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iOS 8 Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Article ID = 119
Article Title = iOS 8 Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 2nd June 2014
Article Last Updated = 26th September 2016
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?119

Article Brief Description:
Frequently Asked Questions about iOS 8

Quick Links

iOS 8 Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Instructions For Upgrading To iOS 8 Using iTunes
Troubleshooting Problems When Upgrading To iOS 8 Using iTunes
Recommended Instructions For Upgrading To iOS 8 Over-The-Air
Troubleshooting Problems When Upgrading To iOS 8 Over-The-Air

WARNINGS!

  • Once you have installed/upgraded to iOS 8 you cannot go back. You cannot downgrade to iOS 7. Be sure to read this FAQ and especially if you use your iPod/iPhone/iPad for business check compatibility of important software/hardware accessories before upgrading!
  • iOS 8 fixes a lot of security issues. These fixes will not come to iOS 7 or earlier or be made available for hardware that does not support iOS 8. If you do not upgrade or cannot upgrade you will not be properly secure especially using the internet. If security is a concern to you, unfortunately, your only option is to upgrade your hardware and run iOS 8!
  • iOS 8 requires iTunes 11.4.0 to sync to a computer. However, if you are still running a PowerPC Mac the maximum iTunes you can run is 10.6.3 so iOS 8 devices cannot be synced to PowerPC Macs!
  • iOS 8 authenticates USB cables so if you are using a non-Apple cable it's best to use the original Apple cable for upgrading and syncing!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When was iOS 8 launched?
A. iOS 8 is now available to download and install (as of 17th of September 2014).
Q. How much does iOS 8 cost?
A. It is free, as in, a free download via the internet at ~1.5GB to ~6GB in size depending on your model of iPhone/iPad/iPod and whether you upgrade via iTunes or over-the-air (OTA).
Q. What do I need to run/upgrade to iOS 8?
A. The following iOS devices are compatible with iOS 8 but all of them may not support all features: All other iPhone, iPad and iPod touch products including the original iPhone 4 are not supported.
Q. I have a compatible device so how do I get iOS 8? What do I need to download & install iOS 8?
A. You can download and upgrade to iOS 8 "over-the-air" directly on your device - follow our recommended instructions below.
A. Or you can download iOS on your computer and use iTunes to upgrade your device (iTunes 11.4.0 or later required to obtain iOS 8 - iTunes 11.4.0 is now available to download). Basic system requirements for iTunes 11.4.0 are:
  • An Apple Macintosh computer with an Intel processor and Mac OS X version 10.6.8 or later
  • or a PC with 1GHz Intel or AMD processor and 512MB of RAM + Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, 32/64-bit editions of Windows Vista, 32/64-bit editions of Windows 7 or later or 32/64-bit editions of Windows 8
Once you have iTunes 11.4.0 or later installed plug in your iDevice, select it in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list or click your device's button in the top right of the iTunes window), then click "Check for update" on the right or better still follow our recommended instructions:
Click here for recommended instructions for upgrading to iOS 8 using iTunes.
Click here if you are having problems upgrading to iOS 8.
Q. What new features does iOS 8 have?
A. See Apple's iOS 8 web page. MacStrategy's recommended features to note are:
  • Improved Messages
    • Send text messages and make/receive calls from your Mac via your nearby iPhone (requires OS X 10.10 or later)
    • Group messaging options to name a conversation, add a contact, remove a contact or leave a conversation
    • Add photos, audio and video to conversations on the fly
    • Share location during a conversation for an hour, a day or longer
    • New details view with Do Not Disturb, location sharing and see all attachments view
    • Share multiple photos and videos at once
    • Option to remove stored messages after a set period of time (30 days or one year)
  • Camera (not all devices support all features)
    • iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina Display models gain the ability to take Panoramic photos
    • Burst mode now supported on front-facing camera on iPhone 5s
    • Self-timer mode (3 or 10 seconds)
    • Separate, manual controls for focus and exposure including adjusting the exposure with a simple nudge to lighten or darken a photo prior to capture
    • Time-Lapse mode - captures a series of images and then compiles them into a time-lapse video
  • Photos - a whole new app for managing your photos
    • Photos automatically straightens horizons, and with smart editing tools you can quickly adjust light and color with a swipe
    • Individual tools to adjust exposure, brightness, contrast, highlights, shadows and more
    • Search by date, location or album name, or use smart suggestions
    • Smart albums for Slo-mo videos, Bursts, Panoramas and Time-lapse
    • Developers can tap into the same robust framework as the built-in Photos app using PhotoKit
