You should be able to download iOS 8 in a matter of minutes using this method.

Manually Install iOS 8 in iTunes

You can now connect the iPhone or iPad to iTunes and start the manual update. You don’t need to perform a clean install (or Restore) but you can using this method if you want to minimize the problems that you may run into.

1. Download the iOS 8 official release .ipsw.

2. Plug your iPhone or iPad into a computer and open iTunes.

3. Perform a backup just to be safe.

4. In iTunes click on the iPhone option in the upper right. If you see the Restore and Upgrade options you are on the right screen.


Special click Check for Upgrade.
5. Special Click on Check for Update. A special click involves holding a key while you left click.

Hold alt/option on Mac when you click Check for Update.
On Windows, hold Shift when you click Check for Update.
If you want to perform a clean install you just special click on Restore.

6. Find the iOS 8 download and click on the .ipsw file.


Choose your iOS 8 download and complete the upgrade.
7. Let the iOS 8 update complete. This can take 15 minutes or longer depending on how long it takes to verify the update with Apple’s servers.

When this is done you will be up and running iOS 8 without waiting forever for an over the air update, iTunes downloads or the storage problems that frustrated so many users.

iOS 8 vs iOS 7 Walkthrough: What’s New in iOS 8
iOS 8 vs iOS 7 Walkthrough - Home Screen

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We start our iOS 8 vs iOS 7 walkthrough with the iPhone home screen, which is where you'll start your iOS 8 experience after an update this fall.

These screens are incredibly important as you see them anytime you turn on the iPhone or need to choose an app to launch. There is no way around using them, so Apple needs to make sure they work just right.

As you can see in the iOS 8 vs iOS 7 comparison above, there is no change between the home screen in the new iPhone software. Apple changed the status bar and some other small visual changes in iOS 7, but there are no updates for iOS 8.