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What Happens To Your iPhone If You Don’t Update Your Device? A Tech Expert Reveals

December 7, 2023 by Lisa Cupido
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What’s the worst thing that can happen if you leave your phone un-updated, you might wonder from time to time? 

A phone that hasn’t been updated can cause more issues than you might realize. 

Sure, it’s annoying to have to find a charger and wait however long it takes for your device’s software to update. But it’s well worth the effort and few minutes that you must stay off of your device. As tech expert Simple Alpaca explains here, there are a number of security and privacy reasons why you should keep your phone updated at all times: 

Here’s what happens to your iPhone if you don’t update your device. 

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Missing Out On Key Security Features

 


Although you may be able to get away with not updating your device for six months or even a year, if you go too long you will miss out on key important security features that keep your phone protected against viruses and malware. And if you haven’t updated your phone in three years, you’re not only missing out on security updates, but also platform features and big security bugs that Apple has had fixed. 

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Never updating your software also leaves you more vulnerable to getting your phone hacked. Certain apps you use may also require that you have the latest iOS software updated so that they run most efficiently. You may begin coming across bugs and performance issues. In the past, for example, Apple released iOS 15.1 to fix an issue in which users were receiving erroneous reports about their storage space. Then, iOS 15.2 addressed a bug concerning overexposed ProRAW photographs and other errors. These fixes are only possibly if you make sure you’re continually updating your software. 

 


To check for updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If you see that you’re not up to date, plug in your device and let your phone do what it does best: fix issues with software updates. 

Author:

Lisa Fogarty is a lifestyle writer and reporter based in New York who covers health, wellness, relationships, sex, beauty, and parenting.

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