iPhone (iOS) · System
Let iOS Install Updates Overnight
Automatic Updates, found inside Software Update settings, controls whether iOS downloads and installs new versions on its own overnight — while charging and on Wi-Fi — without you needing to tap through it manually.
How to open Automatic Updates
- Open Settings → General → Software Update → Automatic Updates.
- Turn on Download iOS Updates.
- Turn on Install iOS Updates.
- Leave the iPhone charging and on Wi-Fi overnight so updates can complete.
What you should know
- A separate toggle controls Automatically Download versus Automatically Install.
- Updates typically install overnight while the iPhone is locked, charging, and connected to Wi-Fi.
- Security Responses can be configured to install automatically even faster than full iOS updates.
- You can still check for and install updates manually anytime, regardless of these toggles.
Automatic installs still require the device to be charging and connected to Wi-Fi overnight — they won't happen on cellular data alone or with the battery critically low.
Why it matters
Security patches only protect you once they're actually installed, and Automatic Updates is what closes that gap without relying on you to remember to check manually. It's one of the single most effective 'set it and forget it' security habits available on iPhone.
Best practices
- Turn on both Download and Install toggles so updates require zero manual effort.
- Charge your iPhone overnight on Wi-Fi regularly so automatic installs actually get the chance to run.
- Still check manually before a major event or trip, since automatic installs run on their own schedule, not instantly.
Common problems and fixes
- Automatic Updates never seem to actually install overnight
- Confirm the iPhone is charging, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi overnight, and that both Download and Install toggles are enabled.
- An update installed automatically at an inconvenient time
- Automatic installs are designed to run overnight, but if timing is a problem, turn off Install iOS Updates and install manually on your own schedule instead.
Tips and tricks
- Automatic Updates and Security Responses & System Files have separate toggles — turn both on for the fastest possible protection against newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn on automatic downloading but keep installing manual?
Yes, Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates are separate toggles, so you can let it download ahead of time while still choosing when to install.
Does Automatic Updates work over cellular data?
Large iOS updates generally require Wi-Fi to download automatically, though smaller Security Responses may be more flexible depending on iOS version and settings.
Related settings
- Software UpdateSoftware Update keeps iOS current with the latest security fixes, features, and app compatibility. You can update wirelessly, overnight while charging, or via a computer.
- Update HistoryUpdate History, found on the General → About screen, lists every iOS and iPadOS version that has ever been installed on this specific device, along with the date each one was installed.
- Beta UpdatesBeta Updates lets you opt an iPhone into Apple's Developer or Public Beta program directly from Software Update settings, so it receives pre-release iOS versions ahead of the general public release.
More System guides for iPhone (iOS)
- BatteryThe Battery screen shows your battery's current health and charging behavior, breaks down which apps used the most power recently, and includes Low Power Mode for stretching a low charge further.
- Rapid Security ResponsesRapid Security Responses deliver urgent security fixes between full iOS releases, installing quickly and, unlike major updates, without requiring a full device restart in most cases.
- Carrier Settings UpdateCarrier Settings Updates are small packages issued by a mobile carrier to improve network performance, enable new features like VoLTE or Wi-Fi Calling, and fix connectivity bugs, independent of iOS software updates.
- App Store Automatic App UpdatesSeparate from iOS software updates, the App Store has its own setting for automatically installing new versions of installed apps as developers release them.
- Update iPhone via ComputerAs an alternative to updating over the air, iPhone can be updated by connecting it to a Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with iTunes, which downloads and installs the update via a wired or Wi-Fi connection to the computer.
- Security-Only Updates for Older DevicesApple sometimes continues issuing security-focused updates for older iPhone models that can no longer run the newest major iOS version, keeping them protected without adding new features.