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How to Update to iOS 6

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Apple announced a new version of iOS, the software that powers the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad last week.

While it may be too expensive for most people to buy the iPhone 5 off contract that doesn’t mean they need to wait months for the latest features.

Some of these features include PassBook, a new way to keep track of tickets, coupons and loyalty cards that will hit all iOS 6 devices. Other features like turn by turn voice navigation will arrive on the iPhone 4S. The update also brings a better Siri experience to the iPhone 4S and adds Siri to the New iPad. The video below highlights many of these new iOS 6 features.

iOS 6 brings a collection of great new features to the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 4th Generation, the iPad 2 and iPad 3rd Generation.

Prepare for iOS 6

While the iOS 6 update process is simple, and there is little chance of anything going wrong, you should take a few steps to make sure your iPhone is ready.

Read: 5 Things to Do Before You Upgrade to iOS 6

The most important step is to make sure the iPhone or iPad is backed up to iTunes or to iCloud so that your information is safe if the update fails. Once that’s done the update to iOS 6 is a snap.

How to Update to iOS 6

Users upgrading from iOS 5 will be able to upgrade Over-the-Air, or without plugging in to a computer. Follow the directions below to update to iOS 6. We recommend connecting to WiFi and doing this with a at least halfway full battery. You cannot use the phone while it is updating, so make sure you are at a point where you don’t need to make a call or send a text before pressing install.

Tap Settings.

Settings

Tap General.

General

Tap Software Update.

Software Update

After selecting software update the screen should load and check for updates.

Update

The iPhone should now show a iOS 6 download option. Tap download and let the update download to the device. When prompted, Tap Install Update.

The update can also be installed by using iTunes.

iTunes Update

Open iTunes and Select the Devices Tab on the the left side of the screen.

After that Select Summary at the top of the window.

Next, Choose Check for Update.

Once that is done the update will begin to install. It is important to keep the iPhone plugged in as the update will not work if the device becomes unplugged until it is completed.

On the first day it can take some time to download the iOS 6 update, so users may need to retry finding the update. If you have troubles, leave the error codes in the comments and we’ll try to help you update to iOS 6.

70 Comments

70 Comments

  1. Christian

    09/19/2012 at 11:15 am

    mine just gets hung on “checking for update”

  2. Mk

    09/19/2012 at 11:58 am

    I have got an error!! Help

  3. Julia

    09/19/2012 at 1:18 pm

    I have the iOS 6 beta on my phone so when I check for an update it says its already up to date. But the beta does not have all the updates. How can I update to the full iOS6??

    • jacob

      09/19/2012 at 9:07 pm

      downgrade ur software to ios 5.1.1 then it will prompt u to update it.

      • CarlosBilly

        10/26/2012 at 8:00 am

        And how do I do that

  4. harsh

    09/19/2012 at 2:26 pm

    my ipod is 3rd gen and it will just saw software if upto date

    • jacob

      09/19/2012 at 9:03 pm

      the update isn’t compatible with the 3rd gen itouch, u should look up the devices that r compatible with ios 6

    • jack a

      01/13/2013 at 2:31 pm

      same with me harsh but the thing is no matter where you look how hard you try there is NO way to install IOS .6 on ipod 3 gen im sorry but i feel your pain

  5. Jill

    09/20/2012 at 6:10 am

    I get error msg -1

  6. courtney

    09/20/2012 at 8:11 am

    Can I update if my iPhone 3GS is jailbroken ????

  7. Jessica Courtney

    09/20/2012 at 7:37 pm

    I keep getting an error message I’ve tired downloading from my phone and and itunes and both won’t work any suggestions??

  8. Kaar

    09/21/2012 at 6:32 am

    Yes you can

  9. Shubham

    09/21/2012 at 7:45 am

    i am getting error 6

    • Omar

      10/04/2012 at 12:48 pm

      Look please it is saying its prepAring the update but still nothing happened

  10. kumara swamy

    09/21/2012 at 5:55 pm

    mine just gets hung on “checking for update

  11. james

    09/21/2012 at 9:34 pm

    after i updated software, it showed a sign saying plug in to itunes i did that now and it says i need to restore so i have tried several times and get the same error code, saying that network has timed out….. ive tried disabling the antivirus and firewall still no luck, need help, cant go on without use of my phone

    • Glenn

      01/30/2013 at 11:55 am

      Hi James same happened here. How did you get it to work?