  • Siri
    • Purchase iTunes content including apps
    • Control HomeKit supported hardware
    • Hands-free, "Hey Siri" voice-activation (can only be used when plugged into a power source)
    • Shazam integraton - ask Siri "What song is playing?" to identify a song playing nearby
  • Calendar
    • Travel time in calendar appointments
    • Alternate Calendars including Chinese, Hebrew and Islamic
    • Display week numbers
    • Calendar events can also be declined with a comment
  • Safari
    • Safari Extensions - the app can be enhanced with (third party) extensions
    • Option to "Scan Credit Card" - when entering credit card details on the internet you can scan the card details in rather than enter them manually
    • Improved Spotlight searching
    • Request desktop version of a site (also supported via Siri)
    • Option to select DuckDuckGo as the default search engine
  • In Case of Emergency (ICE) Medical ID card - also accessible from the lock screen with the following information
    • Medical Conditions
    • Medical Notes
    • Allergies & Reactions
    • Medications
    • Emergency Contacts
    • Date Of Birth
    • Blood Type
    • Organ Donor Declaration
    • Weight / Height / Eye Colour
  • Accessibility
    • Redesigned Zoom with one-handed control and multiple zoom modes including picture-in-picture
    • New grayscale mode
    • Built-in timer and Touch ID support for Guided Access
    • Speak Screen to read out contents of the screen via gesture or Siri command
    • VoiceOver improvements including Alex voice option and Braille input support (Braille keyboard for direct 6-dot braille)
    • Multi-device support for MFi hearing aids to seamlessly switch from one paired iOS device to another
  • Better Developer APIs for (third party) apps - to help make the next generation of Apps even better
    • Touch ID - apps can use Touch ID instead of a passcode/password
    • PhotoKit - apps can edit photos directly in the Camera Roll
    • Camera - apps can directly access camera controls
    • HealthKit - health and fitness apps can share their data with the new Health app and with each other
    • HomeKit - control supported devices in your home even by using Siri with industry standard connectivity protocols + secure pairing
    • CloudKit - server side provisioning for developers
    • Metal - new gaming tools allowing apps direct access to the hardware
    • Swift - new modern, programming language
  • New Tips app - offers tips, hints and information about using your device
  • Support for the Apple Watch
  • iBooks app now pre-installed as standard
  • Improved Notification Center - ability to install (third party) widgets
  • Airdrop - now works with Mac computers allowing you to easily drag and drop files between your Mac and iOS device (requires OS X 10.10 or later + not all iOS devices support all features)
  • Instant Hotspot - requires the iOS 8.1 Update
  • iCloud Drive - easily access documents and folders in the cloud with 5GB of space FREE - cheap costs for additional space if required (OS X 10.10 required to access iCloud Drive on a Mac computer)
  • QuickType - intelligent, predictive word and phrase suggestions
  • Family Sharing - up to six people in your family can share purchases from iTunes, iBooks, and the App Store without sharing accounts and access a shared family photo stream and calendar plus an an option to locate family members and their devices
  • Third party keyboard support - works system wide (see list)
  • Improved Spotlight searching - includes Wikipedia, news, nearby places, iTunes, App/iBooks stores, web sites and movie showtimes (also available in Safari)
  • Health - third party developers along with hardware will be able to input data into the Health app (via the new HealthKit system) so that you can track all your health related information in one place
  • Wi-Fi Calling - place calls over Wi-Fi instead of cellular (carrier support required)
  • Take action on texts, email, calendar invitations, reminders, and even messages from apps like Facebook right from their notification banners
  • Double tapping the home button now shows you and gives you quick access to recently contacted people as well as showing you currently running apps
  • Show battery usage by app
  • Share sheets are customisable
  • Quick access to apps based on location - also accessible via the lock screen
  • Weather app now uses data from The Weather Channel instead of Yahoo
  • Auto night mode for iBooks
  • iBooks now offers the ability to group books from a series together
  • Option to send last location to Apple before your iOS device's battery dies
  • Notes app supports rich text editing and photos
  • Improved Wi-Fi Privacy - iOS now randomises the MAC addresses of iOS devices when scanning for Wi-Fi networks
  • Capture iOS screen video via a Mac - when an iOS device is plugged into a Mac it will show up as a camera
  • Quick access to key contacts in multitasking view
  • Improvements for Business
    • Expanded data protection
    • Finer control over mail encryption (per-message S/MIME email controls)
    • Out of office control for Exchange users
