Have you recently been unable to update your iPhone or iPad due to low disk space?
First, check what Apps are taking up all the space by going to Settings → General → Usage.
It may take up to a minute to calculate all your Apps and their usage, so be patient. In many cases you can simply delete a few apps from this screen to free up enough space.
However, in some case you either cannot free up enough space, or your device will indicate it has enough space required, yet you'll still be greeted by an unable to update error message.
If this sounds like you, we've provided the easy-to-follow guide to backup your iDevice to a computer, update it, and restore all of your data (often leaving you with more available space than your started with):
- Make sure iTunes is installed on your PC or Mac and that it’s up to date.
- Plug in your iDevice and allow an iTunes sync to complete.
- Click the iPhone/iPad/iPod button in the top right to go to your device summary page.
- On
the summary page, make sure Automatically Back Up is set to “This
Computer”, and click the “Back Up Now” button on the right.
- Approve
any prompts asking for permission, or asking to transfer apps/purchases to your
computer.
- When
backup is complete, click the Restore iPhone… button in the top right of
the summary page.
- If
you see a message about turning off Find My iPhone, without unplugging your
phone from the computer, go to your iPhone Settings à iCloud à and turn off Find My iPhone (you will need to enter
your Apple ID password)
- Click
the Restore iPhone… button again – if it asks you if you want to backup,
you can decline backing up (you already did it, RIIIIIGHT?)
- Approve
restoring iPhone and UPDATING – iTunes will download iOS 7.1 and upon
completion of the download, wipe your phone and install the new iOS.
- Upon
completion of the restore, with your iPhone still plugged in, iTunes will ask
if you want to setup as a new iPhone, or restore from a backup – choose restore
from the most recent backup (check the backup dates for the one you just did).
