# How to update your phone on a computer, and keep the computer updated > Update an iPhone, iPad or Android phone from a Windows PC or Mac over USB, know when over-the-air is simpler, and update Windows, macOS and Linux safely. - URL: https://computese.com/how-to-update-your-computer-or-phone/ - Author: Duong Quan Nguyen, CEO, Computese - Published: 2024-10-11 - Updated: 2026-09-25 - Topics: IT support, Security ## In short - To update a phone from a computer, connect it by USB and use the maker's app: Finder on a Mac, or Apple Devices or iTunes on Windows, for an iPhone or iPad; Smart Switch on a PC or Mac for a Samsung Galaxy. - For routine updates, the over-the-air update in Settings is simpler. Use a computer when the update does not appear, keeps failing or the phone needs recovery; a Pixel can take a full OTA image without being wiped. - Back up first, keep the device charged and connected, and never interrupt an install: iOS cannot be downgraded after an update, and an Android backup cannot be restored onto an older Android version. - Updates carry the security fixes. Windows 10 stopped getting them on October 14, 2025 unless the PC is enrolled in ESU (until October 12, 2027), and Pixel 8 and later phones get 7 years of updates. To update a phone from a computer, connect it with a USB cable and let the maker's desktop software install the update: Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app or iTunes on Windows, for an iPhone or iPad; Samsung Smart Switch for a Galaxy. For most phones, the over-the-air update in Settings is simpler. This guide covers both routes for iPhone, iPad and Android, and what to do when an update fails. It then turns to the computer itself (Windows Update, macOS Software Update and Linux package managers), why updates matter, what end of support means for Windows 10 and for phones, and how to update without losing data. Setting up a new PC for the first time is a different job, covered in [how to set up Windows on a new computer](https://computese.com/how-to-set-up-windows-for-a-new-computer/). ## Update an iPhone or iPad from a computer Apple's first choice is the wireless update on the device. It points you to a computer when the update does not appear on the device ([some updates are not offered wirelessly at all](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118575)), when the device cannot reach Apple's update servers (a VPN or proxy can block them), or when a wireless install keeps failing on several networks. On a computer, you start the update in the desktop app; the computer downloads it over its own connection and installs it through the cable. The phone has to trust the computer first: unlock it, and when it asks **Trust This Computer?**, tap **Trust** and enter your passcode. ![A laptop receives an update package from a cloud and passes it along a USB cable to a phone beside it, while a shield with a check mark shows the phone trusts that computer.](https://computese.com/images/blog/how-to-update-your-computer-or-phone/cable-update.be40817f45-1536.webp) *The computer does the downloading: the route to use when the update will not appear on the phone or keeps failing over the air.* Back up the device before you start, to iCloud or to the same computer (see the section on updating safely below). ### On a Mac: Finder Apple's instructions for [updating with the Finder](https://support.apple.com/en-us/109046) apply to any Mac running macOS Catalina or later: 1. If the Mac is online through the iPhone's Personal Hotspot, move the Mac to another Wi-Fi or Ethernet network first. 2. Connect the iPhone or iPad with a cable and open a Finder window. If the Mac asks **Allow accessory to connect?**, click **Allow**. 3. Select the device in the Finder sidebar, then click **General** and **Check for Update**. 4. Click **Download and Update**, follow the prompts and enter the device's passcode if asked. 5. Leave the cable connected until the device has restarted on the new version. ### On Windows: the Apple Devices app, or iTunes On a Windows PC, Apple's app for this job is **Apple Devices**. To [install it](https://support.apple.com/guide/devices-windows/mchl5ded2763/windows), open the Microsoft Store, search for "Apple Devices" and select **Get**. Then [update the device](https://support.apple.com/guide/devices-windows/mchl0e5e3d56/windows): 1. Connect the iPhone or iPad with a USB or USB-C cable, unlock it and tap **Trust** if asked. (Apple Devices can also reach a device over Wi-Fi once Wi-Fi syncing is set up.) 2. Select the device in the sidebar, then **General**. 3. Select **Check for Update** if no update is shown yet, then **Update**. [iTunes still does the same job](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108964) on a Windows PC without Apple Devices and on Macs running macOS Mojave or earlier: click the device button in the toolbar, then **Summary**, **Check for Update** and **Download and Update**. ### If the computer does not see the phone Apple's [checklist for a device that does not appear](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108643) comes down to four things: - The phone is unlocked, showing the Home Screen, and you tapped **Trust**. If you tapped **Don't Trust** by mistake, resetting location and privacy settings brings the prompt back. - The cable supports data as well as charging. A charge-only cable will not work. - Another USB port, or another computer, works. Check the phone's charging port for debris too. - The computer is up to date: the latest macOS on a Mac, the latest Windows and Apple Devices app on a PC. On a Mac, VPN and third-party security software can also get in the way. ### When the update fails: recovery mode If the screen shows the Apple logo for several minutes with no