You may have seen an alert called “Carrier Settings Update” on your iPhone at one point or another. While you should always exercise caution before installing updates from prompts, you can rest assured that carrier settings updates are legitimate. Carrier settings updates are pushed to your phone straight from Apple and your carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc).
What are Carrier Settings Updates?
Apple describes these updates on their website, stating:
“Carrier settings updates are small files that can include updates from Apple and your carrier to carrier-related settings, such as network, calling, cellular data, messaging, personal hotspot and voicemail settings. You may receive notifications from time-to-time to install new carrier-settings updates.”
In other words, carrier settings updates keep everything cellular-related on your iPhone running properly.
When Will I Get Carrier Updates?
Carrier settings updates will only appear if you have a partner carrier. If you have a smaller carrier not listed on Apple’s website, you will need to input carrier settings manually.
To check if an update is available, navigate to Settings > General > About. If available, a prompt will appear. If your carrier released a mandatory update, it will display an “OK” button instead of update, letting you know that the update has been downloaded and installed. Sometimes these updates will appear when you connect your phone to iTunes as well.
When Should I Install Carrier Updates?
It is recommended that you install carrier settings updates when they are available, as they may contain bug fixes and make the cellular side of your phone more secure. It’s especially important to install them when switching to a new sim card, such as when visiting a foreign country and using a local carrier. There have never been any reports of harm from a carrier settings update, so it’s safe to install them as they arrive.