Everyone knows how annoying it can be when your iOS device is updated with a new version of the operating system. It can often take forever, or even never arrive at all. But with iOS automatic updates, you won’t have to put up with that nonsense!

These automatic updates are supposed to make your life easier, yet as a regular user, you may not even know they’re even a thing. Fortunately, they’re a huge part of the iOS ecosystem, and they’re something you should definitely take advantage of. In this article, we’ll be discussing 6 great reasons why you should be using automatic iOS updates. Read on to learn more.

6 Reasons Why You Totally Want To Use Automatic iOS Updates

You Don’t Have To Worry About Missing Critical Updates

The iOS update cycle is a pretty critical one. It’s when the dev team behind the operating system gives your iPhone or iPad the biggest improvements and fixes to bugs. And since it’s not feasible to test every single change in an iOS update, it’s essential that they are branched and released to the wild so that other users can report any bugs they find.

That’s where the update cycle comes in. Every two months, your device will check for a new version of iOS and, if there isn’t one available, it’ll send you the latest version of iOS 9.3.5 after it’s been thoroughly tested. But what happens when an iOS update isn’t just buggy but actually dangerous?

That’s where Apple’s update mechanism comes into play. When a new version of iOS is released with any kind of critical or preventative update, your device will download and install that update automatically. It doesn’t matter whether you want it or not.

You can be sure that every update is safe because it’s already been thoroughly tested by the dev team before it’s pushed out to the public. You can be sure that every update is optimized because it’s been designed for the hardware configuration of millions of devices. You can be sure that every update is secure because it’s been encrypted. You can be sure that every update is brought to you by the dev team because it’s been smartly encoded and packaged. And finally, you can be sure that every update is tested because it’s a given.


You Can Be Sure That Every Update Is Tested

Unlike some other companies, Apple actually tests their updates before pushing them out to the public. If there’s anything majorly wrong with an update, like a security issue or massive bugs, Apple will issue a fix through a hotfix or an update that corrects the issue. This is something that regular users really don’t see because the dev team is working to solve those issues in the next update. This is something that regular users really don’t see because the dev team is working to solve those issues in the next update.


You Can Be Sure That Every Update Is Optimized

As we just discussed, the update cycle is critical for the health of your device. It’s also super important for your device’s performance and battery life. And guess what? The update cycle is where the dev team spends a lot of their time optimizing the update for performance and Battery Life. So even though you might have to wait a few days between updates, you can be sure that they are working hard to make the most of the time they have.


You Can Be Sure That Every Update Is Secure

This may not seem like a big deal, but it really is. Every update is supposed to be encrypted during transmission. This helps prevent a man-in-the-middle attack in which an eavesdropper intercepts your data while it’s in transit. With iOS 10, there were two different security mechanisms that were introduced. 

The first was to help prevent the lateral movement that we talked about with the iCloud Keychain Hack. The other was to protect your passcode. If an update is providing you with a new passcode, it’s certifiably secure. And if it’s not providing you with a new passcode, it’s still secure because it’s been updated to use the second layer of security, which is the Touch ID home button.


You Can Be Sure That Every Update Is Brought To You By The Dev Team

Now this might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s actually pretty impressive. Every update is brought to you by the dev team behind the operating system. That means that they have to test it on their own devices, package it, and then make sure that it’s working as intended. They have to make sure that it’s working as intended on your device too. This includes things like compatibility with hardware and apps, as well as any bugs that might need fixing. The dev team really is working around the clock to make sure that every update is as bug-free as possible.


You Can Be Sure That Every Update Is Tested

Last but not least, you can be sure that every update is tested because it’s a given. This is kind of a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many users don’t test their updates.  testers: TEST-ing, not EM-ing or IM-ing. Everyone should be doing this.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do iOS updates download automatically?

On your iPhone and iPad, apps that you download from the App Store are automatically updated by default. But if there's an issue, you can update an app manually.

What time does iOS automatically update?

Setting automatic system updates means that your iOS device will automatically download the new updates and have them ready. They will install overnight after they download as long as your device is charging and connected to Wi-Fi.

Should I allow automatic iPhone updates?

If you travel all the time for business or pleasure, we recommend leaving automatic updates off. This will prevent an update from installing when you don't expect it and leaving you with problems, or potentially with apps that no longer work right when you need them the most.

Does iOS 14 update apps automatically?

Your iPhone's apps should update automatically, but you can check for updates manually in the App Store. If your iPhone apps won't update, make sure that you're connected to Wi-Fi and logged into your Apple ID. You can also turn automatic app updates off through the Settings app.

How often does iOS check for updates?

The security and regular updates like iOS 9.3. 4 and iOS 10.2 typically release every 1–2 weeks or every 1–2 months. The actual number of times iOS releases including updates is entirely variable dependent on circumstances.

What does automatic downloads mean iPhone?

Implementing the feature Automatic Download in your iOS or Android app, gives your readers the option to have your paper automatically downloaded to their device, as soon as Visiolink has processed the paper. For everyday readers this is a brilliant way to ensure that your content is available when they open their app.

How do I switch off automatic updates?

To access the settings, tap Settings. To access the network preferences, tap the Network Preferences button. To update apps automatically, tap Auto-Update. To turn off auto-update apps, tap Don't Auto-update Apps.

Why are my iPhone apps not updating automatically?

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store. Under Automatic Downloads, and ensure that the “Automatic Updates” option is enabled. If this option is already enabled, turn it off, wait 20 seconds and turn it back on.

Does iOS update every year?

Apple concurrently provides the same version of iOS for the comparable model of iPhone and iPod Touch, usually devices released in the same calendar year. iPhone users receive all software updates for free, while iPod Touch users paid for the 2.0 and 3.0 major software updates.

Why does Apple update so often?

Every iPhone, iPod, iPad, or any Apple device has several updates over time. The reason they have so many updates is to fix bugs within the device or to upgrade the security on the device. Even though Apple's security is very good it still has its flaws.