How often does iOS check for updates

[Schtibbie]

So, I've seen this question infrequently around the interwebs and never seen a reliable answer that anyone has proved out via experience or knowledge of the code: How often does iOS look for OS and/or appstore updates, so as to show the badge and tell you something is ready to download? As an experiment, I have not updated my phone to 5.1.1 yet and I haven't gone into settings to check. I also haven't plugged into the computer, but the phone DOES wifi-sync every night when I charge. I still see no update badge. Not jailbroken, FYI.

I was kinda hoping it checked daily. Why would waiting up to 7 days (for example) make sense?

 

[Grayburn]

It showed me that there was an IOS update after it had come back on after the phone had gone off due to the battery running out.

Try turning it off and then on again.

 

[Soundflunky]

I check in iTunes for updates pretty much every day and I never see AppStore badges. I'd say from casual observation that it doesn't check more than once every 24 hours without me entering the store or the software update section first. Probably even less than that.

God knows why. I don't think polling a few times a day is excessive.

Heck, why doesn't the AppStore push the badges?

 

[Schtibbie]

It showed me that there was an IOS update after it had come back on after the phone had gone off due to the battery running out.

Try turning it off and then on again.

No dice. I've done that a couple times in the last couple of days (for just that reason), but it doesn't apparently decide to check for updates just because of a reboot. Yours might have already been "due". Mine might be waiting until Sunday or something, who knows.

 

[TonyC28]

I could be wrong but this is how I understand it: iOS never checks for updates from the store unless you actually open the App Store. Same with iOS updates, it doesn't actively check for updates unless you tell it do so in Settings. And the only time you'll see an update badge on the App Store is if you open it and don't actually do the updates at that time. I think that is also how iOS updates work...if you open Settings and check for an update but don't actually do it you will be left with a notification badge on Settings.

 

[Schtibbie]

...Same with iOS updates, it doesn't actively check for updates unless you tell it do so in Settings. And the only time you'll see an update badge on the App Store is if you open it and don't actually do the updates at that time. ...

Can't be. The common user is supposed to read MacRumors regularly and hear about minor dot releases, go into Settings and manually check? They're supposed to do that? My mom is supposed to do that? No. Not possible.

 

[TonyC28]

Can't be. The common user is supposed to read MacRumors regularly and hear about minor dot releases, go into Settings and manually check? They're supposed to do that? My mom is supposed to do that? No. Not possible.

Every software update I have ever done on my iPhones was because I am a nerd and read websites like this. If you're trying to sarcastically make a point about how stupid it is that we don't get some type of notification when there is a software update then I agree with you. Obviously there have only been a couple over the air updates, but I have yet to see a notification telling me of an update. I simply did it on my own because I read that there was an update available.

Actually, I updated to 5.1.1 because I saw that "iOS 5.1.1" was trending on Twitter. But every other time was because of reading websites like this.

 

[Kyotoma]

Every software update I have ever done on my iPhones was because I am a nerd and read websites like this. If you're trying to sarcastically make a point about how stupid it is that we don't get some type of notification when there is a software update then I agree with you. Obviously there have only been a couple over the air updates, but I have yet to see a notification telling me of an update. I simply did it on my own because I read that there was an update available.

Actually, I updated to 5.1.1 because I saw that "iOS 5.1.1" was trending on Twitter. But every other time was because of reading websites like this.

My grandmother's iPad 2 is still on iOS 4.3.3. Why? She has never plugged it into a computer. It was set up at the Verizon store and has never had a problem. Oh, and 4.3.3 was obviously before OTA updates came to iOS.

 

[TonyC28]

My grandmother's iPad 2 is still on iOS 4.3.3. Why? She has never plugged it into a computer. It was set up at the Verizon store and has never had a problem. Oh, and 4.3.3 was obviously before OTA updates came to iOS.

Well that's good that she has never had a problem. The average user is probably content to go by without updates. Not being rude, but was is your point? Are you saying that it's ok to not update? Or just acknowledging that users have no easy way of knowing about updates?

 

[Schtibbie]

OP here. Funny, just as I was sitting here with the phone next to me (doing nothing) it suddenly popped up a message telling me about the new update and asking if I wanted to grab it now. Phone was not plugged into computer and was not in the settings menu, just idle at my side.

