General Update through OTA or iTunes (IPSW)?

[rsnhakan]

Hi there,

How do you update your devices? I read there is a difference between updating through OTA and iTunes. I always update through iTunes but this costs me a lot of time.

I read people had problems with their devices after updating through OTA, even hardware issues.

What do you advice?

 

[chrfr]

Hi there,

How do you update your devices? I read there is a difference between updating through OTA and iTunes. I always update through iTunes but this costs me a lot of time.

I read people had problems with their devices after updating through OTA, even hardware issues.

What do you advice?

I always update OTA and have never had a problem of any sort. You can be certain that the vast majority of iOS users never update through iTunes.

 

[jhall8]

I always keep an iTunes backup on the current official iOS version. But I update via OTA. No issues so far.

 

[SoYoung]

Always OTA as well and everything works fine.

I only use iTunes for backups and restore if needed.

 

[Jessica Lares]

I don't remember ever having any problems doing a OTA update for point releases. But yeah, I keep backups in iTunes too.

 

[C DM]

Hi there,

How do you update your devices? I read there is a difference between updating through OTA and iTunes. I always update through iTunes but this costs me a lot of time.

I read people had problems with their devices after updating through OTA, even hardware issues.

What do you advice?

Either way is perfectly fine. There have been people with different issues using either method, so that's generally not a factor in it.

 

[Banglazed]

OTA is preferred but I use ITunes because I had bad experiences with it before such as problem installing, getting stuck on loading and boot loop. Now, I rather use iTunes if I can and experience ess issue. I’m only forced to use OTA on Watch and 4K TV

 

[Mlrollin91]

I use OTA for X.x.x releases. I use iTunes full installer for X.x releases. I’ve done the whole major release via OTA but it has already lead to issue for me. I haven’t had a single issue since switching to my method.

 

[old-wiz]

I thought the current version of iTunes would not update applications? Didn't they move it into app store on the ios side?

 

[DNichter]

I only have an iPad and iPhone for all my computing needs. OTA for me.

 

[CharlesShaw]

I only have cellular service, so I tether to Mac and use iTunes.

When there’s also a watchOS update, both devices need to be on WiFi, so the Mac shares the usb iPhone hotspot via Ethernet to my Time Capsule which sends the data via WiFi back to the iPhone.

 

[rsnhakan]

Thanks all for your reply. Your experience is not bad at all as I can read. In the past I read that some hardware components get defect after updating through OTA.

 

[C DM]

Thanks all for your reply. Your experience is not bad at all as I can read. In the past I read that some hardware components get defect after updating through OTA.

Can't really say I've come across something like that.

 

[Minorite]

I also use OTA updates for patches and iTunes for minor/major releases, just don't want big packages on my phone as there is always lack of space. No issues so far.

 

[eoblaed]

Almost exclusively OTA updates.

I primarily use iTunes for doing a full backup when I’m going to upgrade my phone, etc, but that’s about it.

 

[gaanee]

OTA or full update using iTunes depends on how big is the update size and what new features are included.
Usually, OTA update size to x.0 version is as big as the full update, so prefer to do the full update. Whereas, x.x.x OTA updates are 100-200 MB compared to 2GB+ full update so the OTA update is quicker.
Of course, that depends on internet speed, if you have unlimited high speed connection and willing to wait a little longer then it's not an issue.

 

[rsnhakan]

Thanks all!

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I’ve used both and the only difference is iTunes takes much longer to update..

 

[mavis]

I can't even remember the last time I did an iTunes IPSW restore ... never had a problem with OTA (I usually do all the betas as well) so I never really saw the point in doing it the hard way.

 

[rsnhakan]

And another question:

When a new update is out and you connect your iPhone to a computer, sometimes it automatically downloads the update through OTA. But if you update through iTunes, what happens with the OTA file that has been downloaded?

 

[Banglazed]

And another question:

When a new update is out and you connect your iPhone to a computer, sometimes it automatically downloads the update through OTA. But if you update through iTunes, what happens with the OTA file that has been downloaded?

If you use iTunes to update, it download the full IPSW firmware which is stored on your computer.

Mac - ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates
PC - C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

 

[rsnhakan]

If you use iTunes to update, it download the full IPSW firmware which is stored on your computer.

Mac - ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates
PC - C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

Hi, I know. But what if the OTA update already has been downloaded to the device (but not installed)? And you choose to update through iTunes. What happens with the OTA file? Does the iPhone delete this one or does it stay stored?

 

[cynics]

Everything has always worked fine for me using OTA however typically I will update via iTunes to download the entire OS. Takes more time and is probably just a waste of time.

The OTA data is removed the best I can tell or overwritten wherever its stored with the updated version of iOS.