    • iBooks, ePub, and PDF documents can now be automatically pushed to user devices using mobile device management (MDM) tools
    • More powerful device management capabilities
    • Peer-to-peer AirPlay discovery and playback
Q. What special new features are supported by which model?
A. See the table below:
Table 1: MacStrategy.com's iOS 8 new feature compatibility roundup
Feature iPhone 4s iPhone 5/5s/5c iPhone 6/6+ iPad 2 iPad 3 iPad 4 iPad Air iPad mini iPod touch (5th Gen)
HandoffNOYesYesNONOYesYesYesYes
iOS <> OS X
AirDrop†		NOYesYesNONOYesYesYesYes
Instant Hotspot††NOYesYesNONOYesYesYesYes
Calls/SMS/MMS via MacNOYesYesNONOYesYesYesYes
Health appYesYesYesNONONONONOYes
Panoramic PhotosYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
† - Airdrop compatibility on a Mac computer requires OS X 10.10 or later and a compatible Bluetooth 4.0 LE chip.
†† - Requires the iOS 8.1 Update.
Q. What features are available in my country?
A. Apple has published a feature vs country availability list.
Q. What features will specifically be available in the United Kingdom?
A. We know the following features will be available in the United Kingdom:
  • News [iOS 9.1 or later required]
  • Apple Music [iOS 8.4 or later required]
  • Beats Radio [iOS 8.4 or later required]
  • Apple Pay [iOS 8.1 or later required]
  • Maps [iOS 6 or later required]
  • Maps > Standard
  • Maps > Satellite
  • Maps > Directions
  • Maps > Turn-by-Turn Navigation
  • Maps > Speed Limits
  • Maps > Flyover
    • Belfast
    • Birmingham
    • Blackpool
    • Edinburgh
    • Glasgow
    • Kingston upon Hull
    • Leeds
    • Liverpool
    • London
    • Manchester
    • Middlesbrough
    • Newcastle upon Tyne
    • Nottingham
    • Stoke-on-Trent
    • Stonehenge
  • Maps > Public Transport Transit Routes
    • Birmingham
    • Bristol
    • Cardiff
    • Glasgow
    • Leeds-Bradford
    • Liverpool
    • London
    • Manchester
    • Newcastle
    • Sheffield
  • Maps > 3D Buildings in Navigation
    • Birmingham
    • London
    • Manchester
  • Maps > Traffic
  • Maps > Business Reviews and Photos
  • Maps > Transit - Great Britain
  • Maps > Nearby
  • Maps > Indoor maps including airports [iOS 11 or later required]
    • London LHR
  • Siri [iOS 6 or later required]
  • Siri > Sports
  • Siri > Twitter integration
  • Siri > Facebook integration
  • Siri > Restaurant Information
  • Siri > Restaurant Reviews
  • Siri > Movie Information
  • Siri > Movie Reviews
  • Siri > Movie Showtimes
  • Siri > Dictionary
  • Siri > Calculations and Conversions
  • QuickType [iOS 8.1 or later required]
  • QuickType Keyboard > Language Support - English UK
  • QuickType Keyboard > Predictive Input - English UK
  • QuickType Keyboard > Dictation - English UK
  • QuickType Keyboard > Multilingual Typing - English UK
  • QuickType Keyboard > Contextual Predictions - English UK
  • QuickType Keyboard > Emoji Predictions - English UK
  • Spotlight Suggestions [iOS 8.1 or later required]
  • Apple CarPlay [iOS 7.1 or later required]
  • iTunes Store > music, movies and TV)
  • App Store > apps and games
Features specifically not available in the United Kingdom:
  • Maps > Lane Guidance
  • Siri > Restaurant Reservations
Q. What specific new and included Apple apps come with iOS 8?
A. These apps:
  • Photos (completely new version and also compatible with Photos for OS X)
  • Podcasts
  • Tips
  • iBooks
  • Health (iPhone and iPod touch only)
Q. What's this I hear about an iOS 8.1 update? Any new features and what's the benefit?
A. iOS 8.1 was released on Monday 20th October 2014. It does have new features but there are also numerous important security and bug fixes included. Some of the specific (new) features are:
  • Support for Apple Pay
  • Support for "Instant Hotspot"
  • iCloud Photos public beta
  • Adds Camera Roll album (back) in Photos app and My Photo Stream album when iCloud Photo Library is not enabled
  • Adds an option to select between 2G, 3G, or LTE networks for cellular data
  • Adds AirDrop support for Passbook passes
  • Adds an option to enable Dictation in Settings for Keyboards, Separate from Siri
Q. I've installed iOS 8.1 on my iPhone/iPad but I cannot get iMessage, SMS and MMS messages all combined on my Mac with Yosemite. What's wrong?
A. First try signing out of and then back into iMessage on your iPhone/iPad - go to Settings > Messages and switch "iMessage" OFF. Then switch it back ON. If that doesn't work try enabling your Apple ID email address in iMessage - go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive and make sure your Apple ID email address is TICKED. You should then receive a code on your iPhone/iPad when using Messages on your Mac.
Q. I've upgraded but some/a lot of my device's memory is being taken up with "Other". What is "other" and what can I do about it?
A. This is a common problem since the iOS 5 upgrade originally came out, where there is an issue during the iOS update process and your media library (music, photos, etc) never gets transferred back properly after the OS gets updated so it just gets listed as "other". The best remedy for this is to backup, then restore the iPad/iPhone/iPod and select your recent backup as part of the restore process. This process basically cleans out the memory of the device, installs iOS and then transfers all your data from your backup and your media from iTunes/iCloud back to the device.
