Is your smartphone running on the latest operating system? It’s important to keep your operating system current because these updates often include critical security patches that are designed to protect your data and devices.

Here’s how to find out if you have a software update available on your phone.

iPhone

1. On your iPhone, open the “Settings” app
2. Click “General”
3. Click “Software Update”
4. Here you will be able to see if there is a Software Update available for your phone. If there is an update available, you can click “Download and Install” to initiate the update. You may need to be connected to wifi, and the update may take some time to install, so you may want to start this process at a time when you won’t need to use your phone, like before bed.

Android

1. On your phone, open the “Settings” app
2. Scroll towards the bottom and click “System”
3. Click “Advanced”, then click “System Update”
4. Here you will be able to see if there is a Software Update available for your phone. If there is an update available, follow the directions on the screen to initiate the update. You may need to be connected to wifi, and the update may take some time to install, so you may want to start this process at a time when you won’t need to use your phone, like before bed.