Are you ready to upgrade to iOS 17? The latest version of iOS is packed with new features and improvements, including a redesigned lock screen, new ways to customize your iPhone, and more powerful performance. But how do you install iOS 17 on your iPhone?
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing iOS 17 on your iPhone.
But before we get started, let’s go over the major upgrades or features of iOS 17.
Quick Answer
- Select Settings > General > Software Update from the menu.
- At the bottom of the screen, you should see an iOS 17 update message.
- Enter your passcode after selecting Download and Install.
- Accept the “Terms and Conditions” before waiting for iOS 17 to install.
Requirements
You’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and a compatible iPhone. Here’s a complete list of iPhones that are iOS 17 compatible:
- iPhone SE (second gen, third gen)
- iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
- iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max
Before Installing iOS 17, Make a Backup of Your iPhone
While exploring all of the new features of iOS 17 can be exciting, you should take a few precautions before updating to the new operating system. Back up your iPhone before updating to ensure that all of your personal and phone data is safe. This also gives you the option to revert to iOS 16 if you discover that iOS 17 isn’t for you.
If your iPhone is connected to power and Wi-Fi and the default settings are enabled, it will back up your data on a regular basis during sleep hours. However, if the automatic backup feature is turned off, you can manually backup your device by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and then clicking Back Up Now.
If you don’t have iCloud Backup set up automatically, make a manual backup of your iPhone.
You can also use Finder on a Mac computer to back up your iPhone. Connect your iPhone to your computer, launch Finder, select your device, and then back up your data. Apple also suggests archiving your backup to prevent it from being overwritten by other backups.
Do the Following Three Things After Backing up Your iPhone
To make the download and installation process go as smoothly as possible, follow these steps:
- Check that your iPhone is powered on. You won’t be able to download iOS 17 if your battery is less than 50% charged, so it’s best to plug in your phone while you update. Even if you’re plugged in, the battery must be at least 20% charged in order to install iOS 17.
- Connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. You won’t be able to download iOS 17 over mobile data, so make sure you’re connected to a stable Wi-Fi network before beginning the installation.
- Make sure you have enough storage space. The iOS 17 file size will be several gigabytes, so if you’re running out of storage space, you’ll need to make some before downloading and installing iOS 17. To delete large files and apps, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
The Key Features of iOS 17
#1. StandBy
When you turn your iPhone on its side while charging, StandBy provides a new full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to be viewed from a distance.
According to Apple, StandBy is ideal for a desk, nightstand, or kitchen counter, and it can be customized to display a variety of clock styles, favorite photos, or widgets, such as Smart Stacks, which surface the right widgets at the right time.
Full-screen Live Activities, Siri results, incoming calls, and larger notifications are also displayed by StandBy.
#2. NameDrop and AirDrop
AirDrop makes sharing with friends, family, and colleagues easier than ever. NameDrop, a new AirDrop feature, allows users to exchange contact information, including their Contact Poster, by simply bringing their iPhones together.
Users can also use the same gesture to share content or launch SharePlay to listen to music, watch a movie, or play a game while in close proximity. AirDrop will also add the ability to continue transfers over the internet when a user moves out of AirDrop range later this year.
#3. Improved Keyboard
By leveraging a powerful transformer-based language model (iPhone 12 and later), improved autocorrect accuracy makes typing even easier.
Easier autocorrect editing highlights corrected words temporarily and allows you to return to what you originally typed with a single tap.
#4. Redesigned Widgets
Widgets have been updated to be more informative and interactive. You can now move them around on your home screen to create a more personalized experience.
#5. Safari Updates
Safari gets a makeover, including a new tab bar design, a new start page, and extension support.
#6. Contact Posters
This allows you to create a custom screen that others will see when you call them. When you make a phone call, the person on the other end sees your Contact Poster on their screen. You can find out how to add or modify your photo and poster.
If your friend doesn’t answer the phone, you can now leave a voice or video message. You can use hand gestures to make fun things like hearts, confetti, and fireworks appear on the screen while on a FaceTime call. You can also switch between your iPhone and your Apple TV during a FaceTime call. It’s similar to passing a call from one device to another.
