Before You Upgrade To iOS 7 Read This!

Before You Upgrade To iOS 7 Read This!

Now that iOS 7 is available for download, you may be itching with excitement to imbue your iOS device with Apple’s new colourful, minimalist and considerably flatter interface (with some cool features to boot).

However, let me stop you before you rush off to your computer and fire up iTunes. Before you hit that download button, there are a few things you should do first to ensure the upgrade runs smoothly.

If you’re planning on getting an iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C, the great news is, your device will come shipped with iOS7 so there’s no need to worry about the upgrade process!

What are these preparation steps you need to take? Check them out below!

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Is My Device Eligible?

upgrading to iOS7

iOS 7 was not developed for all iterations of the iPhone or iPad, so before anything else it would be a good idea to check that you device falls into the list of eligible devices.

If you own an iPhone 4, 4S or 5 you’re in luck, similarly if you own an iPad 2, 3 and 4 as well as an iPad Mini you’re also in business. Any iPhone or iPad model prior (i.e. original iPhone, iPhone 3, iPhone 3GS, original iPad) is not eligible, which unfortunately means you’ll miss out on Jony Ive’s first venture into iOS.

Check With IT First

Upgrading to iOS7If you have a corporate owned iPhone or iPad, the software upgrade will need to be approved by IT or the CIO, particularly as some internal apps or mobile device management solutions may not yet be compatible. Also, to accommodate new features, some enterprise systems may need to be adjusted.

If you choose to upgrade your device without permission from work, there is a chance that your device will be barred from accessing the corporate network.

iTunes & Wi-Fi

Upgrading to iOS 7It’s important to ensure that your device has access to Wi-Fi and is connected to a power source before you proceed in order to avoid cellular data charges and to make sure your device doesn’t switch off during the update process.

It’s also a good idea to make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. To check whether you have the latest version:

  1. Launch iTunes on your computer.
  2. Click on the iTunes Menu on a Mac or the Help Menu on a PC.
  3. Click on Check For Updates and install the latest iTunes if necessary.

Update Your Apps

Upgrading to iOS7Unfortunately, when you create a backup of your device it does not include the actual apps (just the data associated with the apps), so when you perform a restore, your apps will be downloaded and installed again from iTunes.

To make the restore process run smoothly, it’s best to ensure you have the latest version of each app you are using before you update.

Remove Apps You’re Not Using

Before you do anything else, it might be worth it to perform a bit of spring cleaning on your apps. Remove any apps you no longer use to speed up the time it takes to restore.

How To Remove Apps:


1. Press and hold an app icon until it starts jiggling and a red minus icon appears on the top left hand corner of the app icon.

2. Tap the red minus icon to remove the app.

3. Repeat for any other apps you wish to remove.

 

Update Your Apps

Note: Before updating, ensure your device is connected to Wi-Fi.

There seems to have been a growing number of app updates earlier this week, with developers trying to optimise their apps for iOS 7.

To update all of the apps that made the cut:

1. Select the App Store app and click on the Updates tab. You’ll see a list of apps that can be updated.

2. Tap Update All and all of the apps on your device will be updated.

 

Update Your Apps Using iTunes

1. Launch iTunes on your computer.

2. Click on the Store Menu and go to the iTunes store.

3. You will be prompted to log in.

4. In the right hand side of the screen in Quick Links, click on Purchased to view all of the apps that are not installed on the computer.Download them to your app library.

5. To update all of the app in your app library on iTunes, select Apps from the list in your library.

6. Once you see the list of apps, click on Update All Apps  in the bottom right hand corner.

Back Up Your Device

This step shouldn’t be anything new really, as with any upgrade it is always advised that you back up your device and all of your data (e.g. photos, music, documents, app data etc) just in case something goes wrong and you have to restore your device.

You can either back up your data using iCloud or iTunes. It is worth using both services to back up your data, as you won’t have access to your backed up files in iCloud, but you can access them in iTunes.

While it is recommended you backup to both, if you would prefer to forgo the hassle, iCloud has become the easier option.

Upgrading to iOS7To Back Up to iCloud:

  1. Make sure your device is connected to the Internet over Wi-Fi and connected to a power source.
  2. Go to Settings > iCloud> Storage & Backup
  3. Make sure the iCloud Backup setting is switched to On
  4. Tap Back Up Now to begin the backup

To Back Up To iTunes:

  1. Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed.
  2. Connect your device to your computer via USB and launch iTunes.
  3. Select the iOS device you want to back up from the list of devices.
  4. Select Back Up Now on the summary screen.upgrading to iOS 7

Upgrading to iOS7Passwords For Apps And Services

If you have several apps or services that require passwords, once you restore your device you will most likely be prompted to re- enter your login credentials. If you are not confident that you can simply remember them all, it might be a good idea to either keep a record of them or ensure you will be able to check your email for a password change if needed.

The Process May be Slow

Upgrading iOS 7If you’re going to need your device, it’s probably better to hold off until you have more time to spare without your device.

There’s going to be a lot of strain on Apple’s servers with fans wanting the update, so prepare yourself for a possibly slow download. There is the possibility that the update may also fail, which would mean your device may get stuck in a restore and will take a considerable amount of time to resolve.

Reasons Why You Should Wait For The Next Upgrade

Tech site ZDNet offers some reasons why users should consider holding off on the upgrade, and instead wait for the next update to ensure better performance, particularly for older devices.

You can check out their article “Six reasons why you should not immediately upgrade to iOS 7” for more information, but in summary here are some factors you need to consider before taking the leap:

Upgrading to iOS7Some Apps Won’t Be Compatible Right Away

Developers are usually encouraged to at least apply small updates to their apps with every iOS upgrade to ensure their apps remain compatible. While most developers will do this, some apps may be left behind or the updates will be applied too slowly which mean they may not perform properly or not work at all due to compatibility issues. Apple has updated their requirements for existing apps, which means apps will need to be approved before users can download them. Some apps may not receive immediate approval and in some cases can get stuck in the approval queue for weeks.

However, ZDNet does also mention that some apps have been designed specifically for iOS 7 and will definitely be worth the upgrade.

Expect a Few Bugs And Quirks In The First Few Weeks

Many of you would have already realised that with nearly every software update pushed out by manufacturers there are usually a few bugs that have slipped under the radar. After the bugs are brought to the attention of the manufacturer, the weeks following the initial release bring with them updates to address the issues.

So, it might be worth it to just wait it out until the next iteration of iOS to ensure the kinks have been ironed out.

Older Devices May Not Perform Properly

While a good deal of the previous models of both the iPhone and the iPad are eligible for the upgrade to iOS 7, they might not perform as expected with the new operating system. This is due to the fact that the older models don’t have the same hardware features as the iPhone 5S, 5C and the latest iPad with retina display, for which iOS 7 makes the most of.

ZDNet advises that users who upgrade the older devices may experience sluggish performance, especially when the device is low on storage or when running multiple apps at the same time.

Downgrading To iOS 6 May Not Be An Option

As with the other major updates to iOS, it is incredibly difficult if not impossible to downgrade to the previous version of iOS, which means that once you upgrade there may be no turning back.

 

Update

Apple have released iOS 7.0.2, an update that addresses an issue with security on the lock screen. Originally noted by Forbes, when the Control Center is activated for the Lock Screen and you have the Camera app running, a bug in iOS 7 allows a person to bypass the device’s passcode and access the photo library. The update has fixed this issue, with Apple stating that iOS 7.0.2 “Fixes bugs that could allow someone to bypass the Lock screen passcode.” The update is available for download and is around 20MB in size.

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Have you downloaded iOS7 yet? If so, what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!