Being told you can’t update your phone because there’s not enough space is infuriating, but Apple seems to have cracked the solution.
With iOS 9, devices now offer users the option to automatically delete apps to clear up space for software updates.
Now before you panic, it’s worth noting that iOS 9 will reinstall the deleted apps once the update is completed.
We contacted Apple to find out whether actual app data was deleted during the process – cached information and settings, for instance.
“Apps are seleted based on the required size to update, and will be automatically reinstalled once the device is updated,” explained Jay Stephenson Clarke, Apple’s Health & Fitness PR Manager. “
He added: “The user should then be able to continue using the app where he/she left it.”
This means that although the app is deleted, your in-app data remains stored on the device, rather than being shipped off to the cloud or binned completely.
It’s a welcome move by Apple, as there have been many complaints in the past over the difficulty of installing large updates on devices with 8GB or 16GB storage.
Fortunately, Apple has looked to mend this with iOS 9 by decreasing the size of the installation file.
While iOS 8.0 demanded a huge 4.6GB of storage space, iOS 9 needs just 1.3GB.
Related: iOS 9 vs Android M
Apple announced iOS 9 earlier this month at the company’s annual World Wide Developer Conference.
The software is currently available to developers, but it will open up as part of a public beta in July ahead of a formal release this autumn – a timeframe which should see it coincide with the iPhone 6S launch.
While you’re waiting for that, why not check out our video review of the iPhone 6?
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.