobs’ legacy on the BBC. Having edited the U.K. print and online editions of Macworld for many years, more recently her focus has been on SEO and evergreen content as well as product recommendations and buying advice.
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