Apple’siOS 15.7.3 update is a small maintenance upgrade, but it could take quite a bit of time to install on your iPhone.
The company’s pushed its iOS 15.7.3 update and the software delivers a short list of changes to select iPhone users. Apple’s latest firmware brings important security patches with it. It doesn’t have any new features on board.
If you’re moving your iPhone from iOS 15.7.2 to iOS 15.7.3, you get the shortest list of changes and the smallest download size. If you’re upgrading from an older version of iOS, your iOS 15.7.3 download could be much larger because the changes from the update(s) you skipped are baked in.
While some of you might want to skip the iOS 15.7.3 download for the time being, most people should install the software right now, or, at some point in the near future.
If you decide to install iOS 15.7.3 on your iPhone, you’ll want to set aside some time to get the upgrade properly installed on your device.
Moving a device from one version of iOS to another often causes problems so you’ll want to monitor the download, the installation, and your phone’s performance once the installation is complete.
We can’t tell you exactly how long the process will take because it will vary. That said, we can help you approximate how much time you should set aside should you choose to install the new software on your iPhone.
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| Sync (Optional) | 5-45 Minutes |
| Backup and Transfer (Optional) | 1-30 Minutes |
| iOS 15.7.3 Download | 5 Minutes to 15 Minutes |
| iOS 15.7.3 Installation | 7 Minutes to 12 Minutes |
| Total iOS 15.7.3 Update Time | 12 Minutes to 1 Hour+ |
Pre-Installation
Before you start the iOS 15.7.3 download make sure you’re prepared.
If you don’t know how to properly prepare for an iOS upgrade, take a look at our pre-installation guide. It’ll walk you through the most important steps to take before you start the installation process.
You should be able to get through these steps in 30 minutes, but it all depends on your skill level and the current state of your iPhone.
If you haven’t backed up your data in awhile or if you aren’t familiar with iOS 15.7.3’s changes, the pre-installation process could take you a longer.
You don’t need to follow every single step in the guide, but at the very least you’ll want to make sure your phone’s data is backed up properly.
Data loss issues are pretty rare, but if you store sensitive data (photos, videos, etc) on your device, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
iOS 15.7.3 Download
Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to start the download process.
Again, the exact size of your iOS 15.7.3 download will depend on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running.
If your iPhone is currently on iOS 15.7.2 you’ll, again, see the smallest download size. If you’re running an older version, your download could be larger.
If you’re on a fast Wi-Fi network, the download should finish up in less than 10 minutes. If your connection is slower, or you’re downloading during peak hours, you might be looking at 10 minutes or more.
iOS 15.7.3 Installation
Once your device is done pulling iOS 15.7.3 from Apple’s servers, the installation process will begin. This could take longer than the download.
If you’re moving up from iOS 15.7.2, the iOS 15.7.3 installation should take 10 minutes or less to complete. It took about seven minutes to install on an iPhone 7 that was previously running iOS 15.7.2.
Your iPhone might reboot itself a couple of times during the installation process, but this is perfectly normal. Your device should boot up normally once the installation process completes.
Post-Installation
After the installation finishes up, you might need to spend time logging into your iCloud account, signing into your device’s various apps and services, and/or setting up Apple Pay.
You also might want to spend some time checking your important data (photos, music, etc) to make sure everything carried over properly.
After you do that, make sure you test your core applications and services to ensure they’re working normally. New iOS software can cause apps to go haywire.
If you notice an issue with one or more of your apps, try downloading the latest version. Developers are still rolling out iOS 15 support updates.
You’ll also want to poke around your phone for bugs and performance issues. If you notice something take a look at our list of fixes for common iOS 15 problems.
