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How to Have Your iPhone and iPad Automatically Download and Install iOS Updates

Set your iPhone or iPad to install iOS updates overnight, or download them for later, using the Automatic Updates screen in Settings.
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To have an iPhone or iPad install new iOS and iPadOS updates on its own, turn on Automatically Install in Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Apple says an available update then downloads and installs overnight while the device is charging and connected to Wi-Fi, and that you will be notified before installation. If you want updates downloaded but installed only when you choose, use Automatically Download instead. Back up before you update either way.

Turn on automatic updates, step by step

Automatic updating is configured separately on each device. Set it on your iPhone and again on your iPad if you want both to update this way.

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  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General, then Software Update, then Automatic Updates.
  3. Turn on Automatically Install.

Apple’s current support copy describes this mode as follows: when an update is available, the device downloads and installs it overnight while charging and connected to Wi-Fi, and you are notified before installation. The overnight window is Apple’s description, not a guaranteed clock time, so do not expect installation at a specific hour.

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Download-only mode

If you want the update fetched in advance but installed on your own schedule, turn off Automatically Install. The Automatically Download option then becomes available, and you can switch it on. Apple’s user guides describe this mode as downloading over Wi-Fi while the device is charging and locked, leaving the installation for later. When you are ready, return to Settings > General > Software Update and install the update that is waiting there.

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Choosing between the two modes

Setting What happens Conditions Apple describes Best for
Automatically Install Update downloads and installs without a manual step Overnight, while charging, on Wi-Fi; you are notified before installation Readers who want updates applied with minimal attention
Automatically Download Update is fetched but waits for you to install it Over Wi-Fi, while charging and locked Readers who want to choose when a restart happens

Both modes depend on the same Automatic Updates screen. The practical difference is who starts the installation: the device, overnight, or you.

Before you rely on automatic updates

  • Back up first. Apple recommends backing up before any update, automatic or manual.
  • Check compatibility. A device receives only the releases that support its hardware and its current software path. Not every iPhone or iPad can install every new release.
  • Keep the conditions in place. Automatic installation waits for charging and Wi-Fi. A device that stays unplugged or off Wi-Fi will not install overnight.

When an update does not appear

If an update you expect is missing, work through these checks in order:

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  • VPN or proxy. Apple notes that a VPN or proxy connection can stop the device from reaching update servers. Turn it off temporarily and check again.
  • Network. Confirm the device is on a working Wi-Fi network, not only a weak connection.
  • Computer route. If wireless updating is unavailable, Apple describes updating with a computer as the alternative. Use the computer route as a fallback, not a substitute for the settings above, since it still requires a backup and a working connection.

Settings labels can change between iOS and iPadOS versions. If your screen shows different wording, follow the current labels on your device and check Apple’s support pages for your version.

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Sources

Apple’s guidance covers the settings path, the two modes, and the backup advice. It does not promise an installation time, and it does not say every update will install under all conditions, so treat automatic updates as a convenience that still needs the checks above.

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