progress bar, or the phone shows a **Connect to computer** screen, use [recovery mode](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118106). On an iPhone 8 or later, connect the phone, open Finder or Apple Devices, then press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, and hold the side button until the **Connect to computer** screen appears. The computer then offers **Update** or **Restore**. > [!WARNING] > Choose **Update** first. **Restore** reinstalls iOS and erases everything on the phone, so it is only for a phone that still fails after an update attempt, and only once you know you have a backup. If the download takes more than 15 minutes, the phone may leave recovery mode: let the download finish, then enter recovery mode again. ## Update an Android phone from a computer Android updates are built to arrive over the air, and there is no single desktop tool for every Android phone. Google's own help sends owners of phones other than Pixel to [their manufacturer or carrier](https://support.google.com/android/answer/7680439) for update information. Use a computer only where the maker documents it. ### Samsung Galaxy: Smart Switch on a PC or Mac Samsung's [Smart Switch](https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/smart-switch/) desktop app runs on Windows 10 or later and Mac OS X 10.13 or later. It backs up a Galaxy to the computer and offers newer software when you connect the phone. Samsung's [update instructions](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002027/): 1. Install Smart Switch on the computer: from the Microsoft Store on Windows, or Samsung's download on a Mac. 2. Connect the phone with a USB cable. Some PCs need a USB adapter. 3. Open Smart Switch and let it detect the phone. If an update is available, select **Update** and follow the prompts. 4. Do not disconnect the cable or use the phone until the update is complete. The phone reboots as part of the process. If an update through the computer is interrupted and the phone no longer works normally, Smart Switch has an **Emergency Software Recovery and Reset** option. It includes a factory data reset, so treat it as a last resort that depends on having a backup. ### Google Pixel: full OTA images and Android Flash Tool Pixel phones update themselves over the air, but Google publishes two fallbacks that run from a computer: - **[Full OTA images](https://developers.google.com/android/ota)** are for a Pixel that has failed to take an over-the-air update. Installing one has the same effect as flashing a factory image, but without wiping the phone or unlocking the bootloader. Google's own advice is that [sideloading the full OTA image](https://developers.google.com/android/images) is typically easier and safer than a factory image, which erases all data and should be followed by relocking the bootloader. - **[Android Flash Tool](https://source.android.com/docs/setup/test/flash)**, at flash.android.com, flashes a complete build over USB from a browser with WebUSB, such as Chrome or Edge. It supports the Pixel 2 and newer and is built for development and testing: you must turn on OEM unlocking and USB debugging in Developer options, and it can wipe the phone. For an ordinary owner, its useful feature is the back-to-public option, which returns a Pixel to a public build. ### Other Android phones For other brands, look on the manufacturer's own support site. If it documents no desktop tool, the phone updates over the air only. Avoid third-party programs that promise to update any phone: stay with what the maker publishes. ## When an over-the-air update is simpler For routine updates, the phone's own updater is the better route. There is nothing to install on a computer, it can run overnight, and the maker controls the rollout: Google notes that Pixel updates [roll out gradually](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705) and can take a few weeks to reach a given phone. | Phone | Where to update | Automatic updates | | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | iPhone or iPad | **Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install** | **Automatic Updates > Automatically Install** installs overnight while charging on Wi-Fi | | Google Pixel | **Settings > System > Software update** | Most system updates and security patches install automatically | | Samsung Galaxy | **Settings > Software update > Download and install** | **Auto download over Wi-Fi**; some carriers require Wi-Fi to check for and install updates | | Other Android | **Settings > System > Software updates** (names vary by maker) | Varies by manufacturer and carrier | On an Android phone, **Settings > About phone > Android version** shows the Android version, the Android security update level and the Google Play system update, so you can see how current the phone is. Why some phones stay usable during an update and others do not comes down to design. A Pixel installs a downloaded update in the background, and the update becomes active the next time the phone restarts. Behind that is Android's [A/B (seamless) update scheme](https://source.android.com/docs/core/ota/ab): the phone keeps two sets of system partitions, writes the update to the set it is not running, and switches at restart. If the update fails to apply, the phone carries on with the old system; if the new system fails to boot, the phone falls back to the old one and stays usable. Many other Android phones restart and install the update in one go, and Samsung warns that a Galaxy cannot be used during the install, not even for emergency calls. ![Inside a phone outline, two stacked storage blocks: the upper one runs the phone while an update arrives over Wi-Fi into the orange lower one, with arrows for the switch at restart and the fallback.](https://computese.com/images/blog/how-to-update-your-computer-or-phone/ab-slots.d41f4a3154-1536.webp) *A/B updates write to the half of the system the phone is not using, so a failed update leaves the working system in place.