All of Apple's mobile devices that are compatible with iOS 9
The newest iOS 9 version was just released today, and focuses more on performance than a snazzy new interface, just like with the OS X El Capitan edition. What iOS 9 predominantly stands for, is not as much the new features, though there are plenty of those still, but rather speed, optimization and stability this time. Let's not forget that Apple made major changes to iOS two editions ago, completely redrawing the interface, and then adding features galore in iOS 8.
Apple has now addressed the stability, bugs, and performance concerns with a huge under-the-hood optimization overhaul for iOS 9. That's not to say there isn't a bunch of new features to enjoy, such as split-screen view and multitasking for Apple's tablets, Apple Pay and the News aggregator app for phones, and many more - we've rounded up all the major ones in the slideshow below, for your viewing pleasure.
These are arriving for Apple iPhone 4s - iPhone 6s, your iPad 2 - iPad Pro, and all generations of the iPad mini, well as your iPod touch 5th and 6th generation media players. Here's what you need to do to download and install iOS 9 on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
Clean it up and Back up the truck
Such a major iOS update is a good excuse for some fall cleaning of your device. Delete contacts and messages you don't need any more, uninstall unnecessary apps that you don't use often or at all, and finally follow those prompts to update what's left to the newest versions.
You can then also sync your Camera Roll with iTunes, so as you don't slow the iCloud storage service, delete previous iCloud backups from your phone, and go deeper using the Manage Storage option, telling each individual app to sync or not with iCloud, like in the screenshot on the right.
To check if iCloud backups are enabled, go to Settings > iCloud > Storage>Backup, and make sure the iCloud Backup slider is at the ON position. You can also force a manual backup right now by going to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and tapping the large Back Up Now button at the bottom of the display.
You never know what might happen during such a major mobile OS update, so we'd advise that you back your entire phone up first, and then hit the airwaves or connect the cable for an upgrade via iTunes. Use that same iTunes software first to back up your phone, tablet or media player locally, and iCloud for the rest.
Your settings, including application ones and in-app purchases, as well as Messages, Camera Roll, documents, saved games, and other important data can all be backed up in iTunes, and restored manually if something goes awry:
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Plug your iOS device into your primary computer via the provided cable.
In the iTunes window, click the iOS device button on the right. In the Backups section, click Back Up Now under "Manually Back Up and Restore."
Allow the backup to complete. You can monitor the status of the backup operation in the iTunes status screen.
For music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books you have purchased - these stay in iCloud and don't count towards your 5 GB of free storage quota, so you can use the storage to back up your mail, documents and recent media that hasn't been synced to your computer. These backups will run automatically when your device is on, plugged in and locked, and will go over Wi-Fi connection, so you don't really need to do much here. Exceptions?
Purchased music isn’t backed up in all countries. Purchased movies and TV shows are backed up only in the U.S. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they have been refunded or are no longer in the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store. Some previously purchased movies may not be available in iTunes in the Cloud. A movie’s product details page in the iTunes Store shows if the movie is unavailable.
Bear in mind that iCloud wouldn't back up music, movies, and TV shows not purchased from the iTunes Store, as well as podcasts and audio books, plus all the photos that were originally synced from your computer.
If, for some reason, you need to downgrade to the previous versions of iOS, you can use programs like TinyUmbrella (Mac / Windows) or iFaith (Windows), in case you are of the hacking and jailbreaking types, and if you are, you probably know already how to save your SHSH blobs with these programs, so you can roll back to undamaged states.
Two ways to update
You can either get to iOS 9 from whichever version you are running on your device through an over-the-air (OTA) update, or via the good old iTunes hookup. OTA is pretty self-explanatory, as the device prompts you there is a new version of iOS, and you just have to tap on, following the instructions to get the upgrade. If you are the more Nervous Nelly type, you can keep hitting Settings > General > Software update, and you might just get lucky like Pharell, and install it amongst the first on the block.
Users who are more comfortable the iTunes way can hook up their gear to the computer, find their device, and click the "Check for update" button, though you should receive a prompt for upgrade on the fly.
Just click through the Download&Update button, and you will have your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch brought up to iOS 9 in no time.
Finally, we'd advise you somewhat counterintuitively to wait a little bit with the iOS 9 update. There have been occurrences when Apple's activation servers go down on account of the monster amount of immediate requests, and if you hit that button at the second the prompts appear, you might be left with a device that has no restoring in sight until the servers get up again.
Thus it'd be wise not to jump the gun immediately, but do it in the evening at home, or the next morning, depending on your country, when the initial rush has watered down.
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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