iPhone Won't Update - Here's How to Fix It

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Last Updated on May 18, 2020 by Jay

Apple iPhone won’t update and there’s nothing you can do that is fixing it? Here is simple troubleshooting and solving guide on how you can fix the iPhone iOS won’t update on your iPhone.

While the competition between Android and iOS will continue till the end of times, it isn’t up for debate that Apple wins when it comes to the regular cycle of updates. Since Apple has far fewer different models to support with regular iOS updates, these are usually rolled out in synchronization and with very little delay between the different regions.

Apple takes care of its iPhone users by providing them with a minimum of four years of iOS update support on their iPhones. But sometimes while doing the update on your iPhone, you may get stuck and have some hick-ups on the way, and your iPhone won’t update. Here is a simple troubleshooting guide on how you can counter this issue and get the latest version of iOS running on your iDevice.

iPhone iOS won’t update? First steps to take

Sometimes having a keen eye over on the basics and small things can solve iPhone issues. Check the following basic troubleshooting list down below to try and fix the iPhone won’t update you are facing with your iPhone.

Check if you are connected to a strong and reliable internet connection. You will need an internet connection to download the iOS update on your iPhone. If you are unable to connect to a reliable wifi connection, you can use your mobile data to download the update if your hands are itching to download and install the new iOS update.
Check if your iPhone is compatible with the new iOS update. Apple supports their iPhones by providing four years of iOS updates. If your iPhone does not support with the latest iOS update, Apple does provide old iPhones with security updates and bug fixes when necessary.
Check if your iPhone has sufficient storage space. iPhone updates size depend on the iOS version and device, but it is advised that you have at least have 4GB of storage space to download and install the new iOS update on your iPhone. You can delete videos, images and unwanted apps on your iPhone to free up some space for the iOS update to download and update on your device.
Check whether you have sufficient battery life on your iPhone or connected to a power source. Your iPhone mandates that you should have at least 75 per cent battery life on your iPhone or connected to a power outlet. iOS updates may take a while, and you do not want your iPhone to run out of battery while your iPhone is updating, in some cases, your iPhone can get stuck on a boot loop, and you will have to force reboot your device.

After checking the above basic troubleshooting guide, if you are still not being able to update your iPhone to the latest iOS update; there may be some firmware error or glitches on your iPhone. Try these other solutions.

Solution 1: Restart your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone may solve any issues you are facing to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS firmware.

Hold the wake/sleep power button until you see the “slide to power off” slider on the iPhone screen.
Swipe right on the slider.
Your iPhone will be shut off.
Keep pressing the power button to switch on the iPhone.
Release the power button when you see the Apple logo.

Solution 2: Force reboot your iPhone

Force rebooting your iPhone will help to solve any bugs or glitches you are facing to update your iPhone to the latest iOS firmware update on your iPhone.

For iPhone models with a physical TouchID home button (iPhone 5S to iPhone 6S).

Press and keep holding both the power button and the TouchID home button.
Keep holding both the buttons until the screen going black and also keep pressing the buttons until the screen comes back on again.
You can release the buttons once the screen turns on.

For iPhone models with a haptic TouchID home button (iPhone 7).

Press and keep holding the power button and the volume down button.
Keep holding the buttons until the screen turns off as well as the screen turns on.
Let go of the power button and volume down buttons after the screen turns on.

For iPhone models (iPhone 8 to iPhone 11 series).

Tap and release the volume up button on the left side of the device.
Tap and release the volume down button.
Tap and keep holding power on button until the screen turns off.
When the screen turns on, and you see the Apple logo, release the buttons.

Solution 3: Check if you are already running on the latest version

Have you stopped to ever wonder if you’re already on the latest version of iOS on your iPhone. To check your iOS version and confirm with the official Apple iOS software update website, follow the steps below:

Head over to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap on the General button.
You will see an About iPhone button, tap on it.
You will see the information about your iPhone including the iOS version your iPhone is currently running on.

Solution 4: Network reset your iPhone

If your wifi is working fine on other devices but not your iPhone, reset the network settings and see if the wifi works on your iPhone.

To reset the network setting, follow these steps.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down to the General option and tap on it.
At the bottom on the list, tap on the Reset option.
Tap on the reset network settings.
You are needed to enter the password of your home screen.
After you enter the password, a warning will pop up, stating “this will delete all network settings, returning them to factory default settings.
Tap on the “Reset Network Settings“.
After the process is complete, you can re-enter your wifi and cellular settings from scratch.

Check whether or not automatic iOS update feature is turned on on your iPhone. Turning on the automatic iOS update feature on the iPhone will ensure that you do not have to download the update manually. The iOS update will download itself and install automatically on the iPhone when given the permissions.

To switch on the automatic iOS update feature on your iPhone, follow these steps.