* Switch to a computer when the over-the-air route runs out: the update does not appear, fails repeatedly, cannot reach the update server, or the phone is stuck and needs recovery. ## Update a Windows PC Windows updates itself through Windows Update. Microsoft's [steps](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/install-windows-updates): 1. Select **Start > Settings > Windows Update** and check for updates. 2. If updates are available, select **Download & install**. 3. Restart when prompted. Set **active hours** so update restarts do not land while you are working. Windows 11 gets security updates on the second Tuesday of each month, and [each one is cumulative](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information): it contains all the earlier fixes, so a PC that missed a few months catches up with one install. Feature updates arrive once a year, and each version gets 24 months of updates on Home and Pro. That makes the version number matter. As of September 2026, version 24H2 stops receiving updates on October 13, 2026, while version 25H2 is updated until October 12, 2027. Check yours under **Settings > System > About**, in the [Windows specifications](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/find-information-about-your-windows-device) section. If a newer version is not offered through Windows Update, Microsoft points to the Windows Update Assistant. Drivers, activation and first-time setup are covered in the [Windows setup guide](https://computese.com/how-to-set-up-windows-for-a-new-computer/). Windows 10 is a separate case, covered under end of support below. ## Update a Mac On a Mac, [Software Update](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108382) handles macOS and Apple's built-in apps: 1. Choose **Apple menu > System Settings**, click **General**, then **Software Update**. 2. Install what it offers with the update, upgrade or restart button, and enter the administrator password (the one you log in with). 3. Keep the Mac awake and the lid open until installation finishes. It may restart and show a progress bar or a blank screen several times. Software Update only offers releases that are compatible with your Mac. It separates a minor update within the same version (macOS 26 to 26.4) from a major upgrade (macOS 26 to macOS 27), and its settings control whether each downloads or installs automatically. Apple also keeps patching older versions for a while: on September 14, 2026, the day macOS 27 was released, its [security releases page](https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100) lists security updates for macOS Tahoe 26 and macOS Sequoia 15 as well. Between full updates, Apple now ships [Background Security Improvements](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102657): small security releases for Safari, the WebKit framework and other system libraries, starting with iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1. On a Mac, iPhone or iPad, check **Settings > Privacy & Security > Background Security Improvements** (System Settings on a Mac) and make sure **Automatically Install** is on. ## Update Linux On Linux, the package manager updates the operating system and the software installed from the distribution's repositories in one pass. On Ubuntu, [two commands](https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/how-to/software/package-management/) do it: ```bash sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade ``` The first refreshes the package index from the repositories; the second installs the newer versions. Ubuntu also applies security updates automatically through the `unattended-upgrades` package, which is [installed by default](https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/how-to/software/automatic-updates/). Moving to a new Ubuntu release is a separate upgrade with its own procedure. On RPM-based distributions, the package manager is DNF; with [DNF5](https://dnf5.readthedocs.io/en/latest/dnf5.8.html), `sudo dnf5 upgrade` upgrades the installed packages. Installing Linux in the first place is covered in [how to install Linux on your computer](https://computese.com/how-to-install-linux-on-your-computer-setp-by-step/). ## Why updates matter Canada's Cyber Centre draws a useful distinction in its guidance on [how updates secure your device](https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/how-updates-secure-your-device-itsap10096): every patch is an update, but not every update is a patch. Some updates fix bugs or add features; a security patch closes a vulnerability that malware or an attacker could use, and that is the part that cannot wait. Apple's update page says as much, describing keeping software up to date as one of the most important things you can do for a device's security. A real case shows the timing. On December 12, 2025, Apple released [iOS 26.2](https://support.apple.com/en-us/125884), and [iOS 18.7.3](https://support.apple.com/en-us/125885) for iPhones that had stayed on iOS 18. Both fixed a flaw in WebKit, tracked as CVE-2025-43529, through which maliciously crafted web content could run arbitrary code on the phone. Apple's notes say it was aware of a report that the flaw may have been exploited in an "extremely sophisticated attack" against specific targeted individuals. Apple does not disclose security issues until a fix is available, so by the time a flaw is public, the patch already exists. The gap that remains is between the release and your install. Updates carry some risk of their own, and the Cyber