4 ways to get your iPhone ready for iOS 27

Apple's latest iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro series and the iPhone Duo, has been unveiled this week. The devices boast cutting-edge technology, but even if you're not planning to upgrade, Apple has announced the release date for the new iOS 27 operating system. This update will be available to all iPhones capable of running iOS 26, with a general public release scheduled for Monday, September 14.

To ensure a smooth transition to iOS 27, there are several steps users can take. First, update to iOS 26.6 or later. Apple included a new indexing optimization with iOS 26.6, which should mitigate post-installation issues. As indexing—the process of categorizing and tagging files on your iPhone for quick search—can take days and consume significant processing power and battery life, this optimization is crucial.

Second, back up your data to iCloud. Although an iOS 27 installation is unlikely to cause data loss, it's always prudent to have a backup available. Your iPhone typically backs up automatically each night when it's connected to Wi-Fi, but you can manually initiate a backup right before downloading iOS 27. Connect to a fast Wi-Fi network to expedite the backup process.

Third, free up storage space on your iPhone, as iOS 27 may require at least 25GB of free space for installation. Large files such as video games and 4K videos often consume significant storage. To check your storage usage, navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Identify and delete unnecessary large files or apps to ensure sufficient space for the new OS.

Lastly, update your apps in preparation for iOS 27. Developers often optimize their apps for the new operating system in advance, so updating your apps can enhance performance and enable newly supported features. To update your apps, open the App Store, tap your Apple Account profile picture, select App Updates, and update all available apps. By following these steps, users can be fully prepared to install iOS 27 upon its release.