Open the Settings app on your Apple iPhone.
Scroll down on the menu and tap on the General option.
You will see the Software Update option, tap on it.
Tap on to the toggle switch to turn on/off the iOS automatic updates.
You can also check manually for iOS updates by going to the software updates option in the general settings.

Solution 5: Factory reset your iPhone

Factory resetting your iPhone can solve many problems, especially the issue of iPhone not updating to the latest version of iOS update. But doing so will erase all the content and settings on your iPhone.

Before you perform a factory reset using your iPhone itself, you should make an iCloud backup of your data beforehand.

Here is how to make an iCloud backup on your iPhone:

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap on the display image in the settings app.
You will see the iCloud option, tap on it.
Toggle on the switches on the apps you want to make an iCloud backup.
Tap on the iCloud Backup tab.
Switch on the toggle switch.
Then tap on Back up now.
Your essential data, such as contact and other settings, will be saved and restored on your iPhone after you perform a factory reset and enter your Apple id and iCloud credentials.

After you have backed your data using iCloud, you can perform the factory reset on your iPhone.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap on the general option.
Scroll down, and you will see the reset option.
Tap on the reset option and choose the “Erase All Content and Settings”.
You will need to enter your home screen lock password.
Next, you will also have to enter your Apple id credentials to begin the process. Tap on the erase red button.
After doing so, the process will begin.
Enter your Apple ID and iCloud credentials after the reset process is complete to restore you’re backed up data back on your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to turn on iOS auto-updates on iPhone?

If you want your iPhone to be running on the latest version of iOS and downloaded automatically instead of manually doing it and risking falling behind the features when a new version of iOS is released and want to be the first to download it amongst your friends, you should turn on the automatic iOS update feature on your iPhone, Here is how to turn on automatic iOS updates on your iPhone.

Go to the setting app on your iPhone.
Go to the general tab.
From the list, tap on the Software Update.
From there, switch the toggle to green.

Now your iOS updates are on autopilot, and you need not do it manually.

How much storage do I need to download and install the latest version of iOS?

If your iPhone is compatible to install the latest version of iOS, yet you are unable to. One of the reasons you may unable to download and install the new iOS version because you may not have enough storage on your iPhone.

The size of the update depends on the iOS version and iPhone models. It is recommended that you should at least have 4 GB of space on your iPhone to download and install the new iOS version firmware.

You can clean and delete manually on your iPhone by deleting unwanted apps, videos and good morning pics to get some storage space back.

How do I update my iPhone using a computer?

If for some other reasons you are not able to delete unwanted apps and videos on your iPhone, but still want to update and install the new iOS version on your iPhone. You can use a computer which is installed with the iTunes application. Here is how to install an iOS update on your iPhone using a computer.

Note: You will still need some storage space to ensure the update works smoothly on your iPhone.

Connect your iPhone to a computer. You might need to open your iPhone and tap on the trust device pop up.
Locate your iPhone on the iTunes application.
A pop up will appear saying restore or update.
Tap on the update option.
iTunes will download the latest version of iOS and automatically install the iOS update on your iPhone.

How to factory reset using a computer?

If you need to do a factory reset when your iPhone doesn’t update to the latest iOS version, you can use a computer to factory reset you iPhone.

Make sure first you make a backup of your data using iTunes.
Plugin your iPhone to your computer.
Open the iTunes app on your computer.
You will need to tap on the “Trust Device” option on your iPhone.
A pop up will appear with the options to Restore or Update.
Tap on the Restore button and the factory reset process will begin.
If you do not wish to perform a factory reset, you can tap on the “Update” option from the pop up you receive after plugging in your iPhone to the computer.
iTunes will download the iOS update and install the update to your iPhone.

What if my iPhone is not compatible with the latest version of iOS?

Apple is always beloved and praised by their customers for having a robust and consistent operating system updates, which is up to four years of guaranteed iOS updates for its iPhone. But if your iPhone is older than four years and does not support the latest version of iOS, no worries. Although you will not receive the latest features of the newest iOS version, Apple will still provide you with security updates and bug fixes when it is needed and necessary.

Final Words

Apple has the best update cycles for its iPhones and other Apple devices too. They support new iOS updates for at least four years or so depending on the hardware of the iPhone. But sometimes there may be some hiccups along the way for you to update your iPhone even on the latest and greatest of iPhones. We hope this troubleshooting guide to solve the iPhone won’t update to the newest version of iOS has worked for you.

Author
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Jay

Editor at WhyTheLuckyStiff

Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Physics, Jay found his calling of becoming a full-time tech writer and is living the dream ever since. A fast learner and an ever-curious mind, you'll find him tinkering with subjects he's got no business around.

iPhone Won’t Update – Here’s How to Fix It