With the arrival of iOS 18 on Monday, now is the time to get your iPhone ready for the upgrade. Preparing your device in advance can help ensure a smooth transition to the new operating system. That said, you might want to wait a few days, or longer, before you update, as there could be launch-day bugs. Sometimes there are just problems because of the huge demand to the servers as everyone tries to update at once. So, if you’d like to be more cautious, first make sure to turn off Automatic Updates.
- Go to the Settings app, scroll down to General and tap on it.
- Tap on Software Update on the next screen.
- If Automatic Updates is On, tap on it.
- Turn off the options to Automatically Install iOS Updates.
Now, here are all the steps to take to prepare for downloading iOS 18:
Check Device Compatibility
Before anything else, confirm that your iPhone model is compatible with iOS 18.
The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR are the oldest iPhones that support iOS 18. Here’s the list of compatible iPhones in full:
- iPhone SE, 2nd gen
- iPhone XS, XS Max and XR
- iPhone 11 series
- iPhone 12 series
- iPhone 13 series
- iPhone 14 series
- iPhone 15 series
- iPhone 16 series
The following iPads support iPad OS 18:
- iPad Pro (M4)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (7th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
Free up Storage Space to Prepare for iOS 18
The update to iOS 18 requires anywhere from 7 to 14GB of free space, depending on your particular model. To check your storage, follow these steps.
- Go to the Settings app.
- Scroll down to General and tap.
- Next select iPhone Storage
4. Follow the Recommendations listed.
In the example above, this iPhone has used 56.47 GB of the 64 GB total storage. The remaining 7.53 GB is probably not enough for the iOS 18 update. By “Offloading” Unused Apps as recommended. Tap on Enable to save up additional space. Your documents and data will be save and available to you again after iOS 18 is installed.
5. Delete unused apps. This is a great time to clean up your phone and get rid of that “Angry Birds” app you haven’t touched for the past 10 years! To delete apps “long press” on a Home Screen page until the app icons start to jiggle.
6. Tap on the minus sign of an app you wish to Delete. You will have the choice to “Delete” the app or “Remove from Home Screen”. In this case, choose Delete since you want to free up space on your phone.
Back up Your Data
Backing up your iPhone is crucial before any major update to prevent data loss. To back up to iCloud:
- Go to the Settings app and select “Your Name” at the top of the screen.
- On the next screen, select iCloud.
- Select iCloud Backup on the next screen.
4. Next tap “Back up Now”
iCloud backups are convenient and easy, but backing up your iPhone to your computer provides greater control and security. It avoids sync issues if you don’t have a good WiFi connection, and it avoids additional costs if you’re running out of iCloud storage. If you have an older phone and in the unlikely event you’d need to go back to iOS 17, then I strongly recommend backing to your computer. If you try to use an iOS 18 cloud backup to restore to iOS 17, you’ll get an error message. To read more about backing up to your Mac or PC, read here.
Final Steps to Prepare for iOS 18…
- Your iPhone needs to have at least 50% battery life. Keep your device plugged during the update process.
- A strong WiFi connection is needed to prevent glitches due to interruptions.
- Make sure you know your Apple ID and Password. Sometimes updates require you to re-enter these credentials. It’s always good to have them handy!
Go immediately to update whenever you are ready!
Choose to update to iOS 18 when you are prepared and ready. Follow the steps at the top of this article (Settings > General > Software Update). This time choose the option to Update Now!
Happy Updating!
Taking the time to prepare will ensure that you can enjoy all the new features and improvements without any hiccups. Read some of my other iOS 18 posts to help you navigate these features. (Get Ready for iOS 18: the Major Upgrade You’ve Been Waiting For!; A few quick iOS 18 Favorites; The New Passwords App)
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