New iOS Download: How To Update Your iPhone Software Without iTunes

The newest version of Apple's software for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is here, and for the first time users are able to download the updated iOS for their devices without connecting them to a computer.

With iOS 5.0.1 (which was pushed out quickly to correct a battery draining issue with iOS 5.0.0), iGadget owners can update their software with nothing but an Internet connection and a little bit of spare time.

Below, we've outlined step-by-step how you can download iOS 5.0.1 (and every future iOS update!) without plugging in to your laptop or opening iTunes. You do need to be connected to Wi-Fi (not just 3G), and Apple requires that you have at least 50 percent battery power OR that you plug in to a power source before it will let you begin your iOS download. The download took about 3 minutes from beginning to end on my home's wireless connection.

Now, let's dive in! Here's how to update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to the latest iOS without connecting to a computer:

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• Go to "Settings"

  First, touch the "Settings" icon on your home screen.

• Go To "General"

  Head into the General section of Settings.

• Go To "Software Update"

  Second from the top, head into "Software Update" to check for an update to your current iOS.

• "Install Now"

  You'll see this screen if there's a software update (like iOS 6.0.0) available. Touch "Install Now" to get started, but note that, as of now, Apple does not allow you to update your software over the Internet if you do not have more than 50 percent of your battery or if your iPhone is not plugged in to a power source. You also need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network, not just to 2G or 3G.

• Agree To The Terms And Conditions

  Read through the Terms and Conditions, making sure to note all relevant clauses and licensee restrictions, and then touch "Agree" to begin the download.

• You're Done!

  After a restart, you will have the newest iPhone software! If you want to make sure everything worked as planned: 1. Go to "Settings" 2. Go to "General" 3. Go to "About" 4. Scroll down to see which "version" of iOS you are running. Above, you can see that iOS 6.0 is indeed installed on my phone.

• No More Updates!

  You can also do Steps 1 through 3 to double-check that you're iPhone or iPod Touch does indeed have the latest software. When you go into "Software Update," you should see this screen if you have the most recent iOS.

• RELATED VIDEO

Comments

[Jillianmary]

07:17 AM on 12/09/2011

I have an Iphone version 4.0.2 that will not upgrade on itunes and it does not have a software update section - how do I upgrade and update the phone - Jillian

[bring in swat]

02:41 AM on 11/24/2011

OTA. old news for some Os's...Revolutionary/Genius/Original for the other

[littlebrowngirl]

06:58 PM on 11/13/2011

Great idea.

[bring in swat]

02:37 AM on 11/24/2011

someone else's great idea

[MikeyG]

07:11 AM on 11/12/2011

Cool! With this procedure iPhone owners can now simulate a feature Android has had for a few years. Way to go, Apple!

[HonestJohnnis]

05:55 PM on 11/11/2011

This is a terrible showing for the HP tech section.

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

05:02 PM on 11/11/2011

That's a nice new feature. T-Mobile has done that with my new HTC phone twice so far.

[nishioka]

12:42 AM on 11/12/2011

What really makes it nice is that updating directly from the phone only downloads what is needed - 40MB with a delta update, vs. iTunes wanting to download the whole 800MB package. Much faster doing it that way, and if you're on an internet connection with a bandwidth cap (20GB/month or something equally silly), you save a lot of bandwidth in the process.

[Flight]

04:49 PM on 11/11/2011

Ahhh...an iTutorial.

[partisanpolitico]

04:11 PM on 11/11/2011

It's easy.
works.

[techuth]

03:14 PM on 11/11/2011

It is quite interesting and I think I will give it a try !

[madcityy]

03:14 PM on 11/11/2011

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[PhillyKing]

02:07 PM on 11/11/2011

"Below, we've outlined step-by-step how you can download iOS 5.0.1 (and every future iOS update!) without plugging in to your laptop or opening iTunes."..... Wow... just Wow!!!! I know we've been pointing out how this "tech" section has gone from tech reporting to full blown apple advertising, but now... now ur doing their tech support as well??? do you even know what journalistic integrity is at all???

[nishioka]

12:45 AM on 11/12/2011

See, I always thought "journalistic integrity" meant not lying, not treating controversial or unsubstantiated assertions as fact, not identifying anonymous sources, things like that. What's so bad about a how-to?

[PhillyKing]

09:23 AM on 11/14/2011

what's bad is titles like "apple rival does this" and "iphone rumors" and "iphone competitor does that"... huffpo goes out of their way to plaster the tech page with all things apple... forget skydrive or dropbox no articles on those, but oh look let's write 10 articles about icloud... consumer reports ranked 2 other smartphones above the iphone, did u hear about that??? no, but let's place the fact that iphone passed their test at the TOP of the tech page for a whole day... if you dont see something wrong with this "tech" page then you're in the same boat... journalists are there to report, not advertise... and definitely not do tech support for 1 company... but of course i'm sure you can link me to all the other how-to's that have been done for other manufacturers here... this is supposed to be HuffPo not ApplePo

[chal0326]

05:18 PM on 11/12/2011

You must be an android user....

[PhillyKing]

09:26 AM on 11/14/2011

yeah... cause that has anything to do with the 10+ apple articles on a daily basis on the tech page and now they're doing support columns as well??? but let's deflect by focusing on what the person calling them out uses... news flash i both use and provide support for apple devices, I don't want a "tech" page that gives me news on only what affects Apple... i could check Apple's sites for that.

[NHBill]

02:00 PM on 11/11/2011

I did this.
Quick simple and easy.
Can't vouch for these directions though.
As I did this yesterday.

[HereinDC]

01:52 PM on 11/11/2011

I don't have 'SOFTWARE UPDATE" on Step 3

[NHBill]

02:01 PM on 11/11/2011

are you using iOS 5?