How to Enable or Disable Automatic iOS Updates

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This article explains how to turn automatic iOS updates on or off on your iPhone or iPad, and what each setting actually does. You’ll find the exact steps for current versions of iOS, along with what to consider before changing the setting, common problems, and answers to frequent questions.

What Automatic iOS Updates Do

Automatic iOS updates let your iPhone or iPad download and install new versions of iOS in the background, usually overnight while the device is charging and connected to Wi-Fi. Apple introduced this feature with iOS 12 in 2018, and it has been refined since. When enabled, your device periodically checks for updates, downloads them automatically, and installs them during a time when you’re unlikely to be using the device. The exact timing depends on when the device is idle, plugged in, and on Wi-Fi. You don’t have to do anything, and the device will restart itself during the installation. This is different from automatic app updates, which are a separate setting.

How to Turn Automatic Updates On or Off

The setting is in the Settings app, under General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Here’s the step-by-step path:

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap General.
Tap Software Update.
Tap Automatic Updates (the toggle is at the top of the next screen).
You’ll see two toggles: Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates. Both need to be on for full automatic updates. If you only want to download but not install automatically, turn off the install toggle.

If you don’t see the Automatic Updates option, make sure your device is connected to the internet and that you have a recent version of iOS installed. On very old versions of iOS (before iOS 12), this setting doesn’t exist.

What Each Toggle Means

The two toggles give you granular control:

Download iOS Updates: When on, your device will automatically download new iOS updates in the background. This requires Wi-Fi (or cellular if you allow it in Settings > App Store > Cellular Data, but that’s for app updates, not iOS updates). The download happens even if you have the install toggle off.
Install iOS Updates: When on, your device will automatically install downloaded updates. This requires the device to be plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi, and it usually happens overnight. If you turn this off, you’ll get a notification that an update is ready to install manually.

If you turn off both toggles, your device will not download or install updates automatically. You’ll still get a notification when a new iOS version is available, but you’ll have to go to Settings > General > Software Update to download and install it manually.

Why You Might Want to Disable Automatic Updates

There are several legitimate reasons to turn off automatic updates:

Control over when updates happen: Automatic installs can happen at inconvenient times, like during an important call or while you’re using the device for navigation.
Concern about new bugs: Major iOS releases sometimes have initial bugs. Some users prefer to wait a few days or weeks until the initial issues are fixed.
Data usage limits: If you have a limited data plan, automatic downloads (which can be large, sometimes over 1 GB) could eat into your allowance. Even though downloads typically happen over Wi-Fi, they can still use data if you have cellular downloads enabled for iOS updates (which is rare but possible).
Compatibility with apps: Occasionally, a new iOS version breaks compatibility with certain apps. Waiting can give app developers time to update their apps.
Storage space: iOS updates require free storage space. If your device is nearly full, an automatic update might fail or cause issues.

Why You Might Want to Keep Automatic Updates On

For most people, automatic updates are the safest and most convenient option:

Security patches: iOS updates often include critical security fixes. Delaying them leaves your device vulnerable to known exploits.
Bug fixes and performance improvements: Updates fix bugs and improve battery life and performance.
Convenience: You never have to remember to check for updates.
New features: You get access to new features as soon as they’re released.

Apple’s support documents recommend keeping automatic updates on for security reasons. The trade-off is that you give up some control over when updates happen.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Here are some issues people run into with automatic updates and what to do:

Update downloads but doesn’t install: This usually means the install toggle is off, or the device isn’t plugged in/connected to Wi-Fi. Check the toggles and make sure you’re on Wi-Fi and have at least 50% battery (or are plugged in).
Update fails to download: Check your Wi-Fi connection and storage space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much free space you have. You may need to delete some files.
Update installs but causes problems: If you experience issues after an update, you can try restarting your device, checking for app updates, or restoring from a backup. If the issue is severe, you can contact Apple Support.
Automatic updates are off but you still see a notification: That’s normal. The notification is just telling you an update is available. You’ll need to manually download and install it.

How to Check Your Current iOS Version

If you’re not sure which iOS version you have, go to Settings > General > About. You’ll see the version number next to “iOS Version.” This is useful when troubleshooting or when reading about a specific update.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will automatic updates use my cellular data?
By default, iOS updates download over Wi-Fi only. However, if you have enabled “Allow More Data on 5G” or similar settings in Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options, your device might download updates over cellular. To be safe, keep that setting off if you want to avoid cellular data usage.

Q: Can I turn off automatic updates for a specific update only?
No, the setting is global. You can’t selectively disable automatic updates for one version. You can, however, turn off the install toggle temporarily, install a specific update manually, and then turn it back on.

Q: What happens if I turn off automatic updates and never update manually?
Your device will continue to work, but you’ll miss out on security patches and new features. Over time, your device may become incompatible with certain apps or services that require a newer iOS version.

Q: Will automatic updates happen while I’m using the phone?
No, iOS waits until the device is idle, plugged in, and connected to Wi-Fi. If you’re actively using the phone, the update will wait.

Q: How do I know if an automatic update is installed?
You can check Settings > General > Software Update. If it says “Your software is up to date,” you’re on the latest version. You can also check the About screen for the version number.

Q: Does turning off automatic updates affect app updates?
No, app updates have a separate setting in Settings > App Store. You can have automatic app updates on while iOS updates are off, and vice versa.

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