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If you've been very patiently waiting for the release of the iOS 12 since the Sept. 12 annual Apple Keynote meeting, you can finally breathe — it's here! Apple's new operating system officially became available for upgrade and download on Monday, September 17. If you've been having issues with your mobile apps and features, or if you literally live for new features, you've probably been looking forward to the update since before it was even announced and you'll want to know how to get iOS 12 on your Apple device ASAP.
While most operating system updates receive a lot of buzz for flashy new features that we didn't have before, this update is more focused on helping to eradicate various issues mobile users might have been dealing with iOS 11. If you were taking notes of the keynote, you might remember that the folks at Apple are promising that with the update, apps will launch up to 40 percent more quickly and the camera functions will launch up to 70 percent faster speed. So no more missed opportunities for candid pictures, in addition to other upgrades in the Photos app that will make not just taking pictures, but sharing pictures more simple. Additionally, Siri is getting an upgrade that's going to make her a bit more dynamic and accurate.
All of that said, there are also a ton of flashy features to look forward to, like Memojis, grouped notifications, AR measurements, and maybe most importantly Screen Time, the online usage tracker that will tell you just how much time you're spending on everything other than your work. These new features are definitely a few of the most exciting things to look forward to in the new operating system, but the promise of faster and more efficient function is definitely at the forefront of interest for me. To get the iOS 12 update, here's what you'll have to do:
Plug Into A Power Source
In order to update your phone, you'll need your battery to be at at least 50 percent full. If you're lower than that, just plug your phone into a power source and you'll be able to process the update. That said, the update will zap your battery, so if you'll need to rely on your phone later, you might want to plug it in for the update anyway.
Head To Settings
If you don't have automatic updates set up, you'll need to head to your settings block from your phone's main screen.
Tap "General"
Scroll down to the "General" tab on your settings page.
Check For Software Updates
Click the "check for software updates" tab and wait as your phone scans for available updates. If you don't immediately see iOS 12 as an available update, don't stress, these updates roll out gradually. Just check back in a few hours.
Download & Install
If you have enough battery power and storage for the upgrade, you can now download and install iOS 12. First you'll have to agree to terms and conditions, and then you'll be ready to go. Once the download starts, you'll be able to see a progress bar at the top of the page which will let you know just how long you'll have to wait until the download is complete. During this time you should put your phone down and let it do its thing. Once it's done, your phone will restart and you'll be able to enjoy all of the new features and functions with the reboot.