Q. iOS 8 looks nice/awful but the text is quite thin/small/grey. Is there anything I can do?
A. Yes, go to Settings > General > Accessibility and adjust the following as required:
  • Larger Text
  • Bold Text
  • Button Shapes
  • Increase Contrast
  • Reduce Motion
  • On/Off Labels
Q. What countries are supported by the QuickType predictive input?
A. At launch the QuickType predictive input will be available in the following countries:
  • Australia (Australian English)
  • Brazil (Portuguese)
  • Canada (Canadian English and French)
  • China (Simplified and Traditional)
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong (Simplified and Traditional Chinese)
  • India (English)
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Spain
  • Switzerland (German and French)
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • United Kingdom (British English)
  • USA (American English)
Q. iOS 8 looks like it is even more complex than before so what do you recommend for privacy?
A. Take a look at our top 10 privacy hints and tips:
  1. Third party apps can access other features and data on your device - go to Settings > Privacy where you can control access to each feature and data on an app by app basis
    2. NOTE: Apps should always ask for permission to access these features and data but once access is granted it won't ask again. You can control and/or revoke access using Settings > Privacy.
  2. Information is sent to advertisers and developers by default - go to Settings > Privacy and
    • Tap 'Diagnostics & Usage' and set it to "Don't Send"
    • Tap 'Advertising' and turn "Limit Ad Tracking" ON
  3. If you have Location Services turned on (check at Settings > Privacy > Location Services):
    • iOS tracks your location - go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turn "Frequent Locations" OFF
    • You can be sent location-based iAds - go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turn "Location-Based iAds" OFF
    • You can be sent location-based Alerts - go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turn "Location-Based Alerts" OFF
    • Your location can be shared - go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turn "Share My Location" OFF
  4. Other people can use the voice activated "Hey Siri" feature on your device - the voice recognition feature (Siri) is not locked to your voice so you can turn this feature off by going to Settings > General > Siri and turning 'Allow "Hey Siri"' OFF
  5. Photos are no longer deleted immediately (they are now kept for 30 days) - to permanently delete an image go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted (usually in the bottom right) > tap Select (top right) > tap to select the photo(s) you want to delete > tap Delete (top left) and confirm
  6. Search queries are tracked by default - to change this use Safari's Private Browsing mode and/or use DuckDuckGo as the default search engine
    • Safari Private Browsing mode - tap the new web page icon (two squares) and then tap "Private" (iOS 8 now allows separate private browsing tabs/pages)
    • Default search engine - go to Settings > Safari and set 'Search Engine' to "DuckDuckGo"
  7. By default web browsing information is stored (passwords, credit cards, tracking and cookies) - go to Settings > Safari and
    • Tap "Passwords & Autofill" and turn OFF "Use Contact Info", "Names and Password" and "Credit Cards" (you can also delete any previously saved passwords and credit cards from here)
    • Turn "Do Not Track" ON
    • Set "Block Cookies" as desired e.g. Always Block (this may cause issues on some web sites that you visit so use with caution)
    • While you are here you should make sure "Fraudulent Website Warning" is turned ON
  8. The new predictive keyboard feature may store your passwords - to turn this off go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn "Predictive" OFF
  9. Allow Message history to be deleted over time - go to Settings > Messages > Message History and tap "Keep Messages" to 30 Days or 1 Year as required
  10. Allow Message audio and video to expire - go to Settings > Messages > and set "Audio Messages" and "Video Messages" to expire after 2 minutes
Q. Can the new predictive typing be turned off?
A. When typing predictive type can be hidden by swiping down or to turn this feature off go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn "Predictive" OFF.
Q. Are there any third party keyboards available?
A. Yes there are some already available:
    NOTE: There are potential privacy and security risks with using third party keyboards - read up on them.
  • Google Gboard (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Go Keyboard (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Giphy Keys (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Fleksy + gif (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Microsoft SwiftKey (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Keymoji : Emoji Chat (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • TouchPal Keyboard - Type Fun With Emoji & Themes & Fonts (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Adaptxt (Free - USA only) Get it now on the App Store
