Technology4 min read
How to prepare an iPhone for iOS 27: backup, storage and offloading
iOS 27 arrived on 14 September 2026, and preparing an iPhone for the update takes half an hour: a backup in iCloud and on a computer, about 20 GB of free space and disabling the offloading of unused apps. Here is the order of steps and one mistake that costs data.
Step 1. Two backups
An iCloud backup: Settings, your name, iCloud, Backup. A computer backup through Finder or iTunes with the encrypted option ticked: only that keeps passwords, Health data and Wi-Fi settings. Two copies insure each other: the cloud one may not fit into the free 5 GB, the local one may sit on a drive that fails.
Do not delete the backup right after updating. Wait at least a week: some problems do not show on day one.
The rule 'keep the backup for a week' is universal: after a website release we keep the backup and the previous version in the same way until we are sure everything works under real load.
Step 2. Disable app offloading
The Offload Unused Apps feature removes rarely opened apps and keeps the icon. After the update they download again, but if an app is no longer in your regional App Store you cannot get it back. Disable the feature: Settings, Apps, App Store, Offload Unused Apps. For users in Russia this is critical: many banking apps have been removed from the store.
Step 3. Free up space
Download and installation need about 20 GB. Video and messenger caches free memory fastest: in Telegram and MAX the cache is cleared in data settings without losing chats. Check what takes space in Settings, General, iPhone Storage.
Step 4. Check compatibility and stability
iOS 27 installs on iPhone 11 and newer; AI Siri features start with iPhone 15 Pro. The author of the original guide has run the final build since June 2026 and reports stable operation, banking apps included. Still, install at the end of the day, with the battery above 50 % and on Wi-Fi.
Summary
Two backups, offloading disabled, 20 GB free and a week of keeping the old backup. That is enough for a lossless move to iOS 27.
Sources
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