PSA: Always Do Your iOS Updates

I have been asked by more people than I can count about whether or not they should install iOS updates. Because there is a lot of misinformation about the true pros and cons of keeping your devices on the latest software, I decided I would weigh in on the topic publicly. 

A lot of people think that iOS updates don’t matter, so they don’t bother taking the time to install them because they think it takes too long, but this isn’t really the case anymore. The most recent update (iOS 12.3) took my iPhone XS Max only 9 minutes to download and install, from start to finish. And if you can’t find nine minutes, your phone can update itself for you while you’re sleeping. 

Furthermore, the updates DO matter, and they matter a lot. A lot of bug fixes are rolled out with each update, so the reason your phone is acting up could be a direct result of the fact that it HASN’T been updated yet. Additionally, iOS updates frequently include security patches which are absolutely essential, so from a privacy and security point of view, it’s a terrible to avoid software updates. Frequent software updates are a large part of what makes the iOS platform so superior to Android when it comes to privacy and security.

Lastly, we have to address the common concern that Apple pushes out updates on a regular basis to further their own interests. I am no longer employed by Apple, so I have no reason to be dishonest when I tell you that Apple is not trying to use software updates to drive iPhone sales. They do not intentionally make your phone slower. They do not intentionally make your phone buggy. They do not intentionally try to decrease your battery life. All of these concerns are usually only reported by people using devices which are several years old, and at that point the processors are comparably inefficient and are therefore struggling to keep up with the new, more advanced software. If your iPhone is less than 4 years old, this should not be a concern for you.

The bottom line: when your iOS devices tell you that they need to be updated, it is in your best interest to update them.