How to download iOS 14.5 right now

How to download iOS fourteen.v correct at present

(Prototype credit: Tom's Guide)

iOS 14.5 has arrived, and for an update released in between new versions of Apples iPhone software, it'south a pretty big deal. Not only do you get a refined look for the Podcasts app plus changes to News and Reminders, iOS xiv.five also delivers new tricks including additional voices for Siri and the ability to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch.

It'south non the sort of update you're going to desire to ignore. Hither'south how you tin download iOS 14.5 along with the steps yous should accept to ensure a shine upgrade process.

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iOS 14.5: What devices are compatible

If your iPhone runs iOS 14, information technology will run iOS 14.5. That means anything from an iPhone 6s onward supports the latest version of Apple's phone software. We run the iOS 14.5 beta on a number of unlike phones, including an original iPhone SE, and the software worked without a problem (though nosotros did find a slight hit on battery life on that 2016-era device).

Chances are you've already installed iOS xiv on your device if it'southward supported. Apple says that iOS 14.4 is installed on 80% of all active iPhones and on 86% of iPhones introduced in the last iv years. If y'all haven't already upgraded to iOS 14, the release of iOS xiv.5 seems like the perfect time.

iOS 14.5: Back up your iPhone

Before you lot install any software update on your telephone, you should always support your device. That way, if the update proves to be unstable, you can always reinstall that backup.

We've got a full guide on how to back up your iPhone, merely your options are to fill-in your iPhone to iCloud or save the backup to your computer. If you're running macOS Catalina or Big Sur, that involves plugging your iPhone into one of the ports on your Mac, spotting your phone in the Locations department of the Finder, and selecting Dorsum upwardly all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac from the Backups section. Be sure to encrypt your backup to save data such as passwords and Health and Activity data from your device and Apple Lookout man .

how to backup an iPhone — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

If you lot're using an older version of macOS or yous're a PC user, you can back up your iPhone through iTunes. Once again, that's simply a matter of plugging your phone into your figurer, and heading to the fill-in pane of iTunes. From there, select Back Up Now. (Archiving the backup makes information technology easier to discover should you need to restore an old version.)

iOS fourteen.five: Download and install the update

Once y'all've backed up your phone, you're ready to grab iOS 14.5. (If yous're already part of Apple'southward public beta program and installed the iOS fourteen.5 beta, congratulations — if you're using the latest version of the beta, y'all've got the final release of iOS xiv.five on your telephone already.) You'll notice that installing this update is as simple as any iPhone software upgrade, even with all the features iOS 14.v brings to the table.

one. Launch the Settings app, and select Full general and and so Software Update. iOS xiv.5 should be there waiting for y'all. (Be patient if it'due south not: the software sometimes takes a piddling flake of time to appear for everyone.)

2. Click Download and Install.

Given all the features iOS 14.5 introduces, we'd expect it might accept some time to download the full release. Set bated a half-hr or so, and make certain your iPhone is plugged in. When the phone is ready to install iOS 14.5 and restart, it'll notify you lot with an on-screen prompt. Accept that prompt, and your iPhone will close down to install the update.

When the telephone restarts, you'll be prompted to enter your passcode. From so on, iOS 14.5 will exist the operating organization software powering your iPhone — at least until iOS 14.6 comes out.

iOS 14.5: Should you upgrade at present?

The iOS xiv.5 beta process has been available for a few months, and we've been using the beta on our phones from the outset. There haven't been whatsoever testify-stopping issues, and the bugs that have cropped up here and there seem to take been resolved during the beta process. From our perspective, this looks like a pretty stable release.

That said, any software update introduces the possibilities of bugs or a hitting on bombardment life. If you feel more comfortable letting other people put an iOS update through its paces first, you can always wait a few days to install iOS fourteen.5 to see if whatsoever reports of problems emerge. If you've already pre-ordered the AirTag key finder, though, yous'll want to have iOS xiv.5 on your phone when those devices ship on Fri — iOS 14.5 is required for AirTag to work.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom'southward Guide. He has strong opinions nigh Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.