Installing Apple’s new iOS 13.2.3 update might be tempting, but there are some steps you should take before moving your iPhone from iOS 12 to iOS 13.2.3 or iOS 13.0/iOS 13.1/iOS 13.1.1/iOS 13.1.2/ iOS 13.1.3/iOS 13.2/iOS 13.2.2 to iOS 13.2.3.
The iOS 13.2.3 update doesn’t have any new features onboard, but it does have some important bug fixes aimed at improving your iPhone’s performance.
If you’re moving up from iOS 13.2.2, you get the shortest changelog and the smallest download. If you are moving up from an older version of iOS, your iOS 13.2.3 update will be more substantial. That’s because the features and fixes from the updates you skipped are baked in.
iOS 13.2.3 is an exciting upgrade and most of you will want to install it on your device. That said, it’s difficult to predict how your device will react to the move.
While some of you will see performance gains, others will run into frustrating bugs and performance issues. This is why it’s important to prepare. Some prep work ahead of the installation will help you avoid serious issues.
If you start noticing issues with iOS 13.2.3, note that you can downgrade to 13.2.2. However, Apple’s also closed up the downgrade path to older versions of iOS 13 and iOS 12.
So if you’re currently having a good experience on iOS 13.2, iOS 13.1.3, iOS 13.1.2, iOS 13.1.1, iOS 13.1, iOS 13.0, or iOS 12, moving to iOS 13.2.3 is a pretty big deal.
Apple will continue to roll out bug fixes and performance enhancements, but the next version of iOS 13 could be several weeks away.
With all of that in mind, we want to take you through the best way to prepare for the move to iOS 13.2.3. We recommend spending 30 minutes, or more, preparing yourself and your device for the move.
Backup Your Data 1 |
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| Backing up your data might be the most important thing you can do before installing an update of this size. Data loss issues are rare these days, but if you store important files on your phone you’ll want to play it safe.
A lot of you probably know how to properly backup your data (photos, videos, etc), but if you’re lost, we’ve got you covered. Some of you will want to backup using Apple’s iCloud service. It’s an efficient way to ensure your files are safe and sound. If you need additional help, you’ll want to check out Apple’s guide to using iCloud. If you don’t want to use iCloud, we have a guide that will take you through the backup process using iTunes. If you’re running macOS Catalina, you’ll need to use Finder, not iTunes. If you store a ton of data on your iPhone, the backup process could take a while to complete so you’ll need to remain patient. |
Get Familiar with iOS 13.2.3 & Older Updates 2 |
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| If you’ve fallen way behind on iOS updates, and you’re still running iOS 12, you’ll want to get familiar with the iOS 12 updates you skipped before you install iOS 13.2.3 on your phone.
If you’re lingering on an older version of iOS 12 you’ll want to get acquainted with any updates you missed because the features and fixes from those updates are baked into your version of iOS 13.2.3. We’ve put together a guide that will take you through all of the major changes from the most recent versions of iOS 12. It’s a great place to start. If you’re on iOS 13, but running an older version, you’ll want to get familiar with the versions of iOS 13 you decided to skip. We’ve released a walkthrough that will hold your hand through the biggest changes on board the most recent versions of iOS 13. Go through it and absorb the information. This way you won’t be caught off guard by any of the changes you encounter on the new operating system. If you’re moving up from iOS 13.2.2, make sure you get familiar with iOS 13.2.3. You can do so via our guide to the upgrade. |
Gather Feedback About iOS 13.2.3Â 3 |
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| If you’re feeling a bit leery about moving from iOS 12 to iOS 13 or your current version of iOS 13 to iOS 13.2.3, you should dig through feedback from early adopters.
Again, there’s a chance you encounter bugs and/or performance issues after installing iOS 13.2. New software often hits older models the hardest so if you own an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, or iPhone SE, you’ll want to approach iOS 13.2.3 with caution. It’s important to get a feel for iOS 13.2.3’s performance on your device prior to hitting download so if you haven’t been following along, you should spend some time gathering feedback from iOS 13.2.3 users using your iPhone model. This feedback will alert you to potential bugs and problems and it will also reveal potential benefits of the new operating system. You’ll want to poke around on Apple’s discussion forums, YouTube, and social media sites like Twitter for feedback about the iOS 13.2.3 update. Some of you might want to wait for long-term feedback to emerge before committing to the new firmware. And some of the might even want to wait for Apple to roll out its next batch of bug fixes. |
Find Fixes for iOS 13.2.3 Problems 4 |
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| We’re already hearing about the issues plaguing iPhone users who’ve made the move to iOS 13.2.3. Some of these issues are minor, others are far more problematic.
