If you’ve been anxiously awaiting the iOS 9 update, today’s the day you can download the final version on your iPhone and iPad. Here’s a complete guide on what’s in iOS 9, how to download it, and a list of iPhone and iPad users who shouldn’t download the update.
Before we get into how to download it, we’ve got a pretty big disclaimer for the newbies out there: Software updates are often unstable. If you download iOS 9 on the first day or on an older device, you may experience random crashes, weird reactions from apps, battery drain, and other issues. That said, iOS updates aren’t typically too crazy, so you should be fine. Just know that there is a risk of performance issues with new software.
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If things get too hairy, you can always downgrade back to iOS 8.4 (we’ll tell you how — Apple’s got a nice guide setup, too). Now — on to the good stuff.
Apple’s iOS 9 doesn’t look too different at first blush. It’s got the same design language and style as iOS 8, but there are several new features that you’ll want to test out.
All of these features are included, though some may not work on all devices, if your hardware is old.
First, check to see if your device is compatible with iOS 9. It should work with the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad 2 or later, iPad Mini or later, and fifth-generation iPod Touch. Of course, we don’t recommend using the beta on older devices, because the performance will likely suffer dramatically. Those on an iPhone 5S and above, or an iPad Air or above should be good to go.
Don’t download iOS 9 on the following devices:
Before you download the update, you’ll want to back up everything that’s on your phone, so you don’t risk losing all your apps, photos, and so on. To do so, you can either backup your phone over the air to iCloud with the iPhone itself, or you can plug it into your computer and backup to iTunes directly. You should check out Apple’s instructions here, which explain how to archive a backup, so that your device will go back to the old version of the software if you choose to downgrade your device. Apple’s instruction require you to use iTunes instead of iCloud, though. Here’s a quick break down of the steps:
Once all your data is safe, you simply head to Settings > General > Software update to see if it’s available to download. Then, Apple will send the update to download over the air. It’s much smaller this year at 1.3GB, so you should have room to download iOS 9 on your iPhone or iPad. Initially, some users had problems downloading the software, but it seems that iOS 9 downloads now work smoothly.
Apple will likely update iOS 9 periodically with big fixes and so on.
Just in case you feel overwhelmed by iOS 9 or just want to go back to iOS 8.4, Apple has a downgrade guide set up for you. This will bring you back to your archived iPhone or iPad backup, assuming you followed Apple’s instructions. Here’s the rundown:
We’ve also included steps here for your convenience, in case you didn’t archive your iPhone or iPad backup as per Apple’s guide:
Now you’re back to the stable iOS 8.4 update you just downloaded a few days ago. You can always go back to iOS 9, if you get curious again, though. Just remember to always back up your info!
Are you tired of paying for streaming services you never watch just to get a phone plan feature you actually want? T-Mobile has good news for you! The carrier is rolling out new plans, called T-Mix, in early November to replace its old Experience lineup with a build-your-own perks system called Picks.
The benefits you choose vary from streaming and gaming to food delivery, AI, satellite service, and phone discounts. But if you are satisfied with your existing plan, you can keep it.
Merely days after the iPhone Duo hit the shelves, images of broken screens on the phone started popping up across social media. Until now, it’s been unclear what’s causing the line of defective pixels that appears vertically along the crease, as well as horizontally, on the phone’s inner display.
Apple has finally acknowledged the issue, which has shown up on iPhone Duo units owned by customers as well as demo units in stores. In a statement shared with Bloomberg, Apple says that not all iPhone Duo units are affected and that those that are tend to show the display fault early on. The company added that users who experience problems with their iPhone Duo display should contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Not long ago, Apple treated independent repair like an act of outright hostility. The Cupertino giant locked down parts with serial-number pairing, while repair tools remained firmly out of reach of anyone outside its authorized repair network. More importantly, the company waged a legal and lobbying battle against right-to-repair legislation.
I've covered enough of these fights over the years to know what a shift looks like. That's why what happened in October 2026 genuinely caught me off guard. The day the iPhone Duo went on sale, what may be the most mechanically complex iPhone to date, Apple pulled off a surprising about-face. It published teardown-style repair manuals for a handful of major components.