With Apple's latest software releases, the main question in everyone's mind is how to prepare your iOS device. Fret not as this guide will walk you through all the necessary steps required to perform on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch before an upgrade.

Apple has confirmed the rollout of iOS 9 for all iDevices across the world on Wednesday, 16 September, but at different times due to variations in the time zones.

Before you proceed, follow the guide to properly backup your iPhones and free up required memory seamlessly. (via Redmond Pie)

Compatibility check

Apple rolls out latest software to most of the devices, including the older generations. The simple way to know if the iOS 9 is compatible on your iDevice is by checking if it supports iOS 8. Any iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch running iOS 8 can be upgraded to iOS 9, but here's a list of all the devices that will get the new software:

iPhone

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

iPad

  • iPad Air 2
  • iPad Air
  • iPad 4
  • iPad 3
  • iPad 2
  • iPad mini 3
  • iPad mini 2
  • iPad mini

iPod Touch

  • iPod touch 6th-gen
  • iPod touch 5th-gen

If your iDevice falls under this list, you can upgrade it without any worries.

Note: If you wish to continue to use jailbroken iOS software, it is advised to wait as there is no word on the iOS 9 jailbreak release.

Take a backup

Updating to new software often involves the risk of losing your data. So it is important that you take a backup of everything that is valuable, including photos, videos, contacts and music, using iCloud or iTunes.

If you choose to take a backup of your device using iCloud, follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch to Wi-Fi.

Step 2: Plug your iDevice to charger.

Step 3: Go to Settings > iCloud > Backup and turn on iCloud Backup.

Step 4: Tap on Back Up Now to create a full back on iCloud.

If you choose to take a backup of your device using iTunes, follow these steps:

Step 1: Connect your iDevice to a PC or Mac and launch iTunes app (Make sure you are running the latest version).

Step 2: Transfer your app purchases by going to File > Devices > Transfer Purchases on Mac. Press Alt key on Windows PC to get the File menu.

Step 3: Proceed to take a backup of your data by going to File > Devices > Back Up.

Free up memory

It is important you have enough space on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch before upgrading the software. Due to the limited storage on an iPhone, it is difficult to move essentials to a memory card. So you must delete unnecessary apps, photos, music and videos or backup somewhere for later use.

If you are confused on how to proceed with freeing up your memory, take a look at the Redmond Pie guide to assist you with that.

New password

With the release of iOS 9, Apple has introduced a new requirement for passcode, which must be six digits. Apple device users are accustomed to having a four-digit passcode. Although it is not mandatory to set a six-digit passcode, it will be better to follow Apple's guidelines to secure your data stored in your iDevice in a better way.

So think of a six-digit passcode that you can set after downloading and installing the iOS 9 on your device.

These are the key things to remember before upgrading to iOS 9. You can check if the update has arrived for your device by going into the Settings and then Software Update.