How to Download iOS Updates Without iTunes

Dec 9, 2010 - 39 Comments

download ios without itunes You can download any iOS software updates for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch without using iTunes. There are actually two ways to do this, the first is using the iOS device itself but there are caveats and limitations with that, and then there is the traditional method of downloading the update files directly from Apple without iTunes, which is particularly helpful for those who rely on download managers or who are just encountering trouble with iTunes automatic updates.

We will cover both methods of obtaining iOS software without using iTunes to download it, we’ll start with the easiest method of using the device itself to get the iOS update. This applies to all modern versions of iOS.

Download iOS Updates Directly to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Thanks to OTA (standing for Over The Air) updates, you can also download updates to iOS directly on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch without even using iTunes. There is a caveat here though, and that is the device must be running system software later than version iOS 5.0, so older hardware may be left out. In any case, if you are running iOS 5 or later, you can use OTA to update iOS with no attachment to a computer or PC whatsoever.

  1. Tap on “Settings” and tap on “General”
  2. Tap on “Software Update” to see if any update is available for the over the air download

If an update is available, tapping on Download and Install will finish the process for you with no attachment to a computer and no iTunes at all. Very nice!

What installing iOS with OTA Software Update looks like

This is by far the easiest way to get the iOS update installed onto a device and requires no computer at all, the whole thing is completed on the iPhone or iPad.

Download iOS Updates Without iTunes

You can always download iOS IPSW files without iTunes, and then update the software using iTunes itself.

Select your iOS hardware to get a complete list of iOS updates for that device:

Note that you will still need to use iTunes to install the iOS update on your hardware.

The iOS update file has downloaded, now what?

Once you have downloaded the IPSW file that corresponds with your iOS device:

  • Launch iTunes
  • Option+Click (Mac OS X) or Shift+Click (Windows) the Update button
  • Select the IPSW update file you just downloaded
  • Let iTunes update your hardware to the latest version

That’s all there is to it. This is often a more reliable way to get an iOS update immediately, sometimes iTunes will time out during the download when an iOS update has just been released, this is probably due to server overload.

Frankly, it’s often faster to just download the update files directly from Apple since they are delivered through a CDN they tend to go at or near your maximum download speeds.

On a side note, if you attempted to download an iOS update from within iTunes and it failed, you may want to trash the file it downloaded. You can do this by going to the IPSW file location and just deleting the file. Sometimes this alone can resolve iOS download problems too.

Updated on 4/12/2015

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Posted by: Manish Patel in iPad, iPhone, Troubleshooting

39 Comments

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  1. Mark says:

    Help me to update my iPhone 4s

  2. pouram says:

    I went to software my iPad

  3. Arshiya Banu says:

    Hello!
    I’m an Apple/iphone user, I have a mini 2 iPad.I’m trying to update my software from iOS 9 something.. to iOS 13 since many days.. but it’s not updating I dont know why.I tried updating from the (OTA) but it’s not updating, Its just showing “your ipad does not support wireless update” and showing that update using the computer in itunes, but my PC is not working. It means I cant update using a PC. So I don’t know what to do..

  4. Ravi says:

    How can I update software without computer and laptop because I have not those

  5. gulabganook says:

    how can i update my iphone4 without computer .also without itones

  6. Tese says:

    How do I do this on my iPod 4th generation

  7. R-mas says:

    i wanna downgrade my iphone 4s from ios 9.0.2 to ios 8 or 7 please help

  8. Bhavneet Singh says:

    3195 error occured while updating my ipad mini ……what should i do now it stuck at apple logo

  9. medhi kurniawan says:

    nice forum!

    i want upgrade my iphone to ios 6!
    i wish i’m not fail!

    😁

  10. allison says:

    i tried everything here, i still cant update my ipad 2, all i get is error 3194

  11. sen says:

    worked for me !!!! really awesome……and thanx dude.