If you don’t have an encyclopedia of fixes for iOS issues stored inside your head, you’ll want to track down and bookmark fixes for potential problems. We’ve put together a list of fixes for the most common iOS 13 problems plaguing iPhone models. This is an excellent place to start. We’ve also released guides that will help you improve your device’s battery life and your device’s overall performance. If you get familiar with fixes prior to installing iOS 13.2.3, you’ll be ready to face any issues you encounter head-on. |
Check-in With ITÂ 5 |
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| If you use your iPhone for work you might want to check with your IT team (if you have one) and make sure it’s alright to install iOS 13.2.3.
Enterprise problems plague every single version of iOS and they can be particularly nasty in the days after the release of new iOS firmware. If you depend on your phone to get you through a day of work it’s important to get in touch with IT to see if the update is safe to use. If you’ve got an IT department, they should be able to provide you with feedback about the core apps and services you use. If you don’t have an IT department or a tech on site, you might want to ask around the office or talk to friends who use the same services and see how they’re doing on iOS 13.2.3. |
Learn How to Downgrade 6 |
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| For a short time, Apple will allow you to downgrade back to iOS 13.2.2. This is useful if iOS 13.2.3 starts giving you problems.
The downgrade path won’t be open forever. Apple will close it off at some point and it will do so without warning. This is why we recommend getting familiar with the downgrade process now so that you aren’t scrambling when and if you need to use the process. Go over the steps, memorize them, and you’ll be in great shape if iOS 13.2.3’s performance takes a dive. |
Dig Into App Reviews 7 |
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| If you rely on your apps to get you through the workday you’ll want to read app reviews before you install iOS 13.2.3 on your device(s).
App developers are rolling out iOS 13 support updates. These updates will be crucial to your iOS 13 experience. That said, while their intentions are good, there’s a chance these support updates cause problems. They have many times in the past. Before you install the iOS 13.2.3 update you’ll want to head to the App Store and read reviews from iOS 13 users. If reviews are mostly positive, go ahead and install the latest update(s). If the feedback is negative, you might want to wait for a new version of iOS 13 or for the developer to update the app before moving your device to iOS 13.2.3. |
 Have Your Login Info Ready 8 |
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| Installing the iOS 13.2.3 update on your device might prompt you to input your Apple ID/iCloud account details and your passcode.
Most of you should know these by heart, but if it’s been a while since you’ve had to login or if you’re installing iOS 13.2.3 for someone else, you’ll want to make sure you have that information readily available when you go to install the upgrade. There’s also a chance some of your first and third-party apps and services will have logged you out once the installation completes. Have this login info handy as well. If you want to complete the iOS 13.2.3 installation process in the shortest amount of time, make sure you have all of this info ready to go. |
Decide How to Download iOS 13.2Â 9 |
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| Decide how you’ll download and install the iOS 13.2.3 update on your device before you hit download.
If you plan on installing iOS 13.2.3 Over-the-Air (OTA) through the device’s Settings, you’ll need to have at least a 50% charge and you’ll need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. You can also install the iOS 13.2.3 update via iTunes. Simply plug your device in, find your device, and check for an update. Note, if you’re running macOS Catalina you’ll need to update via Finder, not iTunes. |
Look Into the iOS 13 Jailbreak |
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| If you’re currently jailbroken or if you want to jailbreak a device at some point, be careful with iOS 13.2.3.
There’s a working iOS 12 jailbreak for iOS 12.4, but there’s nothing out for the iOS 13 update right now and it could be weeks before developers release an iOS 13 jailbreak tool. If you want to stay jailbroken you’ll want to stay put on iOS 12. And if you’re thinking about jailbreaking, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons before you take the plunge. Keep an eye out for new iOS 13 jailbreak details as we push through the fall. |
