Did you ever look at your phone and get a little bored by its features? You download a new app or two for a sense of excitement but the feeling soon passes. Well, get ready to get a whole new phone without having to buy one. That is, if you have an iPhone that’s capable of running the next version of iOS.
WWDC usually marks the release of an updated OS and yesterday’s keynote was no exception. Apple SVP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi and friends introduced the latest version of iOS, and there are lots of new features to come: FaceTime enhancements, much better mapping, new notifications, fancy things you can do with your photos, help when you need to focus, and a Wallet that can pack a wallop (that is your driver’s license and various keys).
But all of these things are not available right now. The general release will likely be in September, around the time Apple unveils it’s next-gen iPhones. If you’re not the patient type, though, there are ways you can get iOS 15 a bit earlier. We’ve got them all below.
Can My iPhone Run iOS 15?
Even if your old iPhone is still up and running, it doesn’t necessarily mean it can handle iOS 15. If you have one of these iPhones, you’re in the clear.
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone SE (2020)
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE (first generation)
Become an Apple Developer
If you want to be the very first to try out any software updates from Apple, join the Apple Developer Program. The program is designed for app developers—individuals and companies. But anyone can join for $99 per year. A note of caution, though: since you’ll have an early version of iOS, you’ll face bugs that are more than the minor annoyances you’re used to on stable versions of iOS. The entire point of developers having the software is to test it out with their apps, so you might find that some of your apps become unusable or that you lose information. Make sure you’re comfortable with that before signing up. Or install the dev version on a second, non-primary iOS device.
Public Beta
If you want to get in on the iOS action early, consider the public beta. Some of your existing apps might not work with the OS and you could lose data, but if you’re willing to try it out, there’s no fee to join. The point of a public beta is to find bugs developers have not yet uncovered. If you’re an iOS fan, this can be an interesting side project. Especially if you have an older iOS device you can afford to upgrade with possibly buggy software. Sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program, which should launch for iOS 15 in July.
General Release
Once the stable version is ready to launch, you can either wait for your phone to remind you with a pop-up alert that iOS 15 is available, or you can force a manual update. (Before you update, it’s always a good idea to back up your data.)
Navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and select Download and Install. If your iPhone has a passcode, you’ll be prompted to enter it. Agree to Apple’s terms and then…wait. You’ll see Update Requested on the screen, which means Apple has added you to its download queue. Once it begins downloading, you’ll see a time estimate bar up top; how long you’ll wait depends on how many people are trying to upgrade. Your phone will then need to reboot, which could also take a few minutes.
If there’s not enough room on your iOS device, you’ll get a message asking to temporarily remove apps. Hit Continue and the apps will be restored when the installation is finished. If you have trust issues, hit Cancel and remove apps manually before returning to the update.
If you need your phone during the day, there’s also the option to Install Tonight, which will do exactly that—install iOS 15 while you sleep, provided your device is charging.
You can also turn on automatic updates. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Your iOS device will then automatically update to the latest version of iOS overnight when it’s plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi.