  12. miki

    09/21/2012 at 10:55 pm

    i got and error and cant see updates

  13. zemar

    09/22/2012 at 12:30 am

    @james same problem with my phone.. did you fix it?

    • Glenn

      01/30/2013 at 11:57 am

      @zemar: Just wondering how did you fix yours?

  14. zemar

    09/22/2012 at 12:33 am

    please.. need help! i use it everyday in hospital to contact doctors..

  15. Colleen

    09/22/2012 at 3:20 am

    I just tried to update and just keep getting an error message every time I try. Please help.

  16. Karlita

    09/22/2012 at 8:58 am

    I got the part to plug into itunes and got a message saying that it couldn’t do the restore and now all i have is the black screen and apple signal. Did a hard reset a few times but nothing has worked. HELP!!

  17. Nick

    09/22/2012 at 11:06 pm

    I am tired of downloading, it keep showing error 9006, 345.. after spending hours download and it doesnt resume from were it stops. Damn

  18. Alian

    09/23/2012 at 1:16 am

    I got error 6 I m trying again and again but can’t update

  19. Samantha

    09/23/2012 at 5:55 am

    Where it says download and update its not lit up & I can’t click on it and it says this update requires 2.4 GB of available storage but I have 1.5 GB available and my phones fully charged.

  20. Alfonse

    09/23/2012 at 12:48 pm

    when i go to general settings i cant find “software update” as an option . HELP

  21. Tini

    09/24/2012 at 12:26 am

    OMG why can’t resume after unplug. its really inconvenience

  22. Madhan

    09/24/2012 at 3:32 am

    I received below error while updating my iphone 4 from ios 5.0.1 to ios 6…

    An unknown error occurred (3194)….. Can someone please help me

  23. Beges

    09/24/2012 at 8:47 pm

    me to, i try everything i could (googling), but still, An unknown error occurred (3194)…..

  24. Kapish

    09/24/2012 at 10:00 pm

    Getting an error message every time what should i do????

  25. Dhruv

    09/26/2012 at 7:28 am

    When I am updating my iphone through software update in general settings it downloads it and when it comes to preparing update it gives an error

  26. princesgirl

    09/26/2012 at 4:09 pm

    My 3GS is still the way it was when I bought. Never got around to updating to five. Also, in settings there is no “software updates” button. What ta do?

    • rockstar1

      12/29/2012 at 3:08 am

      same here,, what can we do?

  27. NickycomN

    09/27/2012 at 4:04 am

    I got a notification on my settings saying that I have a software update available. I then go into Software Updates and it checks for updates, then comes up with the iOS 6 Downloaded screen. However when I try to press the “install now” button nothing happens. In fact the writing on the button is grey and not black.

    Can someone please help??

    • Nicky

      09/27/2012 at 11:05 am

      It’s OK, just realised that it was because I had less than 50% battery!

  28. danirl

    09/30/2012 at 6:01 pm

    What if u have a jail broken ipod touch and you try to update it on the conputer??

  29. ishan

    10/02/2012 at 12:48 am

    my ipod is 3rd generation and i don’t have software update on it.

  30. heather

    10/02/2012 at 7:16 am

    I have the iphone 4s and every time I try to download the new software it says that the network connection timed out. I tried it through wifi, tried it through itunes and I disabled the firewall and security scanner. please help.

  31. Mister

    10/02/2012 at 8:05 pm

    We need to contact apple. And tell them
    to fix this.

  32. deo

    10/08/2012 at 11:45 pm

    getting a error 3194, my itouch is not jailbroken and it just froze after getting the error, cant open it and is just showing a apple insignia, is it really not compatible with the itouch 3rd gen? if it is then there should be like a warning before it even starts the updates. this is very frustrating.

  33. Mandeepkumar

    10/13/2012 at 3:51 am

    I got ios 6 in my iphone 4 s software update but when I try it’s show an error at last of downloading pls help me. How do I update this

  34. Cindy

    10/13/2012 at 11:15 am

    How to update my iPad2 from iOS 4 to 6?

  35. melissa snow

    10/13/2012 at 10:39 pm

    Why is it that I can find no info on upgrading with iOS 4 on an iPhone 4? I do not have a Software Update selection in Settings, General. Every set of instructions I read assumes this. What do I do if I don’t have this?!

