ArtsAutosBooksBusinessEducationEntertainmentFamilyFashionFoodGamesGenderHealthHolidaysHomeHubPagesPersonal FinancePetsPoliticsReligionSportsTechnologyTravel

Update iPhone Without iTunes

Updated on December 28, 2016
Max Dalton profile image

Max holds a B.S. in mass communications from SIU, an M.A. in communications from U of I, and is pursuing an MBA from Webster University.

What do you use your iPhone for?

See results

Requirements for Updating Your iPhone Without iTunes

Before you can install updates to your iPhone without connecting your device to your computer and updating it through iTunes, you must have iOS 5.0 installed on your iPhone. You can to see what version of iOS is installed on your iPhone by tapping "Settings," "General" and then "About." Scroll down your screen until you see Version in bold on the left side of the screen. If you are running anything less than version 5.0, you'll need to hook your iPhone back up to your computer one more time to update to the most recent version of iTunes, which will be version 5.0 or higher. After you are running version 5.0, you'll have the option to install updates wirelessly without having to connect your device to iTunes. Additionally, you can update your iPhone without iTunes if you're connected to a Wi-Fi network; you won't be able to update your device wirelessly using a 3G connection. Also, the update won't begin unless you have at least half of your battery remaining before beginning the update. Because various intangibles can contribute to a lengthy update download and installation (eg, weak Wi-Fi connection and bright screen settings), it's best to connect your iPhone to a power supply of some sort, preferably an AC outlet using the adapter that came with the device. And finally, because iOS 5.0 is only supported on the iPhone 3GS and newer models of the device, iPhone 3G and older models of the device aren't capable of being updated without being connected to a computer and using iTunes.

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Step 1: Tap your "Settings" app and then tap "General."Step 2: Tap "Software Update."Step 3: Wait for your iPhone to check for any available updates.If an update is available, tap "Download and Install." If no update is available, a message reflecting that appears on your screen.
Step 1: Tap your "Settings" app and then tap "General."
Step 1: Tap your "Settings" app and then tap "General." | Source
Step 2: Tap "Software Update."
Step 2: Tap "Software Update." | Source
Step 3: Wait for your iPhone to check for any available updates.
Step 3: Wait for your iPhone to check for any available updates. | Source
If an update is available, tap "Download and Install." If no update is available, a message reflecting that appears on your screen.
If an update is available, tap "Download and Install." If no update is available, a message reflecting that appears on your screen. | Source

Steps for Updating Your iPhone Without iTunes


  1. Tap "Settings" on your iPhone home screen. If an update to iOS is available, you'll see a red notification icon in the upper-right corner of the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down to the third section in the Settings screen and then tap "General."
  3. Tap "Software Update" in the first section. The Software Update screen appears, listing the improvements and bug fixes offered in the update you're preparing to download.
  4. Tap "Install Now" at the bottom of the Software Update screen.
  5. Tap "Agree" in the lower-right corner of the Terms and Conditions screen that appears. After the update is finished downloading, the iPhone screen goes black and the update begins installing similar to the way it would if it were connected to your computer and the update were being installed from iTunes. A progress bar displays on the screen displaying the installation's progress. The iPhone may reboot one or two times while installing the various components of the update. After the update is finished, the iPhone will boot to your device's login screen.

Rate Your iPhone (All Models)

Cast your vote for iPhone (All Models)

Updating iOS without iTunes

© 2011 Max Dalton

working

This website uses cookies

As a user in the EEA, your approval is needed on a few things. To provide a better website experience, hubpages.com uses cookies (and other similar technologies) and may collect, process, and share personal data. Please choose which areas of our service you consent to our doing so.

For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://corp.maven.io/privacy-policy

Show Details
Necessary
HubPages Device IDThis is used to identify particular browsers or devices when the access the service, and is used for security reasons.
LoginThis is necessary to sign in to the HubPages Service.
Google RecaptchaThis is used to prevent bots and spam. (Privacy Policy)
AkismetThis is used to detect comment spam. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide data on traffic to our website, all personally identifyable data is anonymized. (Privacy Policy)
HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)