How to upgrade to iOS 8 right now

The official release of iOS 8 isn't until September 17th, but you can install the final version right now even if you're not a developer. Here's how. Back Up!

Before you upgrade, make sure you back up your device with iTunes. This is the final version of iOS 8, but that doesn't mean it won't be without problems. You might need to restore your device, so back up first. Download iOS 8

The final version of iOS 8 is available to developers right now. Thanks to anonymous public postings (which are likely temporary), the rest of us can download it too. If you're not sure which model you have, check Apple's site. Not all devices are posted, but we'll add them as they are:

iPhone 5s (CDMA + GSM) iPhone 5s (CDMA) iPhone 5 (CDMA + GSM) iPhone 5 (GSM) iPhone 5C (CDMA) iPhone 5C (GSM) iPhone 4S iPad 2 (Wi-Fi) iPad 2 (Wi-Fi + GSM) iPad 2 (Wi-Fi +CDMA) iPad 2 (Rev A) iPad 3 (Wi-Fi) iPad 3 (Wi-Fi + GSM) iPad 3 (Wi-Fi + CDMA) iPad 4 (Wi-Fi) iPad 4 (Wi-Fi + GSM) iPad 4 (Wi-Fi + CDMA) iPad Air (Wi-Fi) iPad Air (Wi-Fi + GSM) iPad Air (Wi-Fi + CDMA) iPad Mini (Wi-Fi) iPad Mini (Wi-Fi + GSM) iPad Mini (Wi-Fi + CDMA) iPad Mini with Retina (Wi-Fi) iPad Mini with Retina (Wi-Fi + GSM) iPad Mini with Retina (Wi-Fi + CDMA) iPod Touch 5th Generation

Install the Update

To install iOS 8, just follow these instructions:

1. If there's a DMG file, open up the disk image (.dmg) and find the iPhone Software Update file (.ipsw) for your device. Drag it to the desktop, or a folder of your choosing. (Windows users will need a tool like 7-Zip to do this, and will need to open the .hfs inside the .dmg as well.) 2. Open iTunes and connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, to your computer. 3. If your device isn't automatically selected in iTunes, select it and go to the "Summary" tab. 4. Hold down the option key (OS X) or the shift key (Windows) and click the Restore button. Browse to the .ipsw file you downloaded, select it, and wait for the update to finish. 5. If necessary, restore your device from backup and sync with iTunes.