Apple® software updates can be a hassle, but you shouldn’t ever be afraid of updating your iPhone® or MacBook® software. At Experimac Middleton, one of the most common questions we receive is when and how someone should update their Apple device. This brief article will walk you through the process so you can keep on enjoying your Apple products without having to stress over the updates. 

1. Backup your device! This is honestly the most important step. Not only should backups be a regular part of maintaining your devices, you should always make sure to backup your information anytime you’re doing a software update. With iPhones, the two best ways to backup your device are a) through iCloud® or b) through iTunes®. iCloud backups might not work for everyone because their iCloud® may already be full – iCloud only comes with 5 GB standard storage space, but upgrades are available for a very reasonable cost – or their phone might be too large to store everything on iCloud. The techs at Experimac prefer iTunes backups. All you need to do is plug your iPhone into a computer with iTunes, sync and allow your computer to access your phone, and then select “Back Up Now.” MacBook backups are even easier with Time Machine® and an external drive. Connect an external drive to your computer, open up the Time Machine settings, designate the external drive as your backup drive, and let Time Machine backup your data. Now, if anything should go wrong, you’ll always be able to restore your computer or phone to its former glory!
2. Make sure you have enough space for the update. This step is fairly minor for most users, but if you struggle with having enough space on your device (like yours truly), you’ll want to make sure to clear some room for the update, otherwise you may encounter issues later on. 
3. Connect your device to Wi-Fi. Make sure your phone or computer is connected to a Wi-Fi network, ideally one it has connected to in the past. One thing you definitely don’t want to do is randomly update your software while you are traveling with an unstable internet connection. 
4. Make sure your device is powered on and charging. You don’t want your phone or computer to die on you while updating. At best, this can prolong the process; at worst, it can corrupt your OS, and you may have to wipe your device in order to get it working again…
5. Perform the update. This is the final step; actually let the phone or computer do the update. Follow the prompts on your device to begin the software update and let it do its thing. Don’t try to use the device while it’s updating though.

Those are the most important points, and they relate to iPads, iPhones, MacBooks and most every other Apple device. Keeping your device updated is important to make sure it performs optimally. One of the reasons that Apple devices are so secure when it comes to viruses is that Apple is diligent in monitoring and removing any threats, and they do this maintenance with their software updates. One last point I’d like to make regards when you should do updates. If it’s a minor update for a single app or program, there is no need to put it off. When it comes to a major OS or iOS upgrade (like going from iOS 10 to 11 or macOS Sierra to High Sierra), we personally recommend waiting a month or so before going to the new operating system. The reason for this is that operating systems can be the most glitchy and troublesome when they are first released. After a month or so, most of the bugs and glitches have been found and rooted out, making it the ideal time to update your OS. On a final note, Experimac Middleton is always here to help you out if you’d rather have some professional assistance with your software update. 

From North Andover, MA to Andover, MA to Peabody, MA, Lynnfield, MA to North Reading, MA, to Reading, MA and all around the Middleton, MA and Danvers, MA area, Experimac Middleton is the trusted local source for pre-owned Apple® products and repairs. We frequently see visitors from Saugus, MA; Lynn, MA; Lawrence, MA, and even parts of Southern NH or the Metro-Boston area – it goes to show that we are closer to you than you may think!