How to Keep Your Phone Updated: iPhone and Android Software Updates in the UK

Your phone quietly gets better, and safer, through software updates. They fix security holes, smooth out bugs, and keep your apps working with the latest services. Skip them for too long and you can end up with apps that refuse to open, or a known security flaw left open on a device you carry everywhere. Checking for an update takes about a minute, and automatic updates mean you rarely need to think about it again.

This guide walks through iPhone and Android in plain steps, in the way settings appear in most recent versions. Menu names can vary slightly by phone maker, so if a label looks a little different, look for the closest match.

Step 1: Back up first before a major update

Most routine updates install without touching your photos or messages. Even so, a quick backup before a major version update is sensible, because it turns a rare problem into a minor inconvenience.

On iPhone, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, then iCloud, then iCloud Backup, and tap Back Up Now. On Android, go to Settings, then Google, then Backup, and check that Backup by Google One is on.

Step 2: Check for an update on iPhone

Open Settings, then General, then Software Update. Your iPhone will check for a new version and tell you whether one is available. If an update appears, tap Download and Install, enter your passcode if asked, and agree to the terms. Keep the phone on Wi-Fi and plugged in while it installs, and do not restart it by hand part way through. It may restart on its own once or twice, and that is normal.

If the screen says your software is up to date, you are done. To get future updates on their own, turn on Automatic Updates on the same screen. You can choose to download updates automatically and install them overnight, when the phone is charging and on Wi-Fi. That is the simplest setting for most people, because security fixes then arrive without you having to remember them.

Step 3: Check for an update on Android

Android settings vary by maker, but the path is similar on most phones. Open Settings, then System, then Software Update, or on a Samsung phone, Settings, then Software Update. Tap Check for updates or Download and install. If an update is available, follow the prompts, stay on Wi-Fi, and keep the phone charging while it installs.

Google Pixel phones tend to get updates promptly, while other makers release them on their own schedules, sometimes weeks later. That delay does not mean something is wrong with your phone.

Step 4: Free up space if the update will not download

A common reason updates fail is storage. Updates need room to download and unpack, and a nearly full phone will refuse to start. If you see a storage warning, start with the easy wins: delete downloaded videos you have watched, remove apps you no longer open, and clear old downloads in your Files app.

On iPhone, Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage shows what is taking up space and suggests options such as offloading unused apps while keeping their data. On Android, Settings, then Storage shows a similar breakdown, and many phones offer a Free Up Space option. After clearing a few gigabytes, go back to Software Update and try again. Do not delete photos in a panic. Move them to a cloud backup or a computer first, then delete local copies once the backup is confirmed.

Step 5: Fix an update that stalls or fails

If a download stalls, check the basics first. Make sure Wi-Fi is connected and stable, and try moving closer to your router. A weak signal is a frequent cause of a download stuck at the same percentage. If Wi-Fi is fine, restart the phone and try again. A restart clears temporary glitches and often lets a stalled download resume cleanly.

If the update downloads but fails to install, check storage again, then battery. Most phones refuse a major update below a certain charge level, so plug in and try once more. If the problem repeats, check your maker's support pages, because a small number of updates are paused or reissued when a fault is found. Waiting a few days can be the correct fix.

Never install an update file from a random website or a link sent by text message. Genuine updates come through Settings on your phone, or through your maker's official tool on a computer. A message claiming your phone urgently needs an update from an outside link is a classic scam pattern.

Step 6: Check apps and settings after a major update

Once a major update finishes, spend two minutes checking the things you use every day. Open your banking app, messaging apps, and email, and make sure each one works as expected. Very occasionally, an app needs its own update from the App Store or Google Play Store to work with a new system version, so check the store for waiting app updates.

Also glance at key settings after a big update. Brightness, notification choices, and privacy permissions usually carry over, but a major version can move a setting or reset a default.

The easiest routine is this: automatic updates on, automatic app updates on, and a manual check once a month. Older phones stop receiving major updates after a few years, but often keep receiving security patches for longer. When a phone stops receiving security updates entirely, that is a genuine reason to start planning a replacement, because no setting can patch flaws the maker no longer fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I update my phone?

Install security updates as soon as they arrive, and major version updates within a few days of release once you have a backup. Automatic updates handle most of this, and a monthly manual check catches anything missed.

Will updating my phone delete my photos or messages?

A normal update from Settings should not delete your data. Even so, keep a cloud backup on, and make a fresh backup before a major update, so a rare problem never costs you irreplaceable photos or chats.

Why does my friend have a newer Android version than me?

Android updates are released by each maker, and sometimes by mobile networks, on different schedules for different models. Your phone may get the same update weeks later, or not at all if the model is older. Software Update tells you what is available for your exact phone.