How to download iOS 15 to your iPhone

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

Apple has a new software update out, and it packs a lot of features. iOS xv may not exist innovate sweeping changes to your iPhone as by iOS updates accept, but at that place are enough new capabilities and enhancements to make this a worthwhile upgrade.

Maps, Wallet and Safari all see major changes — the latter app features a pregnant redesign that you can disengage if y'all find it too jarring. FaceTime gets some welcome improvements to its audio and video features now, and downward the line, an update will enable SharePlay which lets yous enjoys videos and music within Apple'south video chat app. A new Focus style figures to help y'all fight distracting notifications while Live Text and Visual Look Up features use on-board intelligence to lucifer some of the things Google Lens can do with photos. Plus, the Atmospheric condition app has got a suite of must-try new features.

Hither'due south how to employ Live Text in iOS 15
iPhone xiii: Get to know Apple's new phones
Plus: The viii best new features in iOS 15

All told, information technology'southward a pretty exciting update. But y'all can't experience iOS xv until y'all've upgraded to the new software. Here's how to download iOS 15, with all the steps you should take care of before you upgrade.

Download iOS fifteen: What devices are eligible for the update?

If your current iPhone runs iOS xiv, then it'southward supported by iOS 15. Older devices may see a strain on bombardment life once they upgrade to the new software if our iOS xv beta testing feel is anything to go by. However, hither are all the devices that tin run iOS fifteen.

iPod touch (7th generation)
iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
iPhone SE (2016)
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
iPhone eight and 8 Plus
iPhone X
iPhone XR
iPhone XS and XS Max
iPhone eleven
iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone xiii mini
iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max

Some iOS 15 features merely piece of work on newer phones. We've got the full listing of features that require at least an A12 Bionic flake or later, but basically if you're using an iPhone XR or subsequently device, you'll get to experience all of iOS 15.

Note that iOS 15 is only uniform with iPhones. If you have an iPad on manus, y'all'll want our instructions on how to download iPadOS xv.

Download iOS fifteen: Back up your phone start

Any time you install a major software update on your iPhone, you should first back upwards your device. iOS xv is no exception. Having a backup on hand makes it easier to restore your iPhone should anything become wrong with the update.

We've got a complete guide on how to back up your iPhone, including instructions on bankroll upwards to iCloud as well every bit to your computer, whether it'south running the latest version of macOS or not. (The guide also includes steps for Windows users on backing upwards their iPhone.)

Whenever I install an iOS beta or a full upgrade to a new version — say, migrating from iOS xiv to iOS 15 — I support my iPhone to my estimator so that it'southward readily at hand in case I take to roll things back. It helps to archive your backup as well.

In older versions of macOS — the ones that even so have iTunes — you practice this by going into iTunes, selecting Preferences, and clicking on the Device tab. Select the device backup you want and control-click — select Archive from the drop-down carte du jour that appears. If you're on macOS Catalina or later, select your iPhone from Locations in the Finder sidebar; so create a backup, followed by a click of Manage Backups to Annal that backup.

How to download iOS 15

With a backup in place, you're ready to download iOS 15. It'southward a pretty simple procedure.

1. Become to the Settings app, and select General.

2. From Full general, tap Software Update. If the iOS 15 beta is set up, it volition there waiting for you.

three. Tap Download and Install. You volition accept to input your PIN or passcode and accept Apple's terms of service.

Considering updates like iOS 15 are adequately large, expect the download to accept a flake of fourth dimension. You'll likewise want to make sure that your iPhone is plugged in and charging if possible, and then that your bombardment doesn't run down during the upgrade procedure.

4. When the phone is ready to install iOS fourteen and restart, it'll notify you lot with an on-screen prompt. Accept that prompt, and your iPhone volition shut down.

Equally the software installs, you lot'll run across an Apple tree logo and a progress bar. Once everything's upwardly to date, you'll be prompted to unlock your phone with your passcode and enjoy your new iOS fifteen-powered device.

Should you download iOS fifteen?

iOS fifteen may be in a final form that Apple tree is confident plenty to release to the general public, but that doesn't hateful information technology's issues-free. Sometimes software comes out with bugs that escaped anyone's attention, and information technology takes at least on software update to get everything running smoothly.

We've been running iOS fifteen on multiple phones since the beta program began in late June, and we've not experienced any show-stopping bugs. The virtually persistent trouble has been apps crashing upon launch, forcing a restart; recent betas seem to accept corrected that event. That said, nada precludes you from encountering a bug when you upgrade to iOS 15.

If you're feeling cautious, there'due south nothing wrong with waiting to upgrade to iOS 15, at least until other people give the software a try and pronounce information technology solid. Certainly, Apple tree wil likely come up out with an update to the software soon that volition look to tackle lingering bugs, and afterward that, you may relish a smoother upgrade.

The best iPhone apps

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has stiff opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.