Why Won’t My iPhone Update: Common Problems and Solutions
Your iPhone is always going to need to update. iOS, the system that runs on Apple products, sometimes has newer versions that come out, and with each one, there are bug fixes and new capabilities. If your phone is not able to receive those updates, then it can lead to operational problems with your device. Let’s consider some of the reasons that updates won’t work for your iPhone, and what you can do about them.
iPhone Update Problems: Is Your Storage Full?
One of the reasons that your iPhone might not update is because there is not enough room left on it. Each iOS update requires a certain amount of space, and each phone only comes with 5GB standard. Space is taken up by things like apps, music, pictures, podcasts, and videos.
If you don’t have enough storage, then the most logical thing for you to do is to remove some of the nonessential apps. Look at the ones you have, and decide if there are any that you don’t need. That will free up some room for you. You can also delete some songs from your library or get rid of some of your podcasts, videos, or pictures.
Maybe you can’t bear to give up some of your videos or pictures. The reality is, though, that you don’t have to. You can transfer them to another device, like a Mac or a PC, for instance. That way you’re freeing up phone space, but you’re not losing any of them.
The other thing that you can do is to get more storage on your iPhone. You can do this by going to Settings, Your Name, then iCloud. From there, hit Manage Storage or iCloud Storage, depending on which generation of the phone you have. Tap Change Storage Plan or Buy MoreStorage. It’s a few extra dollars a month on your phone plan, but now you’ll have more space on your phone for whatever you’d like. This would be a good option for people who like to take lots of pictures and videos for social media, for instance.
What if the iOS Update Takes a Long Time?
Maybe your iOS update is happening, but it seems to be taking much longer than you’d expect.
The first thing that you could do is to check your internet connection. If you’re using a home Wi-Fi network and that connection is unsteady, then the progress of your update might get interrupted or stop altogether. Turn your router on and off and see if your phone will update any faster.
You can also call your service provider and ask them if there are any outages in your area.
After that, you can try plugging your iPhone into different outlets in your home. Try some ones in different rooms. If that doesn’t seem to make a difference, you could also try connecting the phone to another device, like a Mac or a PC. That might speed up the process.
Your iPhone Might Not Update Because It Can’t Reach the Server
Another reason that your iPhone update won’t start is that it cannot reach the server. You might get a message on your phone’s screen that says either “Unable to Check for Update” or “Unable to Verify Update.”
You might try updating your device a little later on the same network. If it still doesn’t work, then you can try using a different network. You might use someone’s Wi-Fi that you know, like a friend or a relative.
If it still doesn’t work, then you can update your iPhone through iTunes.
- First, be sure that you have the latest version of iTunes installed.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
- Select your device where you see it on the list of devices.
- Click where it says Summary, then hit Check for Update.
- If one is there, click Download and Update.
- Enter your passcode if it asks you to, and then wait a few minutes for the update. Hopefully, that will solve the problem.
What if the iOS Update Will Not Complete?
If you are trying to get the latest version of iOS for your phone and only part of it installs successfully, then it can be frustrating. The progress bar on your phone’s screen might not appear to be moving at all. Keep in mind that the length of time an update takes will depend both on the size of the update and also the number of files that you have on your device.
If you are updating over the air, then it is helpful to keep the device connected to a power source. That is more likely to lead to a successful update, and also a complete one. If your device runs out of power in the middle of an update then that will cause it to stall, so you should wait till you are either connected to a wall outlet, a Mac, or a PC.
If the progress bar stops completely and nothing seems to be happening for quite a while, then you can try restarting the device. If you own an iPhone 8 or an earlier model, do this by holding down the side or the top button, depending on which generation of iPhone you have. If you own an iPhone X or one of the later models, you will need to press the side button and either the Volume Up or Down buttons at the same time.
What if the iPhone Freezes in the Middle of an Update?
If you’re in the middle of an iOS update and the iPhone seems to freeze up entirely, or the screen goes black, then you’ll need to do a forced restart. To do so with an iPhone 8 or later, press and then release the Volume Up button. After that, press and release the Volume Down button.
Finally, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo comes up on the screen. It may take as long as a few minutes for the phone to restart. When it does, you can try the iOS update again.
If what you have is an iPhone 7 or an earlier model, do a forced restart by pressing and holding down the top or the side button and the Volume Down button for 10 seconds or so. You should see the Apple logo come up. Wait for the reset, then try the iOS update again.
If you’ve tried everything that we’ve mentioned and the latest iOS update still will not work, then you have a couple of options. You can either continue to run the version of iOS that you have, or you can contact Apple Support.
Running an earlier version of iOS isn’t the worst option, assuming that all of your phone’s functions are working okay with it. The only issue is that there are some phone features that you won’t be able to access if you keep using an outdated version of the platform.
It’s probably going to be better if you either contact Apple Support online, or you take the phone to an Apple Store with a Genius Bar. The fact that the phone won’t update indicates that there is something wrong with it. If you don’t figure out what that is, then you might run into some additional problems down the line.
