Why should I update my phone?

Updating your mobile phone gives you access to the latest improvements in your operating system’s form and function. Much more importantly, updating installs security patches. These patches close vulnerabilities discovered in the operating system itself, making it harder for bad guys to take advantage of your phone. So how do you do it? Read on.

For Android Phones

1. Check that your phone is connected to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to the Settings menu. It is the icon on your app screen that resembles a gear.
3. Select About phone.
4. Select Check now for update. If an update is available, an Update button will show up.
5. Tap Update, then INSTALL NOW or INSTALL OVERNIGHT. Your phone will install the update as directed, and reboot once it is finished.

For iPhones

1. Make sure your phone is backed up with iCloud and that it is either plugged into a power source or have at least 50% battery. (The system may not allow you to update even if your phone is on a wireless charger if the battery is less than 50%.)
2. Check that your phone is connected to Wi-Fi.
3. Go to the Settings menu. It is the icon on your app screen that resembles a gear.
4. Select General, then Software Update.
5. If there are two update versions available, select the one you would like to install. Sometimes Apple will provide updates for a previous iOS version as well as a new version they are rolling out.
6. Select Download and Install.

Automatic Updates

Enabling automatic updates is a great way to take the guess work out of updating your devices. Before enabling them, consider that your phone may not be usable while updates are installing (usually overnight). When it comes to automatic updates, you can enable them through the options that appear on the Update screen. This applies to both Android and Apple devices.