4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 15.7.3 & 11 Reasons You Should
Install iOS 15.7.3 for Better Security | ||||||||||||||||
> 1 / 15 | ||||||||||||||||
If security is important to you, you'll want to think about installing Apple's iOS 15.7.3 update right away. iOS 15.7.3 brings a new batch of security patches to iPhone. They are essential if you want to keep your device and its data safe from harm. You can learn more about these changes right here. As for older updates, iOS 15.7.2 brought numerous patches along with it. For more about them, head over to Apple's website for more details. iOS 15.7.1 update brought 17 security patches with it while iOS 15.7 delivered 11 security patches to iPhone. If you want a look at the details, head over to Apple's security site for more information. If you missed iOS 15.6.1, it had two security patches on board. You can read more about the pair on Apple's website. If you missed Apple's iOS 15.6 update, it had 30+ security upgrades on board. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed iOS 15.5 it brought 27 new security patches to the iPhone. You can learn more about these patches over on Apple's security site. If you missed iOS 15.4.1, it had one new security patch on board. You can read more about it over on Apple's website. If you missed the iOS 15.4 update, it had a whopping 36 new security patches on board. If you want to learn more about these patches, head on over to Apple's security site for the particulars. If you missed iOS 15.3.1, it had one security patch on board. For more about it, head over to Apple's security page. If you missed iOS 15.3, you'll also get its patches with your upgrade. iOS 15.3 brought 10 new security patches to iPhone users. If you're interested in the details, you can read more about them right here. If you missed iOS 15.2.1, you'll get its security patch with your upgrade. You can learn more about the change over on Apple's website. If you missed Apple's iOS 15.2 update, you'll get its 30+ security patches with your upgrade. You can read all about them over on the company's security site. iOS 15.2 also included some important upgrades to privacy. The software brought the company's App Privacy Report to Settings. This lets you see how often your apps have accessed your location, photos, camera, microphone, contacts and more during the last seven days. You can also see their network activity. In addition, iOS 15.2 brought Apple's communication safety features for kids. You'll find these features in the Messages app, in Siri, in Spotlight, and in Search. If you missed iOS 15.1, iOS 15.7.3 will bring its security patches to your iPhone. You can read more about them on Apple's website. If you missed iOS 15.0.2 you'll also get its security patch with your upgrade. You can learn more about it right here. iOS 15.0 also brought numerous security patches to your iPhone. If you'll be moving up from iOS 14 and you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. Apple's updated its website with new information about iOS 15's batch of security patches. The company now says the software patched up an issue that could have exposed a user's private Apple ID information and in-app search history. It also says iOS 15 patched up an issue that allowed apps to override Privacy preferences. If you skipped iOS 14.8 or any older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 15.7.3 update as well. In addition to those patches, iOS 15 comes with some security and privacy upgrades including improvements to Siri. Requests made to Siri are now processed on the device itself using Neural Engine. This makes it more secure. If you're an Apple Card user, you'll now get a security code that changes regularly to use when you make online transactions. Apple's also included a built-in authenticator that's similar to Google Authenticator. This will let you generate verification codes for enhanced sign-in security under your Passwords. There's also a Mail feature that hides your IP address. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
> 1 / 15 | ||||||||||||||||
FAQs
How long does iOS 15.7 update take? ›
...
Here's How Long the iOS 15.7. 4 Update Takes.
| Task | Time |
|---|---|
| iOS 15.7.4 Download | 5 Minutes to 15 Minutes |
| iOS 15.7.4 Installation | 7 Minutes to 12 Minutes |
| Total iOS 15.7.4 Update Time | 12 Minutes to 1 Hour+ |
How long does an iOS update take? It usually takes 30 minutes to complete the whole process.
Should I update iOS 15.7 3? ›If you have an older device, you should update to iOS 15.7. 3 as soon as possible to protect it from security vulnerabilities. If you have a newer device and you haven't upgraded to iOS 16 yet, it's probably time to take the plunge as it's the only way to keep your iPhone secure.
Why is the iOS 15.5 update taking so long? ›The reason can be unstable network settings which probably cause the screen stuck at estimating time remaining iOS 15.5. So, it's better to have a stable Wi-Fi network, you can also disconnect other devices linked with the Wi-Fi for the time you are installing iOS 15.5 update.
Can you skip iOS 15.7 and go to 16? ›If you plan to go straight to iOS 16, you don't need to download iOS 15.7 first. The bug fixes mentioned within the release notes are all contained within iOS 16 too. You can just hit the Upgrade to iOS 16 option that sits below iOS 15.7.
Does iOS 16 have 15.7 update? ›Last week Apple released iOS 16.2 and iOS 15.7. 2. While iOS 16.2 comes with a bunch of brilliant new features, both iPhone updates fix multiple security issues. A number of factors will help you decide whether to update to iOS 16.2 or 15.7.
