Here’s How Long Does the iOS 10.3.3 Update Take?

Apple’s new iOS 10.3.3 update is surprisingly big, but it won’t take long to install on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

The iOS 10.3.3 update is finally out of beta and is available for all iOS 10 supported devices. As expected, Apple’s latest iOS 10 upgrade is a maintenance update aimed at squashing bugs and improving device security. It has two dozen security patches.

The changelog may be short, but the iOS 10.3.3 update is actually pretty big. iPhone 7 users upgrading directly from iOS 10.3.2 are looking at a 137MB download. The update is also pretty big for other iPhone models.

While some may want to rain check, most iOS 10 users should install the iOS 10.3.

A question we often get from potential upgraders has to do with download time and how long it takes for an upgrade to install.

The answer is that there is no definitive answer. Times always vary from person to person, device to device. However, we can help you with the approximate time it takes to download the iOS 10.3.3 update to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

If you’re ready for iOS 10.3.3 and you’ve connected your device to a fast Wi-Fi network, it may take less than 15 minutes to install iOS 10.3.3. If you’re not prepared, the process can take much longer.

Prepare for iOS 10.3.

If you’re planning to install iOS 10.3.3 on your phone, tablet, or iPod, you’ll want to do some prep work. A little preparation can go a long way in preventing problems and headaches.

We’ve recently put together a pre-installation guide that takes you step-by-step through the process we use every time Apple releases a new iOS update.

Depending on what you need to do, you can complete these steps in a few minutes. However, this part of the iOS 10.3.3 update could take an hour or more unless you backed up or checked with your IT department or researched iOS 10.3.3.

At the very least, you’ll want to back up your important files. That way, if something goes wrong, you won’t be one of those horror stories we hear every time Apple releases a new software update.

iOS 10.3.3 Download Time

After preparation, it’s time to download the iOS 10.3.3 update to your device. Your download size and duration will depend on your device and the version of iOS you are currently running.

If you are upgrading directly from iOS 10.3.2, your iOS 10.3.3 update may be over 100MB. Again, the iPhone 7’s iOS 10.3.3 update is 137MB.

If you’re using a high-speed Wi-Fi connection, your download will take less than two minutes. If you’re on a slower Wi-Fi network, the download may take longer.

If you’re upgrading from an older iOS update, expect your download to be a bit (or much) larger because of the updates you missed in the meantime.

iOS 10.3.3 Installation Time

After the download is complete, iOS 10.3.3 will start installing on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. This will take a little longer than the download.

We have installed the iOS 10.3.3 update on two devices, iPhone 7 and iPhone 5. The iPhone 7 iOS 10.3.3 installation took seven minutes to complete, and the iPhone 5 iOS 10.3.3 update took approximately eight minutes to complete. Again we were coming directly from iOS 10.3.

If you’re coming from an older update like iOS 10.2.1, it may take up to 10 minutes to complete. We recommend setting aside 15-20 minutes of quiet time so you can monitor the installation for problems.

Post install

Once the installation process is finished, the job isn’t over. You may need to spend time logging back in to iCloud and apps and services that sign you out.

You’ll also want to spend some time checking your important files (photos, music, etc.) to make sure they’re still there. We also recommend testing your core apps and services to make sure they’re working properly.

You’ll also want to investigate bugs and monitor your device’s performance (battery life, connectivity, etc.).

If you run into an issue with iOS 10.3.3, check our list of fixes for common iOS 10 issues before scheduling an appointment at the Apple Store.