  • iTranslate (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • KuaiBoard – Type text. Quicker. (Free) Get it now on the App Store
  • Swype (£0.79) Get it now on the App Store
  • Hemingboard: Synonyms, Rhymes, Puns in Your Keyboard (£2.29) Get it now on the App Store
  • Minuum (£2.99) Get it now on the App Store
  • TextExpander 3 + custom keyboard (£3.99) Get it now on the App Store
  • Nintype (£3.99) Get it now on the App Store
  • Microsoft Word Flow (Discontinued July 2017)
Q. The new "Handoff" feature sounds interesting but I don't want to use it - is there a way to switch it off?
A. Yes. If your device supports this feature go to Settings > General and tap "Disable Hand Off".
Q. How do I use the new "iCloud Drive"?
A. If you have an iCloud account, when installing iOS 8 you should automatically get the opportunity to choose to upgrade from iCloud Documents & Data to iCloud Drive (or you can keep iCloud Documents & Data). If you don't get this option, go to General > iCloud and tap "iCloud Drive" to ON.
Q. Where has the "Photo Stream" gone?
A. Photo Stream is no longer available. Recent photos are now found in Photos > Albums (icon at the bottom) > Recently Added or all photos in date order going backwards can be found in Photos > Photos (icon at the bottom).
Q. Where have my "Shared Photo Streams" gone?
A. They have been renamed to "Shared Albums".
Q. Where is the option to remove stored messages after a set period of time?
A. Go to Settings > Messages > Message History and tap "Keep Messages" to 30 Days, 1 Year or Forever as required.
Q. How do I get the new details view in a Messages conversation?
Q. How do I (re)name a Messages conversation?
Q. How do I add/remove contacts from a Messages conversation?
A. Tap the "To:" names bar at the top of the message conversation to access the details view so that you can:
  • name a conversation
  • add/remove contacts
  • send current location
  • share current location
  • set Do Not Disturb to mute notifications for that conversation
  • leave the conversation
  • see all the conversation attachments in one place
Q. I've heard there are Made For iOS (MFi) game controllers. What's available?
A. We've put together a list:
    NOTE: Check iPhone/iPad/iPod touch model and iOS / Apple TV and tvOS version compatibility before purchasing.
  • SteelSeries Nimbus - coming soon…
  • Mad Catz C.T.R.L.i - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • SteelSeries Stratus XL - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • Hori HoriPad - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • SteelSeries Stratus - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • Gamevice for iPad mini - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • Gamevice for iPhone 6 - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • Gamevice for iPad Air - coming soon…
  • MOGA Rebel MFi - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • Mad Catz Micro C.T.R.L.i - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • MOGA Ace Power - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
  • Logitech PowerShell - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
    • NOTE: The iCade Mobile game controller below is not an Apple certified Made For iOS (MFi) controller but it does work with many specialist games on iPhone/iPad/iPod touch and is very popular so we have listed it below for reference:
  • Ion iCade Mobile - buy it now at Buy it now at Amazon UK Buy it now at Amazon USA
Q. I'm connecting my iPhone/iPad/iPod to a charger/computer and I'm getting asked whether I "Trust the currently connected computer?". I've not seen that before. What is it?
A. There is a security vulnerability that could allow malicious chargers to access your iPhone/iPad/iPod when connected. Apple has fixed this vulnerability in iOS 7 or later so that when the malicious device tries to access your iPhone/iPad/iPod iOS will ask if you trust the device. If the device is not your own computer then tap "Don't trust".
Q. How does Apple's "activation lock" feature work?
A. See Apple's help document on the subject.
Q. What should I do if I've upgraded to iOS 8 and want to give/sell my iPhone/iPad/iPod to someone else?
A. Follow the steps in this Apple help document.
Q. Can I get any manuals for iOS 8?
A. Yes. Apple provides manuals via their iBook Store or in downloadable PDF format (which you can also add to iTunes > Books or iBooks and sync to your device as required):
  • iOS 8 for iPhone Buy it now on the Apple iBook Store | PDF
  • iOS 8 for iPad / iPad mini Buy it now on the Apple iBook Store | PDF
  • iOS 8 for iPod touch Buy it now on the Apple iBook Store | PDF
Q. I don't like iOS 8. Can I go back/downgrade?
A. Sorry, no you can't.
Q. What happened to the iOS 8.0.1 update?
A. It caused major issues on the new iPhone 6/6+ models so it was withdrawn around 75 minutes after release. It was replaced by 8.0.2 the next day.
Q. Why can't I use "iTunes Home Sharing" on my iOS device?
A. The "iTunes Home Sharing" feature has been removed in iOS 8.4. It is due to return in iOS 9.

