iPhone: Update your Wirelessly

Free updates to your iPhone's operating system without having the hassle of plugging your handset into your computer. One of the many positive aspects of owning an iPhone is Apple's brilliant support. Rather than rest of its laurels, it pushes out regular updates to the handset's operating system which make improvements and ensure the device is more secure.

Updating your phone ensures that your are not left behind and can take advantage of most of the latest innovations (there are exceptions, such as iPhone 4 handsets being unable to handle Siri which is 4S-only). The problem used to be, however, that you had to plug your phone into your computer and launch iTunes in order to update.

While that wasn't a life or death situation, the neatest solution is to update it wirelessly. It is quicker and means you don't need to tie up your phone to a computer - just get yourself into a Wi-Fi zone and you are able to get the latest version. Anyone who has iOS 5 installed can take advantage of this and it is the way Apple wants things to work from now on.

The process is a very simple one and does not take a long time either. The good thing is that you can download the update and install it in separate steps so you can take advantage of a Wi-Fi connection to get the latest iOS on your phone and then choose to install it whenever you feel it is most convenient to you.

Connect to Wi-Fi:
Updates for iOS will eat away at your data on 3G so ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi. Once you have done that, tap the Settings app.
Go to General:
Scroll through Settings until you see 'General'. Tap on this. Note that in order for this to work, you must have at least iOS 5 on your phone already.
Software Update:
Find and tap on About. This will show your current iOS version. With iOS 5 and above, you will also see a Software Update option. Tab this.
Updating your phone
- General:
  You will find the ability to update your phone wirelessly in the General option of Settings on your iPhone as long as you have iOS 5 or later installed.
- Progress:
  The process is a two-step one. First of all the update will download. Then, once it's complete a pop-up window prompts you to Install.
- Details:
  This screen shows you exactly what the update will do to your phone so you can decide whether or not to go ahead. It's always advisable to stay up to date, however.
- Learn More:
  If you want the full low-down on the extra goodies that are on offer, then tap on 'Learn More' and the knowledge shall be all yours.
Non-iOS 5 phones:
If your phone is not running iOS 5, then you will have to update it via iTunes. Plug your iPhone into your Mac or PC and open iTunes. After your phone syncs, it will ask if your want to 'Check for update'. Perform this task and bring your phone up to speed.
Checking your update:
Your phone will begin looking for an update. If you have the latest iOS then a message will tell you so and you won't have to do any more.
Download and Install:
If a new version is available, your phone will tell you the version and it will also outline what the update will give you. Tap Download and Install to continue.
Installing the update:
From this point on, the iPhone takes over. Tap 'Install' on the pop-up window and wait for the installation to complete and the phone to reset.