Home > Articles > Hardware > Upgrading & Repairing

Step-By-Step Guide to Upgrading to iOS 7

In this article, Jason R. Rich explains how to download iOS 7 onto your iPhone or iPad for free, and install the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system onto your iOS mobile device.
Like this article? We recommend

In late September 2013, Apple introduced iOS 7. This is the latest version of the iOS operating system that runs on all iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices. In addition to offering a handful of useful new features and functions, as you’ll soon discover, iOS 7 showcases an entirely new look and redesigned user interface.

All new iOS mobile devices purchased after September 18, 2013 come with iOS 7 pre-installed. However, if your current Apple smartphone or tablet operates using iOS 5 or iOS 6, you’ll definitely want to make the free upgrade to iOS 7.

The easiest way to do this is to have your iOS mobile device access the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection, and then follow these steps:

1.       Backup your iPhone or iPad using iCloud Backup for the iTunes Sync process.

2.       From the Home Screen, launch Settings.

3.       Tap the General option from the main Settings menu.

4.       From the General menu, tap in the Software Updates option.

5.       To download and install iOS 7 onto your mobile device, it must have at least 3.1GM of available internal storage space available. If ample storage space is available, tap the Download and Install option when the iOS 7 upgrade screen appears within Settings.

6.       When the Terms and Conditions screen appears, tap the Agree option. Then, when the related pop-up window appears, tap the Agree button.

7.       The iOS 7 download process begins. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, allow between 10 to 30 minutes for the update to download from Apple’s servers to your iOS mobile device. It’s a good idea to refrain from using your iPhone or iPad for others tasks during this process. During the download process, a progress meter displays on the screen.

8.       After iOS 7 downloads to your mobile device, it automatically installs. Your iPhone or iPad restart itself and the Apple logo appears during the rebooting and installation process.

9.       As soon as the installation process completes, iOS 7’s animated Hello screen displays. To continue the one-time setup process, swipe your finger from left to right across the screen.

10.     A message displays that says: “Update Completed. Your iPhone/iPad was updated successfully. There are just a few more steps to follow and then you’re done!” Tap the Continue option.

11.     Depending on which iOS mobile device you use, a handful of iOS 7 setup screens display, one at a time. To progress through this setup process, make your selection on each screen, and then tap the Continue, Next, or Skip option that displays.

12.     From the Location Service screen that displays during the iOS 7 setup process, tap either Enable Location Services or Disable Location Services. It’s a good strategy to turn on this feature, and then if you choose to later, restrict specific apps from accessing and utilizing your location information.

13.     When the iMessage and FaceTime screen appears, confirm which iPhone phone number and which email addresses you want to associate with these online-based services, and then tap the Next option.

14.     From the Find My iPhone/iPad in iOS 7 screen, be sure to turn on the newly improved Find My feature. After it’s turned on, if at any time in the future your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen, you can use the Find My feature of iCloud.com or the Find My iPhone app to locate the lost equipment and remotely lock it down or erase its contents.

15. One screen at a time, work your way through the setup process, which should take no more than 2 to 3 minutes. When you finish, the newly redesigned Home Screen displays on your iOS mobile device.

Notice that on your Home Screen, all the familiar pre-installed apps are present, but they each have a newly designed app icon associated with them. However, all your data and settings remain intact. You can now begin using your iOS mobile device and take advantage of the new features and functions of iOS 7.

Because iOS 7 represents a rather significant update to your iOS device, the majority of optional apps you have installed on your device also now need to be updated. One new feature of iOS 7 is that app updates now happen automatically. As you begin using iOS 7 for the first time, make sure your iOS mobile device remains connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot or wireless network to ensure all the necessary app updates can be installed as quickly as possible.

iOS 7 includes a redesigned Notification Center screen (iPhone) or window (iPad), Control Center, and the capability to customize the wallpaper of your iOS mobile device’s Lock Screen and Home Screen using Dynamic (animated) backgrounds. As you’ll also discover, iOS 7 offers a handful of new ways to customize settings, features, and apps. This can be done from within Settings.

