Apple will release iOS 11 tomorrow, September 19. Before you update, make sure that you check the readiness of your device. iOS 11 is a major update, with new features as well as security updates. New features include:
- Files app to manage your files on your iOS device
- Dock available in apps, with quick access to recent apps
- Better multitasking on iPad
- Drag and Drop on iPad
- Inline drawing and searchable handwriting in Notes
- Document scanner built-in to Notes
- Inline drawing in Mail
- New filters built into Camera
- Customize the Control Center
- Driving mode so that you are not disturbed while you drive
- Lane guidance and speed limit built into Maps
- Quick type keyboard for typing with one hand
- Automatically set up iOS device from another iOS device by proximity
Check your hardware
iOS 11 is compatible with iOS 5S and newer iPhones, iPad mini 2 and newer iPads, 6th generation iPod and iPod touch. However, be aware that new operating systems can slow down older devices. Just because you can update your device doesn’t mean you should. If you have an older device that you depend on for frequent use, I suggest waiting for later updates of iOS 11, and checking reviews of how it works with your device before you update to iOS 11.
Check you apps
Many developers have updated their apps to work with the new operating system, but some apps (especially free ones) may not work with your device. If you have any of those apps installed, find a replacement for the ones that you use. If there are any apps on the list that are critical for you, you may want to wait for an app update before updating to iOS 11.
To check which apps many not work after you update your device,
- Open Settings
- General — About
- Applications
Check your space
If you’re getting storage almost full messages on your device, it’s a good idea to clean the storage. If you need help, see this article from Macworld.
Other consideration
Before you update, make sure that you know your Apple ID and password. If you have it saved on the device and don’t haven’t it memorized, make sure to write it down temporarily. Also, make sure that your device is backed up to iCloud* (or your computer). If you depend on your iOS device, I think it’s a good idea to invest in iCloud. I pay CDN$1.29 a month for 50GB of iCloud storage.
*Note that iCloud doesn’t back up your apps. It makes note of what apps you have installed on your device so that you can restore them later from the App Store, but it won’t allow you to restore any apps that are no longer available in the App Store. It also doesn’t back up data from the Health app.
If you have a question or need some help, post on my Facebook page or email me at damianne@presidentialtech.com.