Full Solutions to Fix iPhone iOS 16 Update Stuck Problems

Every year, a new iOS version is released with new features. And Apple users are always excited about the updates and that’s why they install the new update without checking the reviews. Like any other software, sometimes, iOS updates have a few problems as well. Users have been reporting that iOS 16 is stuck on "checking for update" screen or iPhone stuck on preparing update screen iOS 16 and they can't figure out how to fix it.

Luckily, we have the solution to your problems. Whether your iPhone is frozen during update or it is not updating at all, we will help you resolve all problems related to the update. Let's start with the easy ones.

Part 1: How Long Does A iPhone Update Take

If you don’t want your iPhone to be stuck on the software update, then you need to know how the process works. The question is a little tough but we can take an estimated guess of the time taken by an iPhone to finish the software update. The update process is done in two phases, the first one download and the second one is installation.

Generally, it doesn't matter which update you are installing, the average time period is 30 minutes. And if you are trying to get the latest iOS 16 update, then you have to be patient as this version comes with a lot of advanced features. So, if someone asks you how long does iOS 16 update take, you'll know what to tell them.

  • iOS 16 Download - 3 to 10 minutes
  • iOS 16 Install - 10 to 20 minutes
  • Set up iOS 16 - 1 to 5 minutes

So, the total time would be 30 minutes to one hour approximately. But the process won't be as smooth as you would think. If your internet connection is slow, device running out of storage, or you interrupt the process, you might get stuck. But even if you get stuck, we have all the solutions that you must try out to fix the problem.

Part 2: No Data Loss Solution to Fix iPhone Update Stuck

If the iPhone stuck on update screen issue can be resolved without data loss, then it will be better for all users. So, we have gathered the solutions that will fix the problem without erasing your device data. Let's use them one by one.

Method 1. Check Apple Server

One of the biggest reasons why your iPhone is stuck on preparing update is the fact that the Apple Server is not available. When the server is not working, you won't be able to carry out the update. So, before you move any further, remember to check the Apple Server Status by visiting the link- https://www.apple.com/in/support/systemstatus/.

check apple server status when iphone is stuck on preparing update

Once you ensure that the system is up and running fine, you will have to move on to other things that might have been causing trouble in the update.

Method 2. Make Sure Your Network is Not Broken

And by broken, we mean that the network connection must be strong and stable. Never ever try to update your iPhone with your device network. Connect your iPhone with a Wi-Fi and then proceed with the update. And if your iPhone is stuck on update request, then check your connection.

  • Turn off the Wi-Fi and wait for a minute. Then turn it back on.
  • Try forgetting the network ad connecting your device again with it.
  • Make sure that you haven't enabled the Airplane mode by mistake.
enable airplane mode and try updating iphone again

Until the network connection is stable, you will continue having issues with the update request. So, make sure that the network is strong.

Method 3. Check iPhone Storage

There is one other thing that will interrupt the process and you will have to face iPhone stuck during update issue. It is your iPhone Storage. There are many things on the iPhone that are pretty useless but we still won't delete it because the device has enough storage. But once your iPhone is full of useless things, they will be a hindrance in the update. So, the simplest and easiest solution is to delete the less important files and uninstall the apps that you don’t use.

Open the Settings > General > About and see how much space is left on your iPhone.

check iphone storage space when iphone update stuck on update requested

If there is no space, then carry out the following steps.

  • Delete unused apps
  • Delete extra files including old text messages, media files, etc.
  • Clear the cache memory
  • Remove browsing data, browser cache, etc.

This will free up the space that you need to continue the update. And if this does not fix the update problem, we still have other methods to try.

Method 4. Soft Reset iPhone to Fix iPhone Stuck on Update Screen

The soft reset is a simple restart of your iPhone. It is a typical solution that often works if the iPhone gets stuck on update screen. The soft reset acts as a Turn Off Switch and removes extra memory that consumes the device resources. To do this, you need to follow some simple steps:

Step 1: Press the Power button and hold it for a while. You will see the Power Off slider appears on the screen.

Step 2: Drag the slider to the right and it will shut down your iPhone.

turn off iphone and then turn on to update iphone again

Give your iPhone about 60 seconds and restart it by pressing the Power button. After it restarts, try updating the software once again.

Method 5. Update iPhone Without Stuck in iTunes

As an alternative, it will be much better to try to update your iPhone using iTunes if you don’t want the iPhone stuck on Apple logo during update. A slight mistake can lead to major issues; therefore, it's a smart move to be cautious and let iTunes take care of the update. The steps you need to follow are given below:

Step 1: Get the latest version of iTunes on your system and connect your iPhone with it.