Is iOS 15.6 safe to update? ›The flaws allow hackers to execute potentially malicious code on iPhones, iPads, Macs and MacBooks. This makes the releases critically important and priority updates for all users. At this stage, iOS 15 has proved itself to be consistently reliable, and iOS 15.6.
Why is iOS 15.6 failing to install? ›You might be unable to update your iPhone or iPad wirelessly — or over the air — for one of these reasons: Your device doesn't support the latest software. There isn't enough available storage space on your device. The update takes a long time to download.
How many GB does iOS 15.6 take up? ›Check that you have enough available storage
iOS 15 will take up about 3.24 GB of storage space, but you'll need more than that to successfully install the update.
Description: The issue was addressed with improved memory handling. Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved state management. Description: A privacy issue was addressed with improved private data redaction for log entries.
What iOS is after 15.7 3? ›
| Version | Build | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 15.7.2 | 19H218 | December 13, 2022 |
| 15.7.3 | 19H307 | January 23, 2023 |
| 15.7.4 | 19H321 | March 27, 2023 |
| 15.7.5 | 19H332 | April 10, 2023 |
Apple's most recent point upgrades (x.x.x) have been focused on patching up security issues and that's exactly what iOS 15.7. 3 brings to older iPhones. The official change log notes the update brings important security patches to iPhone users and you can learn more about those over on Apple's security site.
Can I update from iOS 15.5 to 16? ›Make sure your device is plugged in and connected to the internet with Wi-Fi. Then follow these steps: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Install Now.
Why is iOS 15.7 so slow? ›Make sure you have enough storage
You can check your device's storage in Settings > General > [Device] Storage. For best performance, try to maintain at least 1GB of free space. If your available storage is consistently less than 1GB, your device might slow down as iOS repeatedly makes room for more content.
| Operation | Time |
|---|---|
| Device Backup (optional) | > 5 mins |
| iOS 16 Installation | 8~20 mins |
| iPhone Setup | < 5 mins |
| Total | 20 mins~1 h |
“From a security standpoint, iPhone owners need to update to iOS 15.7 or iOS 16,” says Sean Wright, an independent security researcher. “Some prefer waiting for the kinks to be ironed out first, and that's understandable,” he says. However, Wright says you should eventually move over to iOS 16.
Should I update my iPhone to 15.7 or 16? ›For the most part, you should probably update to iOS 16
Aside from all the new features you may benefit from, Apple's major software updates may fix bugs and other issues in previous iterations. Note: Apple released iOS 15.7, which fixes several security issues without you having to update to iOS 16.
First things first—you need to update your iPhone to either iOS 15.7. 1 or iOS 16.1, because both updates address serious security issues—one of which is already being used in real-life attacks. The list of issues fixed in iOS 15.7.
Will iOS 16 drain battery? ›And although they haven't been released yet, Live Activities and the iCloud Shared Photo Library are two iOS 16 features that may also drain your battery, so look out for an update to this story on how to disable them.
Is it worth upgrading to iOS 16? ›Apple's iOS 16 is a superb enhancement of the iPhone operating system with deep Lock Screen customization options, significant Live Text improvements, and support for physical security keys.
Should you Install iOS 16? ›
This update is recommended for all iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro users and provides important bug fixes including the following: iMessage and FaceTime may not complete activation.
Do I have to update to iOS 15.6 before iOS 16? ›iOS 16: When is the best time to upgrade
We recommend waiting for the first big update to iOS 16 before upgrading. The good news is that iOS 16.1 was released back in October 2021, so we would suggest that most users, with compatible iPhones, should now upgrade from iOS 15.
The iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 updates can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
How long does iOS 15.6 1 take to install? ›DO NOT forget to create a full backup of your device before updating its operating system, and keep in mind that, depending on the available storage on your device and/or on your wifi network speed, it might take 30-60 minutes to complete the entire update process.
Why is iOS 15.6 stuck on preparing update? ›One of the reasons why your iPhone is stuck on preparing an update screen is that the downloaded update is corrupted. Something went wrong while you were downloading the update and that caused the update file not to remain intact.
What does iOS 15.6 update fix? ›- TV app adds the option to restart a live sports game already in-progress and pause, rewind, or fast-forward.
- Fixes an issue where Settings may continue to display that device storage is full even if it is available.
- Back up your device using iCloud or your computer.
- Plug your device into power and connect to the internet with Wi-Fi.