Recommended Instructions For Upgrading To iOS 8 Using iTunes

NOTE: Upgrading to iOS 8 can take many hours (1-6 hours is common). Make sure you have a permanent connection to the internet and have the time to install the upgrade!
  1. Update your operating system to the latest version:
  2. Download the latest iTunes full installer (iTunes 11.4.0 or later required)
  3. Install iTunes manually
  4. Shutdown your computer and disconnect all external devices except your mouse, keyboard and monitor
  5. Startup your computer
  6. Shutdown your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until you get the "slide to power off" option and slide it to power your device off)
  7. Startup your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until the Apple logo appears)
  8. Attach your iPod/iPhone/iPad directly to your computer using an Apple USB cable (don't use any hubs or connect it to a monitor or keyboard)
  9. Backup your iPhone/iPad/iPod:
    • If you use iCloud for backups, on the device go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and tap "Back Up Now"
    • If you use iTunes open iTunes and select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list) or click your device's button in the top left of the iTunes window, then click "Summary" along the top and click the "Back Up Now" button
  10. (Open iTunes and) select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list or click your device's button in the top right of the iTunes window) and then click "Check for update" on the right
  11. Follow the on screen instructions
  12. It is best that you do not use your computer while the upgrade is happening. Do not be tempted to browse the web, check email, play music or use your iPod/iPhone/iPad.
    13. NOTE: You need patience at this point as it can take a long time to upgrade (1-6 hours is common)!
  13. If you encounter problems check our troubleshooting list
  14. Once the upgrade has completed check for updated apps:
    • If you use iCloud for App downloads go to App Store app > tap "Updates" in the bottom right and then tap "Update All" in the top right
    • If you use iTunes for App downloads open iTunes, click on Apps in the list on the left (in iTunes 11 or later go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list or select Apps from the pop-up menu in the top left of the iTunes window) and then "Check for Updates" in the bottom right
  15. Sync your device (to create a new and latest backup and also to sync your updated/new apps)
  16. The upgrade is complete
  17. Check the following:
    • Bluetooth will be turned on again - if you want to turn it off go to Settings > Bluetooth
    • If you have an iTunes Match account it will probably be turned on by default - if you want to change that go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
    • If you used Photo Stream in iCloud you may need to resynchronise it - go to Settings > Photos & Camera and turn "My Photo Stream" OFF and then back ON again
    • Notification preferences for some apps may have changed/been updated - check apps under the Settings > Notifications > Include heading
  18. Now, if you haven't already, why not check out our FAQ

