Maps, Wallet, and Safari all get major changes, with the latter app getting a major redesign; FaceTime now gets some welcome improvements to its audio and video capabilities, and down the line, the update also includes Apple's SharePlay enabled, which lets you enjoy video and music within the Video Chat app. Live text and visual lookup capabilities rival some of what Google Lens can do with photos using onboard intelligence. In addition, the weather app has a new feature that you'll want to try.
All in all, it's a pretty exciting update. However, unless you upgrade to the new software, you won't be able to experience iOS 15. here's how to download iOS 15 and all the steps you should take before upgrading.
If your iPhone is currently on iOS 14, it is compatible with iOS 15. If older devices are our iOS 15 beta testing experience, upgrading to the new software may take a toll on battery life. That said, all devices capable of running iOS 15 are listed below.
Some iOS 15 features will only work on newer models. We have a complete list of features that require at least the A12 Bionic chip or later, but basically if you are using an iPhone XR or later device, you can experience all of iOS 15.
Note that iOS 15 is only compatible with iPhones; if you have an iPad, please see our iPadOS 15 download instructions. [iOS 15 is no exception. If you have a backup on hand, you can easily restore your iPhone if something goes wrong with the update.
We have a complete guide on how to backup your iPhone, including instructions on backing up to iCloud, and your computer, whether or not you are running the latest version of macOS. (The guide also includes iPhone backup instructions for Windows users.)
Whenever you install a beta version of iOS or do a full upgrade to a new version, such as moving from iOS 14 to iOS 15, you should always backed up to a computer so that it is ready to go in case I have to roll it back. Archiving the backups also helps.
In older versions of macOS (versions that still have iTunes), do this by going into iTunes, selecting preferences, and clicking on the devices tab. Select the desired device backup and control-click - select Archive from the drop-down menu that appears. If you are using macOS Catalina or later, select iPhone from the location in the Finder sidebar; then click Manage Backups to create a backup and archive that backup.
Once the backup is in place you are ready to download iOS 15. It's a very simple process.
1. Open the Settings app and select General.
2. go to "General" and tap on "Software Update". the iOS 15 beta is ready and waiting for you there.
3. tap "Download and Install"; you will need to enter your PIN or passcode and agree to Apple's Terms of Service.
Updates like iOS 15 are quite large, so expect the download to take a bit of time. You will also want to make sure your iPhone is connected and charged if possible so that the battery does not drain during the upgrade process.
4. When the phone is ready to install iOS 14 and reboot, it will notify you with an on-screen prompt. If you accept that prompt, the iPhone will shut down.
Once the software is installed, you will see the Apple logo and a progress bar. Once everything is up to date, you will be prompted to unlock your phone with your passcode and enjoy your new iOS 15 powered device.
iOS 15 may be the final form that Apple can confidently release to the public, but that does not mean it is bug-free. Sometimes software comes out with bugs that no one saw coming, and it takes at least one software update to get everything running smoothly.
We have run iOS 15 on multiple phones since the beta program began in late June and have not experienced any glaring bugs. The most persistent problem has been apps crashing on startup, forcing a restart, but this problem appears to have been fixed in the recent beta version. However, that doesn't mean you won't run into bugs when you upgrade to iOS 15.
If you are feeling cautious, there is nothing wrong with waiting to upgrade to iOS 15, at least until others have tried the software and say it is solid. Indeed, Apple will likely announce an update to the software shortly to address lingering bugs, and then you can enjoy a smoother upgrade.
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