Step 2: Launch iTunes and trust the computer. Open the device and go to the Summary tab. Click on the "Check for Update" option and let iTunes detect the latest update available for your device.

check for update updates in itunes

Step 3: Once the update is detected, click on Download and install the update. Sometimes, you might have to enter your device passcode to confirm the update. Wait as your device is updated and you will have iOS 16 on your iPhone.

Keep one thing in mind though; this method is valid only before you get stuck during the update. If you are already stuck and you can't access your iPhone, then iTunes won't recognize your device and the method won't work.

Method 6. Remove the Update And Try Again

If your iPhone freezes when trying to update, this means there is some problem with the update file. If you still have access to your iPhone, then you need to delete the old update file and try to update your iPhone once again. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Open the Settings app and go to General Settings. Head to the iPhone Storage and locate the iOS 16 update file in the list.

Step 2: Tap on the update file and click on the "Delete Update" option to confirm that you want to remove the update from your iPhone.

delete update

Step 3: Restart your iPhone and open Settings > General > Software Update, and click on the Download & Install option for iOS 16.

ios 15 download install update again

Wait and see how the update goes and if you think that update will create a problem once again, then you can try enabling the Airplane mode as it will delay the update installation until you allow it.

Method 7. Fix iPhone Update Stuck Installing Without Data Loss - 100% Work

If your iPhone is stuck while updating already, then don’t worry, we still have a solution that will work great for you. For such kind of problems, we can take help from UltFone iOS System Repair tool. This software is specially designed so that there won't be any software issues in the iOS devices that go without a solution. The most important feature of this tool is that it will fix the software issue and after the system repair, it automatically updates the device software to the latest one without any hassle.

So, if you are having iOS software update stuck problem, download and install the software on your system and follow the step below:

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Step 1: Run the program and connect your iPhone with it. From the home interface, choose the "Repair Operating System" option to fix all iOS problems.

repair ios system to fix iphone update stuck on verifying

Step 2: On the next screen, you will get to choose the mode that you want to use for the repair. If you don’t want to lose your device data, then stick with the Standard Mode and click on the Fix Now button.

Step 3: The software will prompt you to download a firmware package that is compatible with your device. Make sure that the information detected by the software is right and download the package. As the file is big, it might take a while to finish the download.

download firmware file for ios update

The software will notify you when the process is complete and you can proceed.

Step 4: Finally, click on the Repair Now option and the software will begin the system repair. Sit back and let the software repair your iPhone.

fixing iphone stuck on update

Wait as your iPhone is repaired and updated at the same time. As the iPhone reboots, you will have an optimally functioning phone with the latest software without any data loss.

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Part 3: Data Loss Methods to Fix iPhone Stuck on Update Screen

Still, the story is not finished yet. If you are not concerned about data loss in your device when iPhone freezes during update, then there are few other methods you can try. It will erase your device data but fix your iPhone also. So, we recommend you not follow these methods if you don’t have a backup prior to being stuck on an update.

Method 1. Restore iPhone in iTunes to Fix iPhone Update Frozen

As usual, you can use iTunes to restore your iPhone update frozen screen. This will resolve the problem and you will get your data back after restore. To do this, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Launch iTunes on your system and connect the iPhone that is stuck on update.

Step 2: The device will be detected by iTunes. Open the Summary tab and select the "Restore iPhone" option from the screen.

restore iphone in itunes

This will return your device to factory settings and erase the existing data. But later on, you can restore the data from the Apps & Data screen using the relevant iTunes backup file. If unfortunately, iTunes can't detect your iPhone then put it in recovery mode, and then perform restore.

Method 2. Erase iPhone

If you have access to your iPhone even if iPhone froze while updating, then there is still a method that you can try. You can erase your iPhone completely and restore it to factory settings without using iTunes. Just follow the steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app and go to General Settings. Scroll down until you find the Reset option.

Step 2: From the Reset menu, select the Erase All Content & Settings option and confirm it by entering your device passcode.

erase all content and settings

As the device gets erased, the problem will also disappear. But if you don’t have access to your iPhone, then the last and best resort is using UltFone iOS System Repair tool without any doubt.

Conclusion

In this guide, we learned that there are various methods to get rid of the iPhone update stuck problem. And all of them are helpful to some extent. Still, it is recommended that you use UltFone iOS System Repair tool if you want to get rid of the iPhone 11 frozen during update problem. Tell your friends about this guide to help them as well.

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