Apple is expected to launch the brand-new iOS 26 system in mid-September. At that time, if you want to update to the latest iOS 26 system, please be sure to refer to our guide about what to do before iOS 26 update for a successful update.

Step 1: Check iOS 26 Supported Devices

Before updating to iOS 26, the most important thing to do is to confirm the iOS 26 Supported Devices. Make sure your mobile device is within the supported range to avoid a wasted effort.

If there are no unexpected circumstances, iOS 26 will support devices equipped with the A13 chip, ranging from the iPhone 11 to the upcoming iPhone 17.

Check the list below to learn in detail:

iOS 26 Supported iPhones

iPhone 11 series (11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max)

iPhone 12 series (12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max)

iPhone 13 series (13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max)

iPhone 14 series (14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max)

iPhone 15 series (15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max)

iPhone 16 series (16e, 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max)

iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)

iOS 26 Dropped iPhones

iPhone XR (A12 Bionic)

iPhone XS / XS Max (A12 Bionic)

iPhone X (A11 Bionic)

iPhone 8 / 8 Plus (A11 Bionic)

Earlier models

Step 2: Back up Your iPhone

It is crucial to back up your device before updating the iOS system to prevent data loss due to all kinds of reasons.

The specific situations include:

1. Failure during update: The installation process may unexpectedly be interrupted, such as a system crash, power failure, or network disconnection, which may cause system damage or data disorder.

2. Serious bugs in the new system: You may find that the system has fatal problems, such as frequent restarts, internet connection problems, etc., after the update. At this time, if you want to downgrade to the old system, you must have a backup before the update to fully restore the data. The backup under the new system cannot be used for restoring the old system.

3. Data compatibility issues (rare but serious): In rare but serious cases, the update process itself may cause some application data or files to be damaged. With a backup, it can be recovered.

Therefore, we recommend using Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore to back up your iPhone in advance.

Step 1. Download this tool to your computer for free from the button above. Connect your iPhone to this software and choose the iOS Data Backup & Restore option on the main interface.

Step 2. Press the iOS Data Backup button. On the following page, choose a backup mode for your iPhone. If you want an absolutely secure backup, you can choose the Encrypted backup mode. If you don't have any needs, just check Standard backup. Then, hit the Start button.

Step 3. Check the data type you want to back up and click the Next button to start your iPhone data backup process.

Step 3: Check Your Storage Space

What you should be aware of is that the actual downloaded update package may be relatively small, but the installation process requires additional space, which is much larger than the size of the update package. If there is not enough storage space, your iPhone will be stuck on update. Therefore, you need to check your storage space and spare more space for the iOS 26 update.

Step 1. Go to Settings and find the General tab. Click it.

Step 2. Select the iPhone Storage option, and you will see detailed information about your iPhone storage.

If your iPhone is running out of storage space, you should follow the onscreen instructions to clear unnecessary junk files to spare more space for the iOS 26 download.

Step 4: Check Your Internet Condition

Unstable network conditions may lead to a failed update and even put your iPhone into recovery mode. You need to restart the download process, which wastes time.

Therefore, you should note the following tips for checking the network before updating to iOS 26:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi

iOS update packages are usually large in size. You'd better download them using a stable and fast Wi-Fi network. You can try visiting a website or streaming a video to test the network speed and stability.

2. Check the Wi-Fi Signal Condition

Ensure that the Wi-Fi signal around you is at its strongest.

3. Avoid using cellular data. Wi-Fi is faster and more reliable than cellular networks. Moreover, Apple requires a Wi-Fi connection for downloading large iOS update packages.

4. Turn off the airplane mode and VPN.

Step 5: Make Sure Your Device Is Fully Charged

You should also make sure your device has sufficient battery power before the iOS 26 update. If there is a sudden power outage during the update process, you may encounter a failed update or even a bricked iPhone.

• It is recommended to update your phone when it has more than 50% battery power, since the iOS 26 update process takes a long time.

• If conditions permit, fully charge your phone before updating. This is because the power consumption during the installation stage will increase significantly.

• Before the iOS 26 update, it is recommended to close the applications running in the background to reduce power consumption.

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