An iPhone 11 can install iOS updates automatically, but you can change those preferences if you want more control over when updates download or install. Keeping iOS current is strongly recommended for security, so disabling automation should mean that you plan to check for and install updates manually.
Change automatic iOS update settings
- Open Settings.
- Select General.
- Tap Software Update.
- Open Automatic Updates.
- Turn off the automatic download or installation options you do not want, using the controls provided by your current iOS version.
Security responses may have a separate control
Apple has changed how security responses and system files are delivered across iOS releases. Review every option on the Automatic Updates screen rather than assuming one switch controls all security-related background updates.
Turning automation off does not block manual updates
You can return to Settings > General > Software Update at any time to check for an available iOS release and install it when convenient.
Make a plan to update promptly
Delaying an update for a few days while checking compatibility with an essential app can be reasonable. Leaving a phone unpatched indefinitely increases exposure to vulnerabilities that newer releases may fix.
App updates are configured separately
Automatic App Store updates are not the same as iOS system updates. If your goal is stopping apps from changing automatically, review the App Store settings instead.
The iPhone 11 can run newer iOS versions than it originally shipped with, so current menus may differ from old screenshots. Search Settings for “Automatic Updates” if the exact navigation changes in a later iOS release.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.