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What's the difference between updating IOS through wifi and iTunes?

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What's the difference between updating IOS through wifi and itunes? plus and minuses

Every time I update IOS for my ipad air2 I am connecting it to my macbook air and updating it through itunes which would download a large file normally above 1gb. My friends tell me that when they are doing the update through wify the downloaded data is not so big why is that? which one is the better option to upgrade the IOS.
 

Highrisedrifter

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Re: What's the difference between updating IOS through wify and itunes? plus and minuses

From my experience, updating through iTunes provides a more robust process. I gather that the OTA update is more akin to a game 'patch' whereas the iTunes update is more like a reinstall of the OS. A much cleaner option.
 

Bigeric23

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Re: What's the difference between updating IOS through wify and itunes? plus and minuses

And from my experience, Wi-Fi was less reliable. Sometimes it would work, sometimes . . . not so much.
 

Rob Phillips

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Re: What's the difference between updating IOS through wify and itunes? plus and minuses

I've personally never had issues with updating OTA. If you're looking the the cleanest slate possible and maximum battery life updating through iTunes and setting your phone up as a new device is going to deliver the best results.


Sent from my iPhone 6s Plus using Tapatalk
 

Just_Me_D

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Re: What's the difference between updating IOS through wify and itunes? plus and minuses

iTunes installs the full version, and that is why "I prefer" it, especially when troubleshooting. If something gets corrupted, I want a fresh new installation of the iOS version. Having said that, updating OTA is effective and preferred by a good deal of people, and should not be shied away from. I update OTA for incremental updates, but I eventually set up as new when I get the time to do so.