Troubleshooting Problems When Upgrading To iOS 8 Using iTunes

Most errors are due to the fact that upon the release of iOS 8 everyone in the world is trying to upgrade at the same time. The best thing to do in this scenario is have patience and keep trying or simply wait for a day or two to let things settle down (do you really need to have iOS 8 right now?).
If you are having problems before or during the upgrade has completed try our troubleshooting steps.
If you are having problems after the upgrade has completed try Restoring Your iPod/iPhone/iPad.
Troubleshooting Problems Before Or During Upgrading To iOS 8
  1. Shutdown your computer and disconnect all external devices except your mouse, keyboard and monitor
  2. If you have not already done so, update your operating system to the latest version:
  3. Install all the latest updates for your operating system:
    • Macintosh > Go to the Apple menu > App Store… > Updates > install all listed updates. Repeat this step until there are no more updates to install.
    • Windows > Go to the Start menu > Windows Update and install all listed updates. Repeat until there are no more updates to install.
  4. Remove iTunes from your computer:
  5. Restart your computer
  6. Run standard maintenance routines on your computer:
  7. Download the latest iTunes full installer (iTunes 11.4.0 or later required)
  8. Install iTunes manually
  9. Restart your computer
  10. Shutdown your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until you get the "slide to power off" option and slide it to power your device off)
  11. Startup your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until the Apple logo appears)
  12. Attach your iPod/iPhone/iPad directly to your computer using an Apple USB cable (don't use any hubs or connect it to a monitor or keyboard)
  13. Make a manual backup of the old backups for your iPod/iPhone/iPad:
    • Macintosh > make a copy of/backup the Macintosh HD > Users > your home directory > Library > Application Support > MobileSync > Backup folder
    • Windows > make a copy of/backup the C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR_USER_NAME\Application Data\Apple Computer\SyncServices\Local folder
  14. Delete all old backups - Open iTunes and go to iTunes Preferences > Devices tab and delete all backups for the device you are trying to upgrade
  15. Create a fresh, new backup:
    • If you use iCloud for backups, on the device go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and tap "Back Up Now"
    • If you use iTunes open iTunes and select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list) or click your device's button in the top left of the iTunes window, then click "Summary" along the top and click the "Back Up Now" button
  16. Try upgrading again - (open iTunes and) select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (in iTunes 11 or later go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list or click your device's button in the top right of the iTunes window) and then click "Check for update" on the right
  17. Follow the on screen instructions
  18. It is best that you do not use your computer while the upgrade is happening. Do not be tempted to browse the web, check email, play music or use your iPod/iPhone/iPad.
    19. NOTE: You need patience at this point as it can take a long time to upgrade (1-6 hours is common)!
  19. If you still encounter problems you will need to Restore your iPod/iPhone/iPad
  20. If the upgrade completes successfully check for updated apps:
    • If you use iCloud for App downloads go to App Store app > tap "Updates" in the bottom right and then tap "Update All" in the top right
    • If you use iTunes for App downloads open iTunes, click on Apps in the list on the left (in iTunes 11 or later go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list or select Apps from the pop-up menu in the top left of the iTunes window) and then "Check for Updates" in the bottom right
  21. Backup your iPhone/iPad/iPod:
    • If you use iCloud for backups, on the device go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and tap "Back Up Now"
    • If you use iTunes open iTunes and select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list) or click your device's button in the top left of the iTunes window, then click "Summary" along the top and click the "Back Up Now" button
  22. The upgrade is complete
  23. Check the following:
    • Bluetooth will be turned on again - if you want to turn it off go to Settings > Bluetooth
    • If you have an iTunes Match account it will probably be turned on by default - if you want to change that go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
    • If you used Photo Stream in iCloud you may need to resynchronise it - go to Settings > Photos & Camera and turn "My Photo Stream" OFF and then back ON again
    • Notification preferences for some apps may have changed/been updated - check apps under the Settings > Notifications > Include heading
  24. Now, if you haven't already, why not check out our FAQ
NOTE: Apple has some notes on resolving iOS update and restore errors in iTunes and information on specific iOS update and restore error numbers.

