Pro tip: How to prepare your iOS device for iOS 9

iOS 9 is the next incarnation of iOS that Apple will be releasing later this fall, presumably alongside of annual updates to iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad. While we're still at least a month and a half before this time, it's never too soon to start preparing your device (and yourself) for the upgrade.

The new iOS 9 will work on a few more generations of devices than past iOS releases, as Apple intends to extend the life of your iPhone and iPad by adding new features through these iOS updates.

Compatible devices

iOS 9 will work with the following devices:

iPhone

• iPhone 4s
• iPhone 5
• iPhone 5c
• iPhone 5s
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus

iPad

• iPad 2
• iPad 3rd generation
• iPad 4th generation
• iPad Air
• iPad Air 2
• iPad mini
• iPad mini 2
• iPad mini 3

It's important to note that on the iPad, the iPad Air 2 is the only model of current iPad device that will allow the use of the new iOS 9 multitasking and Picture-in-Picture (PiP) modes.

iPod

• iPod touch 5th generation
• iPod touch 6th generation

Create a backup

Before you proceed with the upgrade path, you'll want to make sure that you're implementing a valuable backup plan to consistently backup the data on your device should something go awry during the upgrade process.

There are two ways to back up your iOS devices: through iTunes and through iCloud. If you don't wish to pay for iCloud storage, then iTunes may be your only viable option, but it requires a bit of planning. iCloud lets you "set it and forget it" when it comes to backups. iCloud will back up your device nightly when you plug it in to charge. iTunes, on the other hand, will require you to sync your device to complete the backup process.

Another reason to use iCloud backups instead of iTunes is that you can restore from an iCloud backup from any of your devices, anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. With iTunes, you have to be manually connected to your Mac to restore.

For a list of ways to backup your iOS device to your computer, or to iCloud, check out my previous article, "Backups: iCloud isn't better than iTunes, and vice versa."

Get a list of necessary accounts and passwords

When it comes time to upgrade your device to iOS 9, you'll want to be sure you know two important key pieces of information before proceeding with the upgrade: your iCloud credentials and the passcode for your iOS device.

If you have Touch ID enabled on your iPad or iPhone, then you may very rarely remember the 4-digit PIN (or longer password) needed to unlock your device if Touch ID is unavailable. You'll need this full PIN or password to proceed with the upgrade. So, before starting the update, be sure to know this information.

You'll also want to know your credentials (email and password) associated with your iCloud account. When iOS 9 completes the installation, you'll be walked through the setup options, and in one of those options, you'll be prompted to verify your iCloud password. If you don't know this information, it might stall your upgrade process until you have this information handy.

Are you ready to upgrade to iOS 9 come this fall when it's released to the public? Share your thoughts in the discussion thread below.

Article Source: Pro tip: How to prepare your iOS device for iOS 9