On iPhone and iPad, Apple provides users with granular control over the downloading and installing of system software updates. This article takes you through the options.

settings
In earlier versions of iOS, new software updates were downloaded automatically in the background and then installed through an Automatic Updates feature. But in modern versions of iOS you can customize Automatic Updates more selectively.

  1. Open Settings ➝ General.
  2. Tap Software Update.
  3. Tap Automatic Updates.

settings

Automatic Updates Settings

The last screen presents you with three settings that you can toggle on and off. The first two settings under "Automatically Install" relate to the automatic installation of iOS updates and rapid security response updates.

iOS Updates refer to regular software updates, which can come in the form of major software updates (e.g. iOS 18) and iterative point releases (e.g. iOS 18.1). Major updates are typically several gigabytes large, while iterative releases are usually smaller in size.

Security Responses & System Files refers to Rapid Security Response updates from Apple. Added in iOS 16, Rapid Security Response updates are meant to make it quicker and easier for the company to deploy security improvements to iPhone users without a full iOS update.

With these settings enabled, said software updates are automatically installed when an iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi, charging, and locked.

If you enable the third setting, iOS Updates (under "Automatically Download"), this will automatically download iOS software updates, Rapid Security Responses and system files ready for installation, but crucially, they will not be automatically installed even if the three above criteria are satisfied.

This means you retain control over when a downloaded update is installed, which can be done at any time by going to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update and choosing Install Now.

Manually Remove Downloaded Updates

If for any reason you are unable to install the latest version of iOS, you can delete the downloaded update and download it again by following these steps.

  1. Go to Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage.
  2. Find the update in the list of apps.
  3. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.
  4. Go to Settings -> General -> Software Update and download the latest update.

If you can't see the update in the list of apps or if the issue happens again, you'll need to update your device by connecting it to your computer with the supplied cable.

Remove Rapid Security Response Updates

You can remove a Rapid Security Response from your device by going to Settings ➝ General ➝ About, tapping the iOS version, and then tapping Remove Security Update (if available). You can then reinstall the Rapid Security Response at a later date, or wait for it to be installed permanently as part of a standard software update.

Popular Stories

M4 Mac mini Ortho Silver Cooler

Amazon Leaks Smaller Mac Mini With M4 and M4 Pro Chips, Two Front USB-C Ports, Up to 64GB of RAM, and More

Monday October 28, 2024 7:16 pm PDT by
Amazon has seemingly leaked the rumored next-generation Mac mini ahead of Apple's announcement this week, revealing several details. Our concept of a smaller Mac mini According to a comparison chart on Amazon's product listing for the new iMac, the new Mac mini will be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options, with up to a 14-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU. In addition, the chart indicates ...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces Redesigned Mac Mini With M4 and M4 Pro Chips, Two Front USB-C Ports, and More

Tuesday October 29, 2024 8:01 am PDT by
Apple today announced fully redesigned Mac mini models featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips, a considerably smaller casing, two front-facing USB-C ports, Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, and more. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The product refresh marks the first time the Mac mini has been redesigned in over a decade. The enclosure now measures just five by five inches...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 Cinema 4D Slack Finder Xcode 1

Apple Announces MacBook Pro Models With M4 Pro and M4 Max Chips, Thunderbolt 5 Support, and More

Wednesday October 30, 2024 8:01 am PDT by
Apple today announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, alongside a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M4 chip. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new M4 Pro and M4 Max machines come with a minimum of 24GB of Unified Memory as standard, up from 18GB in the previous models. Both models feature three...
m3 macbook air blue

Apple Announces MacBook Air Now Starts With Increased 16GB of RAM With No Price Increase

Wednesday October 30, 2024 8:04 am PDT by
Apple today in its new MacBook Pro press release announced that the MacBook Air lineup now starts with 16GB of RAM, up from 8GB previously. This change applies to the 13-inch model with the M2 chip, the 13-inch model with the M3 chip, and the 15-inch model with the M3 chip. In the U.S., the MacBook Air lineup continues to start at $999, so there is no price increase associated with the...
m3 mbp space black

Apple Leaks M4 Max Chip Icon Ahead of Announcing New MacBook Pros

Tuesday October 29, 2024 8:48 am PDT by
Oops! Eagle-eyed developer Charlie Joseph today discovered that Apple has leaked its upcoming high-end M4 Max chip through an image uploaded to its website. The discovery was shared with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on social media. It was already pretty obvious that Apple plans to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips this week, after Apple promised...
iOS 18

iOS 18.1: What You Get If You Don't Have an iPhone With Apple Intelligence

Monday October 28, 2024 3:49 pm PDT by
iOS 18.1 is the first iOS 18 update with Apple Intelligence capabilities, and that's what a lot of the coverage about the new software has focused on. If you don't have an iPhone that's capable of Apple Intelligence, you're probably wondering just what's in the update for you. While Apple Intelligence does make up the bulk of what's new, if you have an older device, you still get some solid...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.1

Monday October 28, 2024 8:05 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.1, the first major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.1 comes one month after Apple released watchOS 11. watchOS 11.1 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.1 can be downloaded on an iPhone running iOS 18.1 by opening up the Apple Watch app...