Apple will release iOS 9, the ninth major update for its mobile operating system, on Wednesday, September 16, and here are some tips to help you get ready for the update, which comes with a number of new features such as Proactive Assistant, transit directions in Maps, enhanced multitasking features for the iPad, and lots more.
Compatibility
iOS 9 will be available as a free upgrade for the following iOS devices:
- iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s
- iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad 4, iPad 3 and iPad 2
- iPad mini 3, Retina iPad mini, 1st gen iPad mini
- iPod touch 6th generation, iPod touch 5th generation
Some of the new iOS 9 features are not available for all devices or in all countries. Check our post to find out more details:
Update to Latest iTunes
Make sure you’ve updated to the latest iTunes version, iTunes 12.2.2.
Backup your iOS Device:
It is always a good idea to take a backup of your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch before updating it with the latest iOS software update. (Note that if you choose to encrypt your backup using iTunes, along with normal data, secure information like passwords etc. are also backed up.)
You can back up your iOS device using iTunes or iCloud.
Jailbreakers
If you have jailbroken your iOS device and cannot live without your favorite jailbreak apps and tweaks then it is recommended that you avoid updating to iOS 9, until a tool is released to jailbreak iOS 9. The good news is that iOS 9 has already been jailbroken.
If you’re not sure what to do, then checkout our post, which gives the latest status update on iOS 9 jailbreak and the comprehensive list of all the new and hidden iOS 9 features.
Delete Unused Apps
A major OS upgrade is a good time to think over the apps you have installed, and delete ones that you hardly use. While you can always delete apps from your home screen, another way is to open Settings > Usage and then tap on the app you don’t need and hit “Delete App”.
Free up Space
iOS updates generally require at least 1.3GB of free space, so if you’re running low on free space on your iPhone or iPad, it might be a good idea to free up some space by deleting unwanted stuff from your device.
Installing iOS 9
iOS 9 will be available as an update from iTunes as well as an over-the-air update, which allows you to download iOS software updates (just incremental changes) without plugging your iOS device to the computer.
If you are not planning to upgrade, make sure that you don’t mistakenly agree to install iOS 9.
Jailbreakers, note that if your device is jailbroken then OTA updates will be disabled, which is good if you plan to hold-off updating, but if do want to upgrade, you’ll have to restore via iTunes.
You can also update your iOS device to iOS 9 using iTunes by plugging it to your computer. If you want to jailbreak your device in the future, it is recommended to update via iTunes. We’ll be publishing direct download links as soon as they’re available.
When will iOS 9 be released
Apple should release iOS 9 at around 10 AM PST/1 PM EST. Apple had released iOS 7 in 2013, iOS 6 in 2012, iOS 5 in 2011 and iOS 4 in 2010 at that time. If you’re wondering what time it will be released in your timezone then we’ve you covered. Check our post if you want to find out what time it may get released in your timezone.
After you’ve followed the steps mentioned above, you should be ready to download and install iOS 9 as soon as it is available and start using the new features in the latest iOS.
If you’re still on the fence then you can check these posts where we play devil’s advocate for and against upgrading:
- Top 5 reasons to install iOS 9 on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
- Reasons not to Install iOS 9 right away
Let us know if you’ve any questions.