- Go to Settings > General, then tap Software Update.
- If you see more than one software update option available, choose the one that you want to install.
- Tap Install Now.
Released on August 17, iOS 15.6. 1 had no new feature additions, but it does include a critical security fix that addresses kernel and Webkit vulnerability that could lead to arbitrary code execution. Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.
When iOS 16 will launch? ›The first developer beta of iOS 16 was released on June 6, 2022. iOS 16 was officially released on September 12, 2022.
Who will get iOS 16? ›Any from the past five years: anyone with an iPhone 8 or later will be able to run iOS 16. With the iPad, iOS 16 is compatible with all Pad Pro models, iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later).
Is 15.7 iOS update good? ›
iOS 15.7.
This update provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.
One of the most compelling reasons behind your device not updating from iOS 15.7 to iOS 16 is that the Apple server may be down. In such a case, you may wait for some time and then try again to update your iPhone.
How do I install iOS 15.7 3? ›- Open the “Settings” app on the iPhone or iPad.
- Go to “General”
- Choose “Software Update”
- Select “Download & Install” when “iOS 15.7.3” or 'iOS 12.5.7' shows as available.
The iOS 15.7 and iPadOS 15.7 updates address multiple kernel vulnerabilities in addition to fixing security issues with Contacts, Maps, Safari, Safari Extensions, Shortcuts, and WebKit.
How long does it take to update from iOS 15.7 to iOS 16? ›iOS 16 Download- 10 to 40 Mins
If your device is running on the latest version, the size of the update will be smaller, and the download will finish in 10 minutes. On the other hand, if you are running an older version, your download will be larger, and it might take longer than that.
iPhone getting slow has to do with less and less storage space, and unwanted apps always take up a large amount of space on your iPhone. Hence, you can delete unwanted apps and app cache to speed iPhone up more or less.
Why does the iOS 15.7 keep failing to update? ›If Apple's servers are busy or experience a downtime, the iOS 15.7 download fails and you're prompted with the above popup. You can check the status of Apple's servers on their System Status page (direct link). Fact: If an issue is confirmed, be patient and try to update later!
Is it worth upgrading iOS 15 to 16? ›If you are very keen on using these new features and are not concerned about bugs, app and accessory support, or delayed features, upgrading now will likely be worth it. For a more exact breakdown of all of the new features in iOS 16, see our comprehensive roundup.
What happens in the iOS 15.6 update? ›With iOS 15.6, the TV app will now let you restart live sports games already in progress, as well as pause, rewind and fast-forward. This feature is also available in updates for the iPad and Mac computers. Here are Apple's iOS release notes: iOS 15.6 includes enhancements, bug fixes and security updates.
How long does it take to update from iOS 15.6 1 to iOS 16? ›If you're connected to a fast Wi-Fi network, the iOS 16.4 download should finish up in 10 minutes or so. If your connection is slower, or you're downloading during peak hours, it could take longer. In some cases, much longer.
Should I update to iOS 15.6 or iOS 16? ›
The first difference between iOS 16 and iOS 15 is the lock screen. Compared with iOS 15, iOS 16 has a big change in the style of the lock screen interface. On the new lock screen, we can change fonts and wallpaper, and even put widgets on the lock screen.
Is iOS 15.6 important? ›iOS 15.6. 1 brings important security updates for iPhone users. Apple also mentioned on its support page that it “is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited.” This means that users are urged to update their iPhones immediately. What are the security vulnerabilities Apple has fixed?
What does the iOS 15.7 update do? ›The iOS 15.7 and iPadOS 15.7 updates address multiple kernel vulnerabilities in addition to fixing security issues with Contacts, Maps, Safari, Safari Extensions, Shortcuts, and WebKit.
Should I install iOS 15.7 1 before 16? ›First things first—you need to update your iPhone to either iOS 15.7. 1 or iOS 16.1, because both updates address serious security issues—one of which is already being used in real-life attacks. The list of issues fixed in iOS 15.7.
How long until iOS 16 comes out? ›| General availability | September 12, 2022 |
| Latest release | 16.4 (20E247) (March 27, 2023) [±] |
| Latest preview | 16.5 beta 1 (20F5028e) (March 28, 2023) [±] |
| Available in | 40 languages |
| Support status | |
|---|---|