  12. satyam says:

    Hi,
    I have updated ios 4.3.3 to 5.1 but touch pad is not working properly so how can I get older version

  13. Rob says:

    Brilliant!! I’ve spent hours trying to select a new firmware and get apple to accept it using the shift and click restore/update option

    kept on getting error:
    iphone could not be updated because the firmware file is not compatible

    To fix problem go to:
    On Windows XP :
    Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

    On Windows Vista/Windows 7:
    Users\\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

    On Mac:
    ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

    Delete the current file and replace it with the new firmware ipsw file you want

    Start itunes and just click on the restore/update Et Volia!! You’ll update to this new firmware!!

    Big thanks to hooksencho!!

  14. Anita says:

    Thank you Thank you Thank you

  15. MICHAEL MCGEE says:

    I NEED HELP PUTTING THE NEW UPDATE ON ITUNES

  16. Kimberly says:

    The problem for me is that I don’t want to update iTunes (it’s huge, and I originally installed bare bones), so when I go to install the iOS update, iTunes won’t do it without updating itself. Anyone know a workaround? I don’t want to hack, just want to update my iphone. Thanks!

    • Matt says:

      You have to install the latest version of iTunes to install the latest version of iOS, there is no way around that until you get iOS 5, then you can do it directly on your phone.

  17. Ev says:

    Ive walked through all steps but it needed a total recovery. It also wiped off all audio and video files, so the pro is: it installs the newest iOs version; the con is: is completely formats the iPod lol ><
    The reason i dont want iTunes to auto update and install the new version, is because it requires a FULL backup of the ipod (In my case over 40GB) while my hdd where iTunes is installed on, only has 10GB free space. More then enough for a windows install disk, however not to let iTunes make an auto backup. The downside from iTunes: It doesnt allow the end-user (you and me) to change the backup location, which imo is ridicules!

  18. Job says:

    i have downloaded the update , but i don’t know how to put it onto my iPod

  19. chelsea says:

    okay so i just downloaded the ipsw file for my iphone 3gs because my itunes wouldnt update to the newest version so i couldnt get the iphone 5 software or whatever… my problem is i dont understand how to get it on to itunes.. what exactly do i press with this option click thing?

    • Matt says:

      The “Restore” button in iTunes, then find the IPSW file you downloaded. You will need to then restore from your prior backup in order to get your apps and data back.

      Ideally you will just update through iTunes, it is much easier for most people.

  20. emdee says:

    i downloaded the .ipsw file but as a zip file.
    now how do i go about it?

  21. hooksencho says:

    Wanted to pass along this helpful note: for my original iPad, (not iPad 2) I tried to install using the option+click method above but kept getting error 3002. But then I quit iTunes, copied the downloaded file to ~/Library/iTunes/iPad Software Updates, launched iTunes and simply clicked the “udate” button (Not option+click). Everything worked fine from there.

  22. mike says:

    Yep, not compatible for iPod 4G. What an incredible waste of time. Could have just downloaded it in iTunes by now.

  23. elise says:

    Its says firmware not compatible

  24. Dale2000 says:

    To be fair, the article’s title is clearly and obviously “How to Download iOS updates Without iTunes.”

    The really important feature of that title is that it does not include the word “Install” in it. Zain and Really failed to read the title properly.

    The distinction, and importance here, is that a person could download the IPSW from one location, take it to another using a USB key or other, and install it where they may not have an internet connection, or merely a slow internet connection where they do not want to spend 3 days downloading 750mb.

  25. The Explainer says:

    Well I understood them. I’m downloading the IPSW file because my firewall for some reason is blocking iTunes from connecting tot eh Apple Download Center. So I download outside of iTunes and then I can install from the local file.

    Shame I had to explain this one *facepalm*

  26. Really says:

    How to download iOS updates without itunes. Download iOS update. Then use iTunes. *facepalm*

  27. foo says:

    are you daft?

  28. Zain says:

    This tutorial depends on iTunes.

  29. D1veBum says:

    Downloading a ipsw file from a site outside of iTunes is helpful if you have multiple iOS devices and you only want to download the file itself once and install it on several devices.

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