Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 14.2 update and the software is in beta testing ahead of an unknown release date for iPhone.

The confirmation came as a bit of a surprise given that the company hasn’t confirmed iOS 14.1. iOS 14.1 is reportedly in testing behind the scenes.

Now that iOS 14.2 is in beta, a pre-release version of the firmware is available via Apple’s developer program.

We expect the company to push the software into its public Beta Software Program as well. The Beta Software Program is free to anyone with a compatible device and Apple ID. Most people should wait for the public iOS 14.2 beta.

If your phone is struggling on iOS 14.0 or iOS 13, and you can’t wait for the official release, you might want to move your device to the iOS 14.2 beta.

iOS 14.2 is a milestone release (x.x) which means it should bring a mix of new features and under-the-hood improvements to the iPhone.

It’s an exciting update, particularly for those dealing with issues, and one that many iPhone users should have their eye on as we push toward October.

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iOS 14.2 Release Date

According to Jon Prosser, Apple is prepping an iOS 14.1 update for release alongside the iPhone 12 series in October. Prosser claims the software won’t be done until October 9th. It’s unclear how iOS 14.2 might impact these plans.

We could see iOS 14.1 arrive with the new iPhones in October with an iOS 14.2 release coming sometime later. We could also see an iOS 14.1 update drop in late September or early October followed by a iOS 14.2 release alongside the new iPhones in late October.

On top of this, Apple recently told CNET that it is “aware of an issue that can impact default email and browser settings in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 and that a “fix will be available to users in a software update.”

Given the nature of this bug, we could see a new version of iOS 14 (perhaps iOS 14.0.1 or maybe even iOS 14.1) roll out sooner than iOS 14.2.

With the iOS 14.2 release date on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about its arrival. In this guide we’ll outline some tips and tricks that will come in handy as we close in on the next major iOS 14 update for iPhone.

It’s early, but some of you might want to start doing some prep work to make the installation as painless as possible.

iOS 14.2 will probably require a significant chunk of space on your iPhone’s internal storage. Milestone upgrades typically do.

If you don’t have enough storage available on your iPhone, iOS will temporarily remove downloadable parts of applications installed on your phone. Sometimes this isn’t enough and you will then be forced to manually delete files.

If you’re getting low on storage, use this time to do some cleanup. Go into your iPhone’s storage and delete files (things like photos, apps, etc) you no longer need.

This will help make room for iOS 14.2 and there’s a chance it improves your iPhone’s overall performance.

You should also start backing up the data you store on your iPhone. Data loss issues are rare, but there’s always a chance something goes wrong during the transition.

iOS 14.2 could log you out of your apps and services. We recommend having your Apple ID/iCloud/third-party app login information handy just in case.

Get Familiar with iOS 14.2 and Older iOS Updates

You should get familiar the changes coming your way in iOS 14.2. If you do this ahead of time you won’t be caught off guard.

We’ve released a guide that will walk you through the known changes on board Apple’s new version of iOS 14. It’s a great starting point.

If you’re still hanging around on an older version of iOS 13 and you don’t have plans to upgrade to iOS 14.0, make sure you get familiar with newer versions of iOS 13. The changes from the iOS 13 updates you skip will be baked into your iOS 14.2 upgrade.

For instance if you’re moving from iOS 13.6 to iOS 14.2, you’ll get changes from iOS 13.6.1, iOS 13.7, and iOS 14.0 with your upgrade.

Most People Should Avoid the iOS 14.2 Beta

Installing the iOS 14.2 beta on your iPhone might be tempting, but most people should avoid the beta and wait for the official release.

The beta will help Apple tackle bugs and performance issues before they become major headaches for millions of iPhone users. It’s also fun to try out new features before they’re released to the general public. That said, beta software can bring lots of trouble your way.

The iOS 14.2 beta is causing problems for some testers and you could run into some of the very same issues if you decide to install it on your phone.

If you rely on your device to get through a day of school or work, you’ll want to stay put on whatever version of iOS you’re currently running.

Monitor Feedback from the iOS 14.2 Beta

If you skip the iOS 14.2 beta, make sure you monitor feedback from beta testers as we push toward the official release.