    • Jeanne

      02/17/2013 at 12:55 pm

      Melissa, did you ever get a response to your question? I am having the same problem w/ an inability to update software.

  36. Domo

    10/14/2012 at 6:20 pm

    So i have an iPhone 3G but in my general settings it says nothin about a Software Update at all. How do i change that?

  37. Sohail

    10/14/2012 at 10:05 pm

    After looking at above problem..i have decided not go with this update :-)

    • Melissa Snow

      10/15/2012 at 1:21 pm

      You are smart to wait, Sohail. I was on the Apple users forums, and there are so many people who have had trouble installing the update to IOS 6, especially people like me who have earlier versions than IOS 5. I upgraded from IOS 4, though I worried about doing so after reading all the horror stories, and it took me 3-4 hours of finessing it. Things did not go smoothly for me (I had to do an update, and then a restore, which was suppsoed to have wiped out phone, but I guess since I did a backup through iTunes before I did the update and restore, I was lucky to get everything back as it was before the update and restore.) It is not seemless process and Apple has some work to do. Wait awhile, then check back on the Apple user communities to see what people are saying.

    • Melissa Snow

      10/15/2012 at 1:26 pm

      I wouldn’t even bother to try. There are too many of us with “legit” iphones having tons of problems with the update. You may end up losing your iphone alltogether.

  38. cindy

    10/26/2012 at 1:13 pm

    I do not have software updates under general

  39. miss pink

    11/01/2012 at 9:40 am

    i gss ive tried more than 50 time to update my iphone 4 running ios 4.2.1 n now tried to update to 6 n unknown error 9006 occured.n i dnt even have the software update option in my general app…what should i do.i feel like throwing out my iphone

    • rockstar1

      12/29/2012 at 3:20 am

      same problem, apple needs to fix this

  40. lizeth

    11/06/2012 at 4:27 pm

    Mine does have the Sowtfare update” when i go into “General” why??

  41. Suzie J. Joines

    11/08/2012 at 11:00 pm

    Totally Lost!! Really I-Pad 2′ Please help me?

  42. haider ali

    11/09/2012 at 6:19 pm

    miss pink i have same problem….

  43. Fred

    11/13/2012 at 5:03 pm

    I have a Guide for IOS 6 app locked in my App Store download. I can’t upgrade it, delete it or anything. When I try to update it, it just pops right back and says installing but jumps right back to update. I just want it gone.

  44. muthi

    11/14/2012 at 8:47 pm

    ive got an error ,please help me. ive trying like many times

  45. Charbel

    11/15/2012 at 12:18 am

    I can’t find the button in settings –> general .

  46. Bigshockd

    12/13/2012 at 3:12 am

    USE REDSNOW TO DOWNGRADE YOUR UPDATED IOS 6

    YOU NEED SSH FILE TO DOWNGRADE

    Just search my video to youtube just search Bigshockd

  47. Anish

    12/17/2012 at 8:39 am

    after updating to IOS 6.0, my iphone doesnt recognise any sim card. it is asking to change your sim card. there is no network in my iphone after updating to iOS 6.o Please help

  48. Anish

    12/19/2012 at 5:41 am

    plz reply friends…m in trouble

  49. Pink

    12/22/2012 at 12:49 am

    Okay I’m on iOS 4.2.1 on iPhone 4. N I just can’t update it.it says network times out all the time.even though network is just fine

  50. barnabas

    12/29/2012 at 1:22 am

    I once tried updating my iphone 3gs but it ended up requiring restore which didnot work out. what should I do??

  51. Angelica

    01/04/2013 at 5:59 pm

    Mine doesnt say software update in general?! :(

  52. rolly

    01/11/2013 at 10:15 pm

    pls. help me to jailbreak my ios 5.1.1. what are the steps for this? thanks!

  53. Kheea

    01/22/2013 at 6:35 am

    HELP I have a iPhone 3GS 8gb.. There is no update in general. I plugged into iTunes and it’s saying no update. I’m running on 4.3.5 (8L1) don’t have clue wat (8L1) means HELP

  54. Tricia cleminson

    02/03/2013 at 6:03 am

    On my iPad there isn t a update software tab in-between about and usage how can I update my ipad

  55. ataraxios

    10/28/2013 at 11:24 am

    is it still the same for ios7??

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