Apple Latest Update: Should You Back Up Your iPhone Before Downloading iOS 17 Software Update

As Apple enthusiasts eagerly await the arrival of iOS 17, it's important to remember that this forthcoming software update, particularly in its beta phase, may come with unforeseen bugs and issues that could potentially disrupt the smooth operation of the iPhone.
These issues could range from unexpected restarts to excessive overheating, and with beta software, it's hard to predict exactly what might happen. Thus, there is a need for thorough preparation before diving into iOS 17.
One crucial precaution to take is backing up the iPhone while it is still running iOS 16. This proactive measure serves as an insurance policy, allowing the users to revert to the previous iOS version if encountered with major issues with iOS 17. In addition, backing up will naturally ensure that the photos, text messages, app data among other important information remains intact.
Here are two methods to back up the iPhone, either through iCloud or your computer:
Backing up with iCloud:
iPhones are configured to automatically back up once a day when connected to both power and Wi-Fi while locked.
To confirm if this feature is enabled, navigate to Settings > [your name] > iCloud Backup, and ensure that "Back Up This iPhone" is activated.
For those with compatible 5G iPhones, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 models, the "Back Up Over Cellular" option allows the iPhone to back up via the cellular network when Wi-Fi isn't available.
Users can also manually back up by clicking “Back Up Now”.
Backing up with Mac or Windows:
For users who may face storage limitations of iCloud or unable to back up due to other reasons, they can still back up their iPhone using their computer.
On Mac: Connect the iPhone to Mac via a lightning cable > Open Finder and select the iPhone from the sidebar > Check the circle next to "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac" and then click "Back Up Now."
On Windows: Connect the iPhone to the computer using a cable > Open the iTunes app > Click the iPhone button located at the top-left of the window in the Summary page > Finally, click "Back Up Now" to initiate the backup process.
These steps ensure that the data on the iPhone remains secure while the user can fearlessly explore iOS 17's new features and improvements.