Recommended Instructions For Upgrading To iOS 8 Over-The-Air

NOTE: Upgrading to iOS 8 can take many hours (1-6 hours is common). Make sure you have a permanent connection to the internet and have the time to install the upgrade!
  1. Shutdown your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until you get the "slide to power off" option and slide it to power your device off)
  2. Startup your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until the Apple logo appears)
  3. Make sure you are connected to the internet using a wi-fi connection
  4. Backup your iPhone/iPad/iPod:
    • If you use iCloud for backups, on the device go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and tap "Back Up Now"
    • If you use iTunes open iTunes and select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list) or click your device's button in the top left of the iTunes window, then click "Summary" along the top and click the "Back Up Now" button
  5. Disconnect all external devices that may be connected to your iPhone/iPad/iPod
  6. Connect your iPhone/iPad/iPod to a power supply
  7. Go to Settings > General > Software Update
  8. Tap "Download and Install"
  9. Follow the on screen instructions
  10. It is best that you do not use your iPhone/iPad/iPod while the upgrade is happening.
    11. NOTE: You need patience at this point as it can take a long time to upgrade (1-6 hours is common)!
  11. If you encounter problems check our troubleshooting list
  12. Once the upgrade has completed check for updated apps:
    • If you use iCloud for App downloads go to App Store app > tap "Updates" in the bottom right and then tap "Update All" in the top right
    • If you use iTunes for App downloads open iTunes, click on Apps in the list on the left (in iTunes 11 or later go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list or select Apps from the pop-up menu in the top left of the iTunes window) and then "Check for Updates" in the bottom right
  13. Backup your iPhone/iPad/iPod:
    • If you use iCloud for backups, on the device go to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and tap "Back Up Now"
    • If you use iTunes open iTunes and select your iPod/iPhone/iPad in the list on the left (go to View menu > Show Sidebar to see this list) or click your device's button in the top left of the iTunes window, then click "Summary" along the top and click the "Back Up Now" button
  14. The upgrade is complete
  15. Check the following:
    • Bluetooth will be turned on again - if you want to turn it off go to Settings > Bluetooth
    • If you have an iTunes Match account it will probably be turned on by default - if you want to change that go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
    • If you used Photo Stream in iCloud you may need to resynchronise it - go to Settings > Photos & Camera and turn "My Photo Stream" OFF and then back ON again
    • Notification preferences for some apps may have changed/been updated - check apps under the Settings > Notifications > Include heading
  16. Now, if you haven't already, why not check out our FAQ

Troubleshooting Problems When Upgrading To iOS 8 Over-The-Air

Most errors are due to the fact that upon the release of iOS 8 everyone in the world is trying to upgrade at the same time. The best thing to do in this scenario is have patience and keep trying or simply wait for a day or two to let things settle down (do you really need to have iOS 8 right now?). If you are having problems before or during the upgrade has completed try:
  • Try again - it may just be that Apple's servers are overloaded
  • Shutdown your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until you get the "slide to power off" option and slide it to power your device off)
  • Startup your iPhone/iPad/iPod (hold the sleep/on/off button on the top until the Apple logo appears)
  • Use a different internet connection (the wi-fi connection you are on could be flakey)
  • Try resetting the resetting and restoring Your iPod/iPhone/iPad:
Resetting and restoring Your iPod/iPhone/iPad e.g. if you are having problems after the upgrade has completed:
  • If you use iTunes for syncing your iPod/iPhone/iPad try restoring Your iPod/iPhone/iPad
  • If you use iCloud for syncing your iPod/iPhone/iPad:
    • WARNING: This process will wipe your iPod/iPhone/iPad completely clean, install a fresh copy of iOS 8 via the internet and then restore your data from your iCloud backup. Make sure you have a backup. It can also take a long time so be prepared and patient!
    1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content And Settings
    2. Once your iPod/iPhone/iPad has reinstalled iOS 8 via the internet you will get the setup new device options
    3. Select/tap "Restore from iCloud Backup"
    4. Select your most recent backup and restore
    5. If you still get problems try this process again but use an older backup from the list (if available)
    6. Once your upgrade has completed successfully check the following:
      • Bluetooth will be turned on again - if you want to turn it off go to Settings > Bluetooth
      • If you have an iTunes Match account it will probably be turned on by default - if you want to change that go to Settings > iTunes & App Store
      • If you used Photo Stream in iCloud you may need to resynchronise it - go to Settings > Photos & Camera and turn "My Photo Stream" OFF and then back ON again
      • Notification preferences for some apps may have changed/been updated - check apps under the Settings > Notifications > Include heading
    7. Now, if you haven't already, why not check out our FAQ
NOTE: Apple has some notes on resolving issues with an over-the-air iOS update.

Article Keywords: iPod iPad iPadair Air iPadmini mini iPhone iTunes v8iOS iOS8 iOS 8

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