Here’s How Long the iOS 17.4.1 Update Takes

Apple’s new iOS 17.4.1 update is a small point upgrade, but it could still take quite a bit of time to install on your iPhone.

If you’re moving your iPhone from iOS 17.4 to iOS 17.4.1, you get the shortest list of changes and the smallest download size. The iOS 17.4.1 download is in and around 350 MB for compatible iPhone models.

If you’re upgrading from older iOS 17 software or iOS 16, the iOS 17.4.1 download will be much larger because it delivers the changes from update(s) you missed.

While some of you might want to skip the iOS 17.4.1 download for the time being, most people should install the software today, or, at some point in the near future.

Moving an iPhone from one version of iOS to another can cause problems so you’ll want to monitor the download and installation.

We can’t tell you exactly how long the process will take because it will vary. That said, we can help you approximate how much time you should set aside should you choose to install the new operating system on your iPhone.

Pre-Installation

Before you start the iOS 17.4.1 download make sure you’re prepared.

If you don’t know how to properly prepare for an iOS upgrade, take a look at our pre-installation guide. It’ll walk you through the most important steps to take before you start the installation process.

You should be able to get through these steps in 30 minutes, but it all depends on your skill level and the current state of your iPhone.

If you haven’t backed up your data in awhile or you if you aren’t familiar with iOS 17.4.1, the pre-installation process could take you a longer.

You don’t need to follow every single step in the guide, but at the very least you’ll want to make sure your phone’s data is backed up properly.

Data loss issues are pretty rare, but if you store sensitive data (photos, videos, etc) on your device, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

iOS 17.4.1 Download

Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to start the download process.

Again, the exact size of your iOS 17.4.1 download will depend on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running.

If you’re on the latest version of iOS 17, you’ll see the smallest download size. If you’re running an older version, your download will be larger.

If you’re connected to a fast Wi-Fi network, the iOS 17.4.1 download could finish up in less than 10 minutes. If your connection is slower, or you’re downloading during peak hours, it may take a lot longer.

iOS 17.4.1 Installation

Once your device is done pulling iOS 17.4.1 from Apple’s servers, the installation process will begin.

On newer phones, the iOS 17.4.1 installation process could take about 10 minutes to complete. It took about eight minutes to install on an iPhone 12 Pro that was previously running iOS 17.4.

Your iPhone might reboot itself a couple of times during the installation process, but this is perfectly normal. Your device should boot up in regular fashion once the installation process completes.

Post-Installation

After the installation finishes up, you might need to spend time logging into your iCloud account, signing into your device’s various apps and services, and/or setting up Apple Pay.

You also might want to spend some time checking your important data (photos, music, etc) to make sure everything carried over properly.

After you do that, make sure you test your core applications and services to ensure they’re working normally. New operating systems can cause apps to go haywire.

If you notice an issue with one or more of your apps, try downloading the latest version. Developers are currently rolling out iOS 17 support updates.

You’ll also want to poke around your phone for bugs and performance issues. If you notice something take a look at our list of fixes for common iOS 17 problems.

Install iOS 17.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 17.4.1 update right away. The iOS 17.4.1 update includes security patches, but Apple hasn't revealed them yet. It's probably waiting until it releases additional software for Mac and other devices.  The update's patches will help keep your device and its data protected from harm. And that makes it an important upgrade. If you missed iOS 17.4 and older software, you'll get the security patches from updates you missed when you upgrade to iOS 17.4.1. iOS 17.4 had four security patches on board.  The update also delivered quantum security protection for iMessage. The company says the upgrade gives iMessage "the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world."  The iOS 17.3 update brought 15 new security patches to iPhone. The software also added Stolen Device Protection to iPhone. It increases the security of your iPhone and Apple ID by requiring Face ID or Touch ID to gain access to passwords, make purchases in Safari, and more. This is useful if someone gets access to your iPhone and its passcode.  iOS 17.2 delivered 10 new security patches to iPhone. If you wish to find out more, you can head on over to Apple's security site for the details. iOS 17.2 also included iMessage Contact Key Verification which improves the security of iMessage. The company also fixed an exploit that let the Flipper Zero multi-tool lock up iPhones. iOS 17.1.2 had two security patches on board. Both were related to WebKit. If you want to learn more, you can do so right here. iOS 17.1 brought 18 security fixes to iPhone. It addressed issues within Weather, Status Bar, WebKit, and more.  iOS 17.0.3 brought two patches for two security issues Apple identified within the software. If you want to read about the patches, head here. iOS 17.0.1 delivered three important patches to iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. As for iOS 17 itself, it brought 40+ new security patches with it. A staggering number to say the least. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple.  In addition to those patches, iOS 17 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages. It now includes content sent by AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime, and the systemwide photo picker. You now have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them. There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks. Apple's also improved sharing permissions and you now have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.  The company also notes that starting in iOS 17, Voice Memos encrypts the titles of recordings stored in iCloud, in addition to the recordings themselves. If you skipped older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 17.4.1 update as well.

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