Monitoring feedback will alert you to potential iOS 14.2 problems and it will also reveal the potential benefits of the software. More importantly, it might help you decide if you want to install iOS 14.2 right away or wait.

We’ve seen iOS 14.2 feedback emerge on sites like YouTube, Twitter, and the MacRumors forums. Check those if you’re curious about the iOS 14.2’s early performance.

iOS 14.2 Release Time

If you’ve owned an iPhone for awhile you already know this, but for those of you who are new to the iPhone and iOS, here’s your PSA.

Apple almost always rolls its iOS software updates out in and around 10AM Pacific. That will likely be the case for the final version of iOS 14.2.

These days, we sometimes see iOS updates roll out 5-10 minutes after 10AM so there’s no need to panic if the software doesn’t popup right away.

Here’s what that looks like for other time zones in the United States:

Eastern – 1 PM

Central – 12 PM

Mountain – 11AM

Keep this in mind if you plan to install the final version of iOS 14.2 right away.

iOS 14.2 Download Size

We don’t know how big the iOS 14.2 download will be but again, you can expect it to require quite a bit of free space.

You can expect long download times, especially right after Apple pushes the software live, but the installation process will probably take longer.

Once you pull the iOS 14.2 update from Apple’s servers, you might notice a prompt asking you to “Install” the software right now or “Later.” While most of you will probably want to install the software right away, others might benefit from scheduling the installation.

If you do decide to schedule it, you can choose to install it while you’re sleeping or you can have your device remind you to install it at a later date when you’ve got free time to deal with the installation.

If you do decide to install the iOS 14.2 update overnight, you’ll have to plug your iPhone into a power source.

Prepare for iOS 14.2 Problems

iOS 14.2 will probably go through an extensive beta process, but the final version won’t be perfect. Issues will slip through the cracks into the final release.

Common iOS problems include abnormal battery drain, Bluetooth issues, Wi-Fi problems, app instability, UI lag, crashes, and Exchange issues. These problems appear after every single iOS release and there’s a good chance we’ll see them all popup within hours of the iOS 14.2 update’s release.

It’ll be difficult to predict what kind of performance you’ll get once you move your iPhone to iOS 14.2 so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to tackle any issues you encounter on day one and beyond.

We’ve released a list of fixes for common iOS 14 problems. If you don’t consider yourself an iOS expert, you’ll want to bookmark those fixes.

You’ll also want to bookmark or follow Apple Support on Twitter and bookmark the Apple Support page on the company’s website.

You should also be familiar with Apple’s Discussion forums.

Be Ready to Downgrade

If you run into into issues with iOS 14.2 you should be able to downgrade back to an older version of iOS 14 or iOS 13 for a limited time.

If you aren’t familiar with the iOS downgrade process, now is a great time to familiarize yourself with it. Once Apple releases iOS 14.2, the downgrade path back to older software will only be open for a short time. That’s why we recommend getting comfortable with it ahead of time.

Keep Your Apps Updated

If you want the best experience on iOS 14.2, make sure you keep your apps updated.

As we push toward the software’s release, keep an eye out for iOS 14 support updates. These updates should help to stabilize performance and help your device make a smooth transition to the new operating system.

Before you download an app update, make sure you read reviews from users. These reviews will alert you to potential benefits and problems with the latest version.

Take Your Time with iOS 14.2

iOS 14.2 is an exciting upgrade and some of you might be tempted to install it the second it arrives.

For some of you, particularly those dealing with iOS 14 problems, this might be your best course of action. That said, some of you will be better off waiting a few hours, a few days or, in some cases, a few weeks before installing iOS 14.2.

There are plenty of reasons to skip a new iOS software update on day one. For one, iOS updates can wreak havoc on your device’s performance.

If you’re feeling leery, dig into early feedback from early adopters. If you’re still undecided, think about waiting.

Avoid iOS 14.2 If You’re Jailbroken

If you want to keep your jailbreak you’ll want to avoid the iOS 14.2 beta and the final version of iOS 14.2.

Jailbreak developers have jailbroken iOS 13.5 and older versions of iOS 13, but there aren’t any public jailbreak tools for the iOS 14.2 beta and we don’t expect a fast release for iOS 14.

If you want to jailbreak a device running iOS 14, keep an eye out for news from developers once the final version is released.

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