The iOS 4 update is arriving today and rumoured to be slipping out of Apple HQ at 6pm UK time. While you wait, why not read our iOS 4 upgrade guide so your iPhone or iPod Touch will be ready and waiting to welcome its new software ahead of iPhone 4 arriving on Thursday…
Before you start, check our iOS 4 devices guide to see whether your older iPhone or iPod Touch will actually run the new update. Most will but there are a couple of exceptions.
Step one: Backup
When you install iOS 4, it’ll wipe the data on your iPhone or iPod Touch then whack it all back on there. Make sure you’ve got the most up to date info saved on your computer. When you plug in your iPod Touch or iPhone, iTunes automatically syncs and backs up your data. If you want to make doubly sure, select the icon in left hand menu in iTunes, right click and choose Back Up.
Step two: get iTunes 9.2
Apple punted out iTunes 9.2 last week to ready its jukebox for the arrival of iPhone 4 and iOS 4. If you’ve not grabbed it already go to the iTunes menu and select Check For Updates. Then choose Download iTunes. The Software Update window will open and there’s likely to be a selection of other updates in there. If you’re in a rush to get to iOS 4, deselect the other downloads.
Step three: capture your settings
Upgrading to iOS 4 should retain your settings but if you want to make doubly sure you can restore them, take a few snapshots of the Settings app screens. You can grab snapshots by pressing the home button and the power button at the same time. Once you’ve grabbed them, sync your iPhone again and save the images in iPhoto or in a folder in Windows.
Step four: upgrade your apps
With iOS 4 apps trickling out, you’ve probably already got some compatible updates waiting for you. Go to Apps in the iTunes menu and click on updates available in the bottom right hand corner. Then click the Download All Free Updates icon in the top right hand corner. Once all your apps have updated, you’re ready for the final step…
Step five: install iOS 4
There should be plenty of fanfare here when iOS 4 arrives but to check if the update is ready and force iTunes to grab it, click on the device icon in the left hand iTunes menu then select Check For Update. iTunes will then ask you if you want to install iOS 4. Follow the instructions, let your iPhone or iPod Touch sync and back up and you’re done.
Once you’ve got iOS 4 installed, take a look at our list of iOS 4 features you might miss and let us know how it’s working for you.
Out today | £free | Apple
