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8 Things to Do Before Installing iOS 8.1.2

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Today, in a bit of a surprise, Apple released a brand new iOS 8 update in the form of iOS 8.1.2. The update follows last months iOS 8.1.1 upgrade and tackles at least one major iOS 8 problem. With the release now here, we want to take a look at some of the things iPhone and iPad owners should do before installing Apple’s brand new iOS 8.1.2 update and its bug fixes.

Back in September, Apple released its iOS 8.1 update into the beta program for developers. For weeks, Apple and its developers tested the update in order to ensure a smooth public release. In mid-October, after a short stint in beta, Apple released the iOS 8.1 update to the public in an effort to deliver Apple Pay and bug fixes for iOS 8 problems.

While the iOS 8.1 update did fix some of the bigger iOS 8 problems affecting iPhone and iPad users, the iOS 8.1 update failed to tackle all of the annoying problems that emerged with September’s iOS 8.0 update. This left many iPhone and iPad users on iOS 8 looking for answers and permanent fixes for their iOS 8 issues.

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Apple’s initial response came in the form of an iOS 8.1.1 update, an update that rolled out a few weeks after iOS 8.1 and one that delivered bug fixes and performance enhancements to iPhone and iPad users. While iOS 8.1.1 plugged up some issues, it failed to tackle them all and that has prompted Apple to release yet another iOS 8 update in the form of iOS 8.1.2.

A short time ago, Apple released the iOS 8.1.2 update for iPhone and iPad. The update’s change log lists bug fixes including one for a ringtone issue that was plaguing iPhone and iPad users.

With an iOS 8.1.2 release here, now is the perfect time to make your final preparations for your move to iOS 8.1.2. Here, we want to tell you about some steps to take ahead of your iOS 8.1.2 upgrade. These will help to ensure a smooth iOS 8.1.2 installation process and transition from iOS 8.1.1 and below.

iOS 8 & iOS 8.1 Review

If you haven’t installed Apple’s iOS 8 update yet, and that’s probably the case for many of you, now is a perfect time to get acquainted with Apple’s new iOS update. That means looking into the features and changes coming with iOS 8 but also the changes coming with iOS 8.1.2. Do not blindly install the iOS 8.1.2 update on your iPhone or iPad if you’re still on iOS 7 or below. Get familiar with the changes first.

There are a few ways to get caught up on the latest iOS 8 developments. You can watch that walk through in the video above. You can have a look at our detailed iOS 8 vs. iOS 7 comparison. You can head on over to Apple’s website to hear about the changes and features from the horse’s mouth. And you can read our latest iOS 8.1.1 reviews. Educate yourself, get acclimated to the changes, and then install iOS 8.1.2 on your device. Just remember, no one is forcing you to install it today.

Clean Up Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If you did not do this before the iOS 8.1.1 update or any of Apple’s other iOS 8 updates, now is the perfect time to perform a little maintenance on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

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Over the past few weeks, months, or even years, you’ve likely downloaded applications or music or other files that you simply don’t use any more. Now, ahead of the iOS 8.1.2 upgrade, is a great time to get rid of those applications and files that you aren’t using. It will rid your device of clutter and also free up some valuable storage space that could come in handy later on.

We recommend keeping iOS clean and tidy year round but some general clean up right before an iOS update could work wonders for your device and for your sanity. Use iOS 8.1.2’s release as an excuse to get your device cleaned up.

Have Your Passcode Ready

Now is also a great time to track down your Apple ID. Those of you that already own an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch already have an Apple ID. When signing into iOS 8 for the first time, you will need to have the ID information handy, including your user name and password. This is only necessary if you’re installing iOS 8 for the first time.

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If you have iOS 8 on board already, the iOS 8.1.2 download process will prompt you to input your passcode when installing OTA. iTunes may even ask for your Apple ID. If you’re planning to install for someone else, make sure you have their passcode written down or memorized because you’re going to need that information to get the process rolling.

Make Sure Your Device is Charged

This is one of the smallest steps to take but it’s also one that iPhone and iPad users tend to forget. You’ll need to have a minimum of 50% when installing the iOS 8.1.2 update if the device isn’t plugged into a power source.

Those of you who won’t have a power source readily available in the near future will need to make sure that the device is charged and ready before installing iOS 8.1.2. Those of you that do have access to a power outlet only need to plug the device in and the installation process will take care of the rest. There is no way to avoid this so you’ll need to be prepared.

Update Your Apps

Third-party app developers have keeping their apps updated with bug fixers and with iOS 8 compatibility updates. As we’ve noted in our iOS 8 reviews, most apps are running smoothly though we are still having problems with a select few. iOS 8.1.2 didn’t go through a beta process but there’s a good chance that it will deliver the same kind of experience on your iPhone or iPad. That said, there’s always a chance for problems.

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In the past, we’ve been able to alleviate some of these issues just by updating our apps with the latest bug fix updates. Before upgrading to iOS 8.1.2, you would be wise to update all of your apps to the latest version, especially if the version comes with iOS 8 support. If you are rocking the latest updates, there’s a good chance that your transition from iOS 8.1.1 or below will go a lot smoother.

Get the Latest Version of iTunes

If you’re planning to make the move to iOS 8 from an older version of Apple’s operating system, you are going to want to download the latest version of iTunes before installing.

There are two ways to get the latest version of iTunes. The first is to get it through Apple’s website. There, you will need to download the proper version (Windows, OS X, etc) and install it on your desktop or laptop.

The second way is to manually check for an update. Go to iTunes – Check for Updates… or head to the Mac App Store if you’re using a Mac. For Windows users, head to Help – Check for Updates within iTunes. Those that don’t have the latest version should be prompted to download the latest when opening iTunes.

Backup Your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

iOS 8.1.1 was fairly stable and we imagine that Apple and its testing partners put iOS 8.1.2 through a rigerous testing process behind the scenes. The update also delivers bug fixes for iOS 8 problems.

There is, however, always a chance that something could go horribly wrong after installing the iOS 8.1.2 update. We’ve seen it with just about every single iOS update. While you may not be able to prevent every issue, there are ways to help minimize the damage if something does go wrong.

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Before installing iOS 8.1.2, you will want to backup all of your files so that if anything goes wrong, the data can be retrieved with ease. This is particularly crucial if you’re moving from iOS 7 to iOS 8 for the first time.

To do this, you will want to go into iTunes and make a backup. The backup process begins after you plug your device into a computer. If it doesn’t happen automatically, you can force a backup to occur.

Simply go into iTunes, right click on your device, and select Back Up. It’s going to take some time for the process to complete, particularly for those that have a ton of content on their device, but it’s worth doing if you’re moving up to iOS 8 from iOS 7 or if you’re concerned about problems with iOS 8.1.2.

Talk with IT

If you’re using your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch for work and you happen to have an IT department, you should go and chat with them before installing iOS 8.1.2 update.

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In the past, we’ve heard from tons of enterprise users that run into problems with their enterprise software, with Exchange, and with other features after installing iOS updates. It literally happens every year, after every single update. There may not be anything your IT department can do about it but there’s a chance that they might tell you to hold off until the coast is clear.

Check in with them, if you can, before installing iOS 8.1.2. They might be able to give you very specific information that we ourselves can’t provide.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Beth

    01/03/2015 at 6:04 am

    I am still not sure if I should or not because I don’t want to break my iPad mini

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