Centre names it: a patch can interfere with other applications, and a restart can interrupt work. Its answer is not to skip updates. It is to back up first and, for personal devices, to turn on automatic updates. ## What end of support means End of support is the date after which the vendor stops shipping fixes for a product. The device keeps working, but the Cyber Centre's point is blunt: unsupported devices are exposed to vulnerabilities that will never be patched, and it recommends replacing them when the manufacturer stops providing software support. ![Shields with check marks drop at regular intervals onto a timeline until a dashed end-of-support line; beyond it, no more shields arrive and a laptop and phone stand beside an orange cracked padlock.](https://computese.com/images/blog/how-to-update-your-computer-or-phone/end-of-support.a58dbae54f-1536.webp) *After the end-of-support date, new flaws are still found, but no fix will ever reach that device.* ### Windows 10 [Windows 10 reached end of support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/windows-10-support-has-ended-on-october-14-2025) on October 14, 2025. Since then Microsoft provides no security updates, feature updates or technical support for it, and support for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 ended the same day. The PC still runs, so the choice is yours: - **Upgrade to Windows 11**, free, if the PC runs Windows 10 version 22H2 and meets the hardware requirements. **Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates** shows whether it is eligible. - **Enrol in [consumer Extended Security Updates](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates)**, which deliver critical and important security fixes, and nothing else, until October 12, 2027. Enrolment needs a Microsoft account and Windows 10 version 22H2, and is free if you sync your PC settings; otherwise it costs 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time US$30. - **Replace the PC** with one that runs Windows 11, moving your files with Windows Backup. ### Phones Phone makers publish support periods in different forms. As of September 2026: | Phone | Support period, as published | Where to check | | ----------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Google Pixel 8 and later | 7 years of OS and security updates, from first availability on the US Google Store | [Pixel Phone Help](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705) | | Pixel 6, 6a, 6 Pro, 7, 7a, 7 Pro and Pixel Fold | 5 years of OS and security updates, counted the same way | Pixel Phone Help | | Pixel 5a and earlier | No longer receive Android version or security updates | Pixel Phone Help | | Samsung Galaxy | Up to 7 years of security updates since January 2024, monthly, quarterly or biannual by model; timing varies by market and carrier | [Samsung Mobile Security](https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb) | | Apple iPhone | Each security release lists the models it covers: iOS 27 (September 14, 2026) supports iPhone 11 and later, and iOS 18.7.10 (August 17, 2026) is the latest fix listed for iPhone XS, XS Max and XR | [Apple security releases](https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100) | In the European Union, [Regulation (EU) 2023/1670](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1670/oj) has applied to smartphones since June 20, 2025: a maker that provides operating system updates must keep making them available free of charge for at least 5 years after the model is last placed on the EU market. Once a phone passes its support date, the next flaw like CVE-2025-43529 will not be fixed on it. Plan the replacement before that date rather than after an incident. ## Update safely: back up, charge, stay connected, do not interrupt Four habits cover the risks the vendors themselves warn about. 1. **Back up first.** On phones, updates are one-way. Apple does not allow iOS or iPadOS to be downgraded after an update, and Google notes that a backup made on a newer Android version cannot be restored to a phone running an older one. - **iPhone or iPad:** use iCloud, or [back up to the computer](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108967) with Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes and **Back Up Now**. Select **Encrypt local backup** if you want Health and Activity data kept (keychain data needs it too), and store the password safely: an encrypted backup [cannot be recovered without it](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108771). - **Android:** turn on [backup to your Google Account](https://support.google.com/android/answer/2819582) (15 GB of storage at no charge), or back up a Galaxy to a PC or Mac with Smart Switch. - **Mac:** use [Time Machine](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102307) with an external drive. - **Windows:** use Windows Backup for files, settings and apps. 2. **Charge.** Google asks for at least 75% battery before an Android update. Apple asks you to plug the iPhone into power for a wireless update; if it runs out of power mid-update, connect it and turn it on so the update can complete. Keep a laptop on its charger. 3. **Use a stable connection.** Prefer Wi-Fi to mobile data. For an update through a computer, use a reliable network on the computer and a cable that carries data. 4. **Do not interrupt.