Fixed: ‘iPhone is Stuck On iOS Update’ Error

I know this problem very well - few months ago, while running an update on my wife’s iPhone 16, the update wheel froze in between. A message popped up (“preparing update”) and stayed there for almost half an hour. This was strange, as an Apple update process is usually smooth and takes, say, 15-20 minutes at max. In this blog, I am going to tell you exactly how I fixed the “iPhone stuck on iOS update” error and restarted my wife’s iPhone. Read this complete blog that gives you a step-by-step walkthrough on how to install the latest version of iOS on your iPhone without getting stuck.

Why iOS updates on iPhone get stuck or freeze in between?

There are five common reasons for an iOS update getting stuck on your iPhone.

• First, your internet stopped working before the update was fully downloaded.
• Second, your iPhone may not have enough free storage space to install the update.
• Third, a temporary software glitch can freeze the installation process while preparing an iOS update.
• Fourth, the iOS update file that was installed is itself corrupt.
• Fifth, this is rare, but sometimes the OS in your iPhone can be itself buggy that interrupts a new update from installing.

Keep patience, because sometimes, big updates like iOS 26 can take longer to prepare and install.

Quick Fixes you can try to restart update progress on your iPhone

While researching about the fixes, I came across certain fixes that states about force restart, deleting the update and re-downloading, and use Finder or iTunes to update from a computer when needed. So, without a second thought, I tried them before moving to advanced fixes.

Check Internet Stability

In most cases, the culprit is just your internet, restart your Wi-Fi or check network speed from your iPhone device. Ensure the internet network is fast and stable before re-downloading the update. If the internet is working fine, check the next fixes.

Restart or Force Restart

If your update is stuck or frozen, but the iPhone is responding well, you can simply restart your device. But if the device is stuck on the update progress screen, you need to force restart your iPhone.

Delete the Downloaded Update

If the restart does not help, go to Settings < General < iPhone Storage. Find the iOS update file and tap Delete Update. Then go back to Settings < Software Update and try again. This removes any corrupted installer and forces a fresh download. Apple documents this exact method.

Check Free Storage Space

Make sure you have at least 5 to 6 GB free storage space for the iOS update. If storage is low, move a few apps or photos temporarily. Tech sites and repair guides consistently show space as a common cause for update errors.

For the official Apple troubleshooting checklist and the step to delete the update from storage, see Apple Support.

What to Do When?

Don’t apply any of these fixes in hurry, you need to analyze the situation carefully. For your help, I have prepared a table that can help you fix the issue without hampering the download or iOS installation.

When to use a computer to install updates?

If your iPhone is still stuck after the quick fixes, connect it to a Mac and update it via Finder. This process updates the device safely and does not delete any data unless you choose Restore.

1. Connect the iPhone with a lightning or USB-C cable to your Mac PC.
2. Open Finder on your PC and then put the iPhone into recovery mode using the force restart method, however, hold the button until the recovery screen appears.
3. Next, you can hit the Update button on Finder and the application will check for and install the iOS update without erasing personal data.

But even if with finder, update fails, only then consider restore. Apple’s support page covers the Recovery mode process.

Go for an iPhone repair solution?

If you tried every fix stated above and your iPhone still reboots into the update screen or is stuck on iOS update, an iOS repair option can help. It allows you to reinstall the iPhone OS on your device without hampering any of your files. So basically, your iPhone OS is replaced with a fresh OS, but of that same version.

All you need to do is download and install the Stellar Toolkit for iPhone on your Windows or Mac computer and then follow the below provided steps:

Run the software and from the page select the Repair iPhone module.

Now connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB or lightning cable, don’t forget to select Allow this device on your iPhone.

Now you will be prompted to download the OS/ Firmware on your computer and then import it.

Follow the iPhone repair process and within a few minutes you will have a fresh OS on your iPhone.

This will allow you to remove any buggy updates, helping you update your iPhone to the latest version without getting stuck. So for example, if your iPhone has iOS 17 and you want to update to iOS 18, this tool will install a fresh copy of iOS 17, and then you can update to iOS 18.

Final Words                                                         

It can be worrying to witness your iPhone getting stuck in between an iOS update. But with right troubleshooting steps, you can often resolve this. Start with quick checks like ensuring stable internet connection and enough free storage space for installation. If all seems fine, go for a quick restart or a forced restart, then you rely on finder to install updates or try out an iPhone repair tool to permanently fix bugs in your previously installed OS. Once the core problem gets resolved, you can try re-installing the latest updates on your iPhone.