To begin further customizing iOS 7 and how it’ll perform on your iOS mobile device, launch Settings and tap the Notification Center option. From the Notification Center submenu, you can now determine what information displays within the Notification Center screen (iPhone) or window (iPad).

As always, when you swipe your finger from the top of the screen in a downward direction, the Notification Center screen/window displays. Now that you’re running iOS 7 on your mobile device, however, near the top center of this screen/window will be three tabs: Today, All, and Missed.

Based on how you set up the Notification Center from within Settings, when you tap the Today tab, a summary of your Calendar appointments and date-specific Reminder app listings display, along with the current date and the local weather forecast.

When you tap the All tab, a summary of all the app-specific alerts, alarms, and notifications that have recently been generated by various apps running in your iOS mobile device display. From the Notification Center menu within Settings, you can determine which apps this feature monitors, plus determine how many alerts or notifications from each app display. You can also determine the order in which app-specific content displays.

By tapping the Missed tab, all alerts and notifications generated by iOS 7 and various apps running on your mobile device while it was in sleep mode or left unattended display. On the iPhone, for example, this includes calls that were received and unanswered, new voice mails that have been received, and new text messages, missed FaceTime calls, and alerts related to other apps running on your device that the Notification Center is set up to monitor, including Mail.

After you personalize the options related to the Notification Center from within Settings, return to the main Settings menu, and tap the various other options that are new to iOS 7. Be sure to customize those options as well. For example, tap Control Center, Do Not Disturb, Sounds, Wallpapers & Brightness, iCloud, and so on.

As you begin customizing these options, you’ll discover that some of the default sounds associated with common iPhone or iPad tasks have now changed within iOS 7. You can further customize these settings by tapping the Sounds menu option. Likewise, to take advantage of a new dynamic (animated) background for your Home Screen or Lock Screen, from the main Settings menu, tap the Wallpapers & Brightness option.

Another new feature of iOS 7 that you’ll want to customize early on relates to iCloud Keychain. This feature works with the Safari web browser and automatically records, saves, and synchronizes the majority of your website-specific usernames and passwords, along with credit card information you use to make online purchases from specific websites.

To adjust the settings related to iCloud Keychain, launch Settings, tap the Safari option, and then tap the Passwords & AutoFill option. Next, turn on the Use Contact Info option, and then associate your own personal entry from within the Contacts app with the My Info option displayed as part of the Passwords & AutoFill menu screen. (If you haven’t yet created a detailed entry for yourself within the Contacts app, do so before customizing the iCloud Keychain option.)

Also from the Passwords & Autofill menu within Settings, turn on the Names and Passwords feature, and then decide whether to activate the Always Allow option. This ensures that Safari will remember the username and password you use anytime you access a new website. Then, when you revisit that website later, Safari will automatically fill in the username and password fields, so you don’t need to manually log in to those websites.

You can also securely store your credit card details within your iOS mobile device that you use when shopping online. When activated, Safari autofills fields associated with your credit card information, expiration date, and billing address when you make online purchases. To turn on this feature, which is part of iCloud Keychain, turn on the Credit Cards option from the Passwords & Autofill screen within Settings, and then tap the Saved Credit Cards information to enter your credit card information once.

iOS 7 is chock full of new features and functions but also features a new look to preexisting features. In some cases, familiar options within apps now look different or are located somewhere else on the screen. You may also discover that in some instances, instead of swiping your finger from left to right to accomplish something, a right to left swipe is now required. So, expect there to be a slight adjustment period and learning curve when you begin using this new operating system.

Two other major differences between iOS 6 and iOS 7 include how you access the Spotlight Search feature and the new Control Center. When using iOS 7, to find any content or app stored on your mobile device, use the Spotlight Search feature by placing your finger somewhere near the center of the Home Screen and swiping downward to reveal the Search field.

To access the new Control Center from the Home Screen, or from almost any app, swipe your finger from the bottom of the screen in an upward direction. From the Control Center, you have quick access to a handful of common iOS 7 features and apps, including Music controls, a screen brightness slider, a volume control slider, and command icons that enable you to quickly turn on or off Airplane mode, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, and the auto-rotation lock.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020