** Do not unplug the cable, close the Mac's lid or force a restart while an install is running. Plan a phone update for a time when you will not need to make calls. > [!TIP] > Turn on automatic updates on every device and let them run overnight. The Cyber Centre recommends automatic updates as the patch management for personal devices, and an iPhone set to install automatically does so overnight while it charges on Wi-Fi. ## Common update problems and fixes | Problem | Likely cause | What to do | | ---------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | No update appears on the iPhone | The model is not supported, or a VPN or proxy blocks the update server | Check the model against the compatible devices list; turn off the VPN; update from a computer | | "Unable to Check for Update" or "Unable to Download" | The phone cannot reach the update server | Try the same network again, then another network, then a Mac or iTunes | | Not enough space | The update needs more free storage than the phone has | On iPhone, allow apps to be removed temporarily (they are reinstalled after); on Android, free up storage | | The computer does not see the phone | Phone locked, trust not given, or a charge-only cable | Unlock, tap Trust, use a data cable or another port, update the computer and Apple Devices | | iPhone stuck on the Apple logo, no progress bar | An install that failed or was interrupted | Recovery mode, then **Update**; **Restore** only with a backup | | Android download stopped partway | The connection dropped | The phone retries by itself over the next few days; or reconnect and start it again | | Galaxy not working after an interrupted update | The install was cut off | Smart Switch **Emergency Software Recovery and Reset** (erases the phone) | | Pixel keeps failing an over-the-air update | The OTA cannot complete on the phone | Sideload the full OTA image from a computer; no wipe needed | | Windows reports too little space or an update error | Low disk space, or a failed install | Microsoft's "Free up space for Windows updates" and "Troubleshoot problems updating Windows" guides | If an iPhone still refuses after all of this, Apple's page on [an iPhone that won't update](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108905) explains how to delete a stuck update from storage and download it again. ## Keeping a team's phones and computers updated At home, automatic updates and an occasional check are enough. In a business, the risk is the one device nobody checks: the laptop that never restarts, the phone on a version that stopped getting fixes, the PC still on Windows 10. Keeping a fleet current is a [device management](https://computese.com/optimizing-remote-work-through-outsourced-it-help-desk-support/) job. Our [IT support service](https://computese.com/services/it-support/) enrols laptops and phones in one management console (Microsoft Intune, or Jamf or Apple Business for Macs), patches operating systems and apps on a schedule, and keeps an asset register with advice on what to replace and when. More guides like this one are in [IT support](https://computese.com/category/it-support/). ## Key terms - **Over-the-air (OTA) update**: An update the phone downloads and installs by itself over Wi-Fi or mobile data, started from Settings, with no computer involved. Samsung's instructions label it FOTA. - **Recovery mode**: A special startup state in which an iPhone or iPad shows a Connect to computer screen, so Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes can update or restore its software when it cannot start normally. - **Full OTA image**: A complete Pixel system update that Google publishes for installing from a computer when an over-the-air update fails. Unlike a factory image, it does not wipe the phone or need an unlocked bootloader. - **Factory image**: A complete copy of a Pixel's original firmware, flashed from a computer to return the phone to its factory state. Installing one erases all data on the phone. - **A/B (seamless) updates**: An Android design with two sets of system partitions. The update is written to the set the phone is not running, the phone switches at restart, and it falls back to the old set if the new one fails to boot. - **Security patch**: An update that closes a specific vulnerability. Every patch is an update, but not every update is a patch: others fix bugs or add features. - **Background Security Improvements**: Small security releases Apple delivers between full software updates, for components such as Safari, WebKit and system libraries, starting with iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1. - **End of support**: The date after which a vendor stops providing security updates, fixes and help for a product. The device keeps working, but vulnerabilities found after that date are never patched on it. - **Extended Security Updates (ESU)**: Microsoft's program that keeps delivering critical and important security updates to Windows 10 PCs after the end of support. The consumer program runs until October 12, 2027. - **Package manager**: The Linux tool that installs and updates software from the distribution's repositories, such as apt on Ubuntu or DNF on RPM-based distributions. ## Common questions ### Can I update my iPhone from my computer without iTunes? Yes. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, use Finder: select the iPhone in the sidebar, click General, then Check for Update. On Windows, use Apple's Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store. iTunes is only needed on macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a PC without Apple Devices. ### How do I update my Android phone using a PC? Only where the phone's maker supports it. Samsung Galaxy phones update through Smart Switch on a Windows PC or Mac, and Google publishes full OTA images and the Android Flash Tool for Pixel phones. For other brands, check the manufacturer's support site; most Android phones update over the air in Settings. ### Will updating my phone from a computer delete my data? An update keeps your data. A restore does not: choosing Restore in an iPhone's recovery mode reinstalls iOS and erases the