How to Upgrade to iOS 7 on an iPad or iPad Mini

This step-by-step guide should make your transition from iOS 6.1.3 to iOS 7 seamless and straight forward. First and foremost, you must ensure that you have iOS 6.1.3 before you upgrade to iOS 7. Otherwise, you will have to do multiple upgrades to get to the newest version of iOS. Secondly, you must ensure you have at least 2.9GB of space free on your iPad. This is required for the iOS 7 upgrade to work. Now that you have those first two preliminary steps successfully completed, please read below:

Step 1: Plug in your iPad to a power source. This will ensure that you don’t run out of battery before the installation finishes.

Step 2: Connect to the Internet. It is really difficult to download anything without being connected to the Internet! For over-the-air installation, you must be connected to Wifi on your iPad.

From here you have two entirely different delivery methods: you can download the iOS 7 upgrade through iTunes or over the air. Theses require slightly different steps.

Upgrading iPad to iOS 7: Over-the-Air

1. Backup your iPad

Go to settings –> iCloud –> Storage & Backup and turn on iCloud Backup. This will perform a backup

2. Restart your iPad

3. Download and Install the Update

Go to Settings –> General –> Software Update –> Click Download and Install

Upgrading iPad to iOS 7: Through iTunes

1. Backup your iPad

Open iTunes. Select your iPad in iTunes and click Back Up Now.

2. Restart your iPad and your Computer

3. Download and Install the Update

Go to iTunes –> Select iPad –> Check for Update –> Click Download and Update

Whichever method you choose, the process will take quite some time to work depending on how much free storage you have on your iPad, your internet connection, and how Apple’s servers are doing with upgrades. Occasionally, Apple will either not let you download the upgrade or it will fail. For iOS 7, you must have an iPad 2 or newer. This does not work with the original iPad, sorry folks. Further, if something goes wrong, be patient, restart your device, and try again.