Should I Update My Iphone 6s

IPSW

IPSW stands rather only for iOS Software, and IPSW files are basically just individual firmware downloads for specific iOS devices. These files can be used to update iOS devices manually with the help of iTunes or Finder. If you've recently downloaded an iOS IPSW file, you lot might be curious how to use it to update your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Using IPSW is frequently considered advanced but it'south actually pretty easy, just follow along with these directions and you lot'll be along your way.

Before using a firmware file to update, you lot will desire to backup the iOS or iPadOS device to be safe.

How to Apply IPSW Files to Update iOS or iPadOS

You lot tin apply IPSW files on Mac or Windows, both require iTunes or Finder on modern MacOS to work properly. To employ the latest version of IPSW firmware files to update or restore an iOS or iPadOS device, you'll want to exist sure you accept the latest version of iTunes installed besides.

Connect your iPhone or iOS device to your calculator
Select the device in iTunes or Finder
On a Mac, hold down the "Option" fundamental and so click on "Update"
On a Windows PC, concord downward "SHIFT" central then click on "Update"
Select the IPSW file you downloaded and click "Choose"
Let the iOS device update as usual

how to use ipsw

Going the IPSW route can accept longer to update than using the newer OTA (over the air) method, the reason beingness that OTA uses smaller delta updates than the larger IPSW files, which are the full sized downloads and are often literally 10x the download size.

You can besides click on "Restore" and select an IPSW instead only you will lose the existing files and settings on your iOS device. If you lot go that road, do non forget to backup beforehand.

Why employ IPSW?

Though the average user is amend off going the easy routes of updating iOS with iTunes, Finder, or OTA via the Settings app on their device, IPSW can have very practical uses likewise. A significant advantage to using firmware files tin can be found for users with limited access to broadband internet, where downloading a software update on a remote faster connection makes more sense. Typically you would and then copy that IPSW file to a USB primal or DVD to bring it habitation to manually update a device. Too, for users with many of the same iOS devices, having a single IPSW downloads let's you conserve bandwidth by applying a single update to many devices.

Rarely, firmware files are required to restore a malfunctioning iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that is basically bricked, but yet functional. This is somewhat rare, but if an iOS update is interrupted it can happen, which ordinarily requires a device be placed into DFU mode and restored manually with firmware. Typically a normal iTunes based restore is sufficient, which is why that is adequately rare.

Finally, in that location are some cases where IPSW is necessary to create custom configured firmware for time to come restores. This typically ties in with the "Restore" method of updating, which allows the utilize of custom IPSW files, and is generally something created with a third party application used for jailbreaking. This is a adequately dated arroyo however, and almost exclusively relevant to those who jailbreak and unlock their hardware though, and for the average user the standard IPSW files bachelor from Apple work merely fine.

Where do y'all become IPSW files?

Nosotros take comprehensive lists of iOS IPSW files hosted from Apple tree'south servers, you tin can see them all and admission the downloads from the following places:

Browse IPSW files for all iOS and iPadOS Versions here – we regularly gather directly links to IPSW files for organisation software as they are released
Where IPSW files are located on MacOS and Windows – if yous downloaded an iOS or ipadOS update, the IPSW file may already be on your computer

Note that each listing includes all iOS versions after three.0, and iPadOS after thirteen.0. Not all versions of iPadOS and iOS IPSW will work on all devices, and so be sure to select the proper version for your hardware, and to use the latest which is supported. Finally, it's important to remember that IPSW files must be signed by Apple to exist usable to restore onto a device, you lot can learn about checking IPSW signing condition here if interested.