Read Also: iOS 17 Contact Poster Not Working 2023: Top 10 Fixes
Size of iOS 17 Update and Download Time
The iOS 17 update size varies slightly between iPhone models, but if you are upgrading from iOS 16.6.1 to iOS 17, the update size is around 3.1GB. If you are upgrading from an earlier version of iOS, the iOS 17 update will be larger and take longer to download.
The time it takes to download the iOS 17 update package depends on your internet speed; mine took 5 minutes with a 100 Mbps connection. However, once you have downloaded the update, iOS 17 should only take about 10–15 minutes to install on your iPhone.
Note: To ensure that iOS 17 installs smoothly, ensure that your iPhone has at least 50% battery life remaining and that you are connected to WiFi or another stable internet connection.
How to Install iOS 17 on Your iPhone
Begin by opening the iPhone Settings app (either by tapping the icon or searching for Settings). Go to General > Software Update now.
If you have a compatible iPhone (see the list above), an ‘Upgrade to iOS’ message should appear at the bottom of your screen. If you don’t see it, wait a few minutes and try again.
#2. Ensure That You Have Enough Storage Space
When you tap the ‘Upgrade to iOS’ message, you should see the install page above, which includes a list of iOS 17’s new features as well as the size of the installation. If you’re running low on internal storage, now’s the time to free up some space so iOS 17 can install.
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to free up space on your iPhone. You’ll see a breakdown of your current storage situation as well as some suggestions for how to free up space (for example, offload unused apps). Once you have at least 10GB of free space, you can begin the iOS 17 installation process.
#3. Download and Set Up
Tap ‘Download and Install’ on the iOS 17 install page above. This will request your iPhone passcode (the same one you use to unlock the phone), followed by a list of Terms and Conditions. When you’re finished, tap ‘Agree’ in the bottom right-hand corner.
The Software Update page should now display an ‘Update Requested’ message, followed by a time estimate for the iOS 17 download (typically around 15 minutes). This is a good time to connect your iPhone to a power source and wait for it to reboot with iOS 17 (which usually takes another ten minutes after the download is finished).
What should you do if iOS 17 refuses to download?
When attempting to download iOS 17, a common issue is that the download does not begin automatically. You can try a few things to fix this. To begin, ensure that you are using Wi-Fi rather than a cellular connection. Another simple solution is to restart your iPhone (hold the side button and either the volume up or volume down button simultaneously).
However, the most common reason for iOS 17 not downloading and installing is a lack of available storage space. iOS 17 will appear to be around 3GB in size, but it will require at least 10GB of free space to install. So go to General > iPhone Storage and see if you can free up some space there.
The option to ‘Offload Unused Apps’ (which offloads but does not delete unused apps) is a quick way to free up a few gigabytes. Large podcasts, videos, and photos can quickly consume gigabytes of storage. After you’ve removed any unwanted content, restart your iPhone and navigate back to the iOS 17 installation page (Settings > General > Software Update), and it should now begin to play ball.
What should you do if iOS 17 remains in the ‘preparing update’ stage?
Another common problem encountered when attempting to install iOS 17 is that it becomes stuck at the ‘preparing update’ stage. How do you resolve this? First and foremost, it’s worth giving it a little more time; this stage can frequently take an hour or so before it moves on to the installing progress bar.
However, if it has been hours and the ‘preparing update’ stage appears to be genuinely stuck, you can manually restart the process. Scroll to the bottom of the page after going to Settings > General > iPhone storage. You should see an iOS 17 file; tap on it, then hit ‘Delete Update.’
You can now restart the iOS 17 installation process by following the steps above, provided you have a stable Wi-Fi connection and a sufficient amount of internal storage (at least 10GB).
Conclusion
Because the iOS 17 update is so large, the installation process isn’t always easy, especially if you’re running low on storage space. However, once installed, we’ve discovered that it runs fairly smoothly and without bugs, even on older iPhones.
- HOW TO DOWNLOAD MUSIC TO IPHONE: Quick & Easy Ways
- How to Back Up iPhone to Mac: Detailed Guide
- HOW TO CHANGE YOUR iPHONE NAME: The Complete Guide 2023
References
