What You Should Do Before Downloading iOS 8

Apple will launch iOS 8 software for theiPhone and iPad on Wednesday, but before you download the upgrade, set some time aside to prevent any glitches that might surface.

The upgrade — which should be available around midday ET on Wednesday, if last year's arrival is any indication — promises a collection of useful new features, including time-lapse capture for video, a smarter Siri, a dedicated health app, a battery usage indicator, interactive notifications and a better keyboard.

iOS 8 is compatible on devices as far back as the iPhone 4S, the iPad 2 and the fifth-generation iPod Touch.

As typical of new upgrades, especially long, extensive ones like iOS, there will probably be kinks in the process, so you'll want to make sure everything is backed up ahead of time. This will cut down on the panic of realizing the upgrade accidentally wiped your pictures, music and other files.

Back up your data in iCloud or to your computer, manually. With the recent news of iCloud vulnerabilities and the celebrity nude photo hack, you may be worried about storing everything there, but Apple recently strengthened its security. Now, if you log into iCloud on a web browser, you'll be prompted to enable two-factor authentication — the digital equivalent of double-locking your doors at night — and an option to remotely sign out of all browsers.

If you're using iOS 5 or a more recent version, Apple backs up the most important data to iCloud automatically, but the feature must be enabled. To set this up, visit Settings > iCloud > Backup & Storage. This will back up your iPhone on a daily basis as long as the device's screen is locked, is connected to a Wi-Fi network and plugged into a power outlet.

To anyone complaining about needing 5+GB to OTA update, you can just backup in iTunes, restore to iOS8, then load your backup.

— Robert A. Petersen (@Sonikku_a) September 17, 2014

Before you download iOS 8, we suggest doing a manual backup. To do so, follow the same steps as above (Settings > iCloud > Backup & Storage) and then tap "Back Up Now."

IMAGE: MASHABLE

The hardest part of this process is patience. It takes some time (even an hour or so, in some cases) to complete a full backup. For those who have maxed out storage, Apple may tell you it's unable to complete the backup. In this case, either transfer files (like photos) via an Apple connector to a computer, delete a few apps you haven't used in awhile, or make room elsewhere.

If you don't want to delete anything off of your phone, click here for tips.

Just to be safe, we recommend backing up your iTunes library, too. Connect your device to a computer to sync with iTunes, but note this might be disabled if you have iCloud backup turned on. Right-click the device in iTunes under Devices and select Back Up. You can also back it up by tapping the file menu and select Devices > Back Up.

Keep in mind that updating iCloud Drive via iOS 8 will complicate the process for older devices. Since the new upgrade breaks the way new apps sync, you may not want to update iCloud Drive on iOS unless you plan to upgrade all of your iOS devices to the new software. You can read more about that process here.

Apps Putting iOS 8 to Good Use

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1Password

The “holy grail” of password managers that 1Password maker AgileBits teased earlier this year has arrived. The app's iOS 8 version touts an extension that allows users to fill in login credentials directly from Safari as well as some third-party apps. 1Password also takes advantage of Apple's Touch ID so users can unlock their password vault with a single tap. 

The updated app is completely free with some premium features available for in-app purchase; existing users who paid for the previous version automatically get these when they update.

IMAGE: AGILEBITS, INC.

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