Apple will release iOS 10 on September 13th, are you ready for the big upgrade? Below we'll look at what you need to do to make sure your device is ready.
Let's first see if you can upgrade to iOS 10.
The supported devices that will get iOS 10 are:
iPad 4th generation
iPad Air
iPad Air 2
iPad Pro
iPad mini 2
iPad mini 3
iPad mini 4
iPod touch 6th
iPhone 5
iPhone 5C
iPhone 5S
iPhone SE
iPhone 6/6 Plus
iPhone 6s / 6s Plus
iPhone 7/7 Plus
If you don't know which device you have, use this page to decipher the model number which can be found on the back of the device or in Settings – General – About – Model.
Is your device not listed? Then you can stop reading this article.
Backups
Before making any major changes like upgrading your device, you should make sure you have at least one backup in case things go wrong. You can either back up your data to iCloud, or if you don't have enough space, simply connect your iPhone or iPad to a computer and back it up via iTunes.
Clean your device
Your iPhone or iPad has accumulated a lot of junk over time. It's a good idea to clean it of data and apps you don't use. iOS 10 requires less free space to install than previous versions, but it doesn't hurt to get rid of apps you no longer use — or maybe never have.
Do you need to delete apps to make room for the upgrade?
If your device is running iOS 9 or a higher minor version, your operating system itself will perform the necessary cleanup (even if that means deleting apps and redownloading).
If you are on an older version, and you don't have the necessary space, then you may need to delete some apps or videos or music, etc. You can of course move your data (photos or videos) to the cloud, although offline storage is always safer.
Update your apps
If you haven't updated your apps or if you don't use automatic updates, this is a good time to do so, because many of the apps have been updated to be compatible with iOS 10 (although apps designed for iOS 9 seem to work just fine).
Don't forget your passwords
After the upgrade you will need to enter the password for your iCloud account in order to be able to sync all your data and photos.
Also, if your iTunes backups are encrypted, then you should remember the password because you will need it if something goes wrong
Is it better to upgrade or format and install the operating system from scratch?
Upgrading is much less hassle because all your apps and settings will be preserved.
However, devices that are formatted before installation seem to run faster and suffer from fewer issues (such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi issues). However, the format, the new installation, the settings, and the installation of applications will have to be done from scratch.
Personally, I upgrade without formatting.
Should you wait a while before upgrading?
There will likely be one or two minor iOS 10 updates in the coming weeks, so waiting might be a good idea. As we know, last-minute bugs always pop up. If your device is more than just a phone, it's a tool for you, so it's probably best to wait.
