Upgrade to Apple iOS 8 on Sept. 17

Apple's next-gen mobile operating system, iOS 8, will be available to download on Sept. 17.

The new OS will work on the iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPod touch 5th generation, iPad 2, iPad with Retina display, iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display.

You can check for the update on Sept. 17, probably around mid-day Eastern time, though it's sometimes best to wait until the evening since Apple's servers are often hosed in the first few hours.

View all Photos in Gallery

With iOS 8, you get iCloud Drive, which will allow you to access your files across devices. Just drag and drop a document into your iCloud Drive folder on a Mac running OS X Yosemite or a PC running Windows 7 and higher, and the document will be accessible on iCloud-enabled apps via iOS. You get 5GB for free, 20GB for $0.99 per month, 200GB for $3.99 per month, and 1TB for $19.99 per month.

Several updates are expected in October, including access to new mobile payment system Apple Pay, as well as SMS Continuity, so you can send and receive messages on your iPad or Mac, regardless of whether your friend has an Apple device or not. iCloud Photo Library will also be available as a beta, Apple said.

Apple's new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus smartphones will come pre-loaded with iOS 8.

For more, check out 32 Hidden Features in Apple iOS 8 and Can Apple's iOS 8 Protect Your Privacy? Also see our roundup of 8 Eye-Catching Features in Apple's iOS 8 in the slideshow above.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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