Right on schedule, Apple opened the floodgates this morning at around 10 a.m. to people looking to update their devices to iOS 7. If you’re looking to join them, here’s how to go about doing things.
To update your device over the air, open up the settings app, and then navigate to General > Software Update. If your device is eligible for an upgrade to iOS 7, it’ll give you a chance to start the update process right then and there. Alternatively, you could plug your iOS device in to your computer, and update through iTunes. Just click the “Check for Update” button in the summary tab of your device’s status screen. If you haven’t updated iTunes to version 11.1, which was just released today, you’ll have to do that to update through your computer.
Once the update is ready, your phone or computer will validate the update with Apple (learn from my mistake with iOS 6.1.2: re-download the update if the verification check doesn’t come out okay), and then install it on your phone. With past updates, that entire process took several minutes, and I don’t expect iOS 7 to be any different.
Once that’s done, you should have a shiny, new iOS 7 install running on your phone, complete with a fresh redesign, as well as a host of new features including major updates to Siri, new camera software and AirDrop, a NFC-like technology that uses wi-fi and Bluetooth to let people share files with others nearby.
Stay tuned to GeekWire for more coverage of the iOS 7 launch and the release of Apple’s new iPhones.
UPDATE (10:34 a.m.): Judging from Twitter, it looks like Apple’s servers are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. If you’re having trouble updating, wait a few minutes before trying again.
Previously on GeekWire: Here comes iOS 7: How to prepare yourself for Apple’s big mobile overhaul