phone, flashing a Pixel factory image erases it, and Smart Switch's emergency recovery includes a factory data reset. Back up before any of them. ### Can I use my phone while it updates? It depends on the phone. An iPhone stays usable while the update downloads, and a Pixel installs the update in the background and only needs a restart. A Samsung Galaxy cannot be used while its update installs, not even for emergency calls. ### Is it safe to keep using Windows 10? It still works, but it has had no free security updates since October 14, 2025. Upgrade to Windows 11 if the PC qualifies, or enrol in consumer ESU, which provides security fixes until October 12, 2027 for free with settings sync, 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one-time US$30. ### How often should I update my phone and computer? Whenever an update is offered, and automatically wherever you can. Windows 11 security updates arrive on the second Tuesday of each month, Pixel phones get regular updates, and many Galaxy models get monthly or quarterly security updates. Automatic updates remove the need to remember. ## Sources 1. [Update your iPhone or iPad](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118575), Apple Support 2. [Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the Finder](https://support.apple.com/en-us/109046), Apple Support 3. [Install the Apple Devices app on Windows](https://support.apple.com/guide/devices-windows/mchl5ded2763/windows), Apple Support 4. [Use your Windows device to update software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch](https://support.apple.com/guide/devices-windows/mchl0e5e3d56/windows), Apple Support 5. [Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108964), Apple Support 6. [If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone or iPad](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108643), Apple Support 7. [If you can't update or restore your iPhone or iPod touch](https://support.apple.com/en-us/118106), Apple Support 8. [How to update your Galaxy phone or tablet](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002027/), Samsung 9. [Smart Switch](https://www.samsung.com/us/apps/smart-switch/), Samsung 10. [Full OTA Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices](https://developers.google.com/android/ota), Google for Developers 11. [Factory Images for Nexus and Pixel Devices](https://developers.google.com/android/images), Google for Developers 12. [Flash with Android Flash Tool](https://source.android.com/docs/setup/test/flash), Android Open Source Project 13. [Check & update your Android version](https://support.google.com/android/answer/7680439), Android Help (Google) 14. [A/B (seamless) system updates](https://source.android.com/docs/core/ota/ab), Android Open Source Project 15. [Install Windows Updates](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/install-windows-updates), Microsoft Support 16. [Windows 11 release information](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information), Microsoft Learn 17. [Find information about your Windows device](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/find-information-about-your-windows-device), Microsoft Support 18. [Update macOS on Mac](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108382), Apple Support 19. [Apple security releases](https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100), Apple Support 20. [About Background Security Improvements for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102657), Apple Support 21. [Package management](https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/how-to/software/package-management/), Ubuntu Server documentation 22. [Automatic updates](https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/how-to/software/automatic-updates/), Ubuntu Server documentation 23. [DNF5 Package Management Utility](https://dnf5.readthedocs.io/en/latest/dnf5.8.html), DNF5 documentation 24. [How updates secure your device (ITSAP.10.096)](https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/how-updates-secure-your-device-itsap10096), Canadian Centre for Cyber Security 25. [About the security content of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2](https://support.apple.com/en-us/125884), Apple Support 26. [About the security content of iOS 18.7.3 and iPadOS 18.7.3](https://support.apple.com/en-us/125885), Apple Support 27. [Windows 10 support has ended on October 14, 2025](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/updates-lifecycle/windows-10-support-has-ended-on-october-14-2025), Microsoft Support 28. [Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU)](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates), Microsoft 29. [Learn when you'll get software updates on Google Pixel phones](https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705), Pixel Phone Help (Google) 30. [Security Updates Scope](https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb), Samsung Mobile Security 31. [Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1670: ecodesign requirements for smartphones and slate tablets](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1670/oj), EUR-Lex 32. [Backup methods for iPhone or iPad](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108771), Apple Support 33. [How to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Windows](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108967), Apple Support 34. [Back up or restore data on your Android device](https://support.google.com/android/answer/2819582), Android Help (Google) 35. [How to back up your Mac](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102307), Apple Support 36. [If your iPhone or iPad won't update](https://support.apple.com/en-us/108905), Apple Support