So, it is determined at least that iOS does in fact "occasionally" check itself for updates without prompting. But it's unclear how often. We can't say every couple days because it may well have been due for a weekly check today.

And sorry TonyC28 - I was in fact being sarcastic. Now that I know it checks itself, I'm less irritable.

 

[TonyC28]

OP here. Funny, just as I was sitting here with the phone next to me (doing nothing) it suddenly popped up a message telling me about the new update and asking if I wanted to grab it now. Phone was not plugged into computer and was not in the settings menu, just idle at my side.

So, it is determined at least that iOS does in fact "occasionally" check itself for updates without prompting. But it's unclear how often. We can't say every couple days because it may well have been due for a weekly check today.

And sorry TonyC28 - I was in fact being sarcastic. Now that I know it checks itself, I'm less irritable.

That's good to know. I'm going to hold off on updating my mom's phone and wait to see if she ever gets a message for that.

 

[Daffodil]

My grandmother's iPad 2 is still on iOS 4.3.3. Why? She has never plugged it into a computer. It was set up at the Verizon store and has never had a problem. Oh, and 4.3.3 was obviously before OTA updates came to iOS.

I think his point is trying to be proof that updates are not, in fact, pushed, and require either actively being sought out, or connection to a computer to occur. Which appears to contradict the OPs experience.

 

[Kyotoma]

Well that's good that she has never had a problem. The average user is probably content to go by without updates. Not being rude, but was is your point? Are you saying that it's ok to not update? Or just acknowledging that users have no easy way of knowing about updates?

The Latter: Unless it's right in the user's face, they usually do not know about updates that are possible.

 

[AppleDApp]

I was doing the same test I'm going to wait and see how long it takes so that I get a notification. It just doesn't seem right that Apple's app can't push notifications.

Edit Apple doesn't ask for the user's permission to remove the ODD or floppy drive on there computers. Why would they have to notify users about updates. Why not automatically push and install updates.

I'm not entirely for it but in most cases it seems like it would be useful. It could probably also help kill jailbreaking.

 

[TonyC28]

So my mom finally got a badge icon on Settings. I know she didn't actively check for the update so it appeared on its own. I don't know exactly when it popped up but it wasn't there in the first few days after the update came out.

 

[AppleDApp]

In my case it has taken 13 days to see the notification badge.

 

[Gav2k]

With the iOS 5.1.1 update it didn't flag settings till I was at home. As soon as wifi was connected it popped up. App store updates only when I go into the store.

 

[twigman08]

My settings app never did tell me about the 5.1.1 update until 3 days ago. Of course I knew about it, but it did finally tell me without me having to go into settings.

I have a couple times turned my phone on to see a notification badge for updates on the App Store. This being times that I haven't even opened up the App Store in a couple days. So I think it pushes those sometimes too.

 

[AppleDApp]

I find it kinda odd how push notifications are done. Often times they appear after I check a specific application. For instance, in the morning my RSS Reader will not display new articles however if I open the app, I will get all the updates.

 

[Carlanga]

I think you need to have all the cards set properly. A good connection & enough battery for the device to tell you to update to the newer version and also, they probably do sweeps by IMEI at Apple for these updates and if all the cards are set then you get the msj? This is just pure 100% speculation by me.

 

[miraishak]

Hi, I was sort of wondering the same thing today and as I read this thread I still can't figure out if or not it checks and what are the criteria? Is it the wifi? The battery? The checking manually? Opening the settings? My question is mail y about the iOS update not the AppStore. If I remember correctly, I got a push notification in the update before last one. As for the 5.1.1, which is the latest, I found out about it from a website and went to check for it manually from the settings. That was only a couple of days after it was released so u didn't leave enough time to check. So did anyone reach a definate answer about whether or not we receive ups update push notifications and when or how do we receive them???

 

[Arelunde]

It must check for updates because I received a good size notification on my screens (iPhone 4 and iPad 2), which appeared on its own, when 5.1.1 came out. I knew there was an update available from reading MR, but hadn't gotten around to looking for it manually.

 

[teamrusnac]

My 3rd Gen iPad always shows me when there are apps to update on the App Store with a badge icon. It does this without me having to go in the app store at all. It is running 5.1.1. My two iPhones on the other hand will only show me there are updates for apps only if I go in to the app store itself. I have no idea how to control this behavior or why only my iPad will automatically look for updates. I dont seem to see any controls for this. Any one notice something similar?