Update iOS on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

💡iMazing 3
This guide is not yet complete or updated for iMazing 3. An update will be available soon.

Keeping your iPhone or iPad up to date is essential. iOS updates bring new features, fix bugs, and include important security patches that protect you from emerging threats.

Apple typically delivers these updates via the Settings app — this method is called an over-the-air (OTA) update, and it only installs what’s changed. However, OTA updates can sometimes fail, especially if your device is low on storage or has network issues.

Alternatively, you can update your device via iTunes on Windows, or Finder on recent versions of macOS. But if you don’t sync your device to iTunes or Finder — or want more control over the update process — iMazing offers a more flexible and reliable solution.

iMazing downloads the full iOS installer, not just the delta, and backs up your device before updating — giving you peace of mind in case anything goes wrong.

Here's how to update iOS on your iPhone or iPad

1. Launch iMazing on your computer
2. Connect your device to your Mac or PC
3. Select Devices in the sidebar
4. Update to the latest version of iOS
5. iOS Update options
6. Let iMazing install the update
7. Unlock your device to finish

Before you begin

Always make sure you are running the latest iMazing version, to do so select Check for Updates from the iMazing menu, or just download the latest available version for your computer below.

Download and install iMazing on your Mac or PC computer.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Launch iMazing on your computer and connect your device

Download and install iMazing. For more details please refer to our guide available for PC and for Mac.

2. Connect your device to your Mac or PC via USB

iMazing will prompt you to connect the device to your computer on the first time you're using it. To do so use a USB cable, and unlock the device using your passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, and follow the instructions for pairing.

💡 Tip: For more details on connections and pairing refer to this guide.

3. Select your device in iMazing's sidebar and Update iOS

Select your device from the Devices list in the sidebar.

4. From the Tools section, click Update to iOS x.x.x.

5. iOS Update options

By default, iMazing will download the latest iOS update for your device from Apple's servers, but you can also choose an .ipsw file you have already downloaded.

Before proceeding with the update, iMazing will ask you if you would like to delete older backup snapshots of the device to save space on your computer. Choosing to do so will still keep the latest backup, and any backups you may have archived.

💡 Tip: Learn more about the powerful and unique Backup Snapshots List feature in this iMazing manual section.

❗ Important:- Select "Back up before updating" to have iMazing back up your device before applying the update, you will be able to restore this backup if something goes wrong or interrups the update.

💡 Note: If you let iMazing download the update, the update file (.ipsw) will be kept on your hard drive for the duration of the session. This means that if you update multiple iOS devices in a row, iMazing will only download updates when needed, i.e. when no previously downloaded update is compatible with the target device. Downloaded update files are deleted automatically when you quit iMazing.

6. Let iMazing install the update

You will be prompted to enter the passcode on your device to authorize the update. iMazing will then back up your device (if you selected that option), download the iOS update file from Apple servers (if you didn't select an .ipsw file) and install the update. Once the device has been updated, it will restart and you will be able to enjoy the new iOS version.

7. Unlock your device to finish and enyoy the new iOS version

Once the update is complete and your device has restarted, enter your passcode to unlock it. This step is required even if you normally use Face ID or Touch ID, as iOS always asks for the passcode after a reboot.

❗ Important: If the update fails or gets interrupted, your device won’t be harmed, but it may need to be restored. iMazing keeps a backup if you selected the option or had a previous backup, and you can use it to recover your data. Learn more about restoring your device with iMazing.