Why Won’t My iPhone Update? How to Get the New iOS Update

So you were excited to download the latest version of iOS or iPadOS but your iPhone won't update? Or is the problem that your device seems to have frozen in the middle of the update? Is your iPhone or iPad unable to check for an update? If you're stuck and wondering what to do, look no further. Below, you will find the steps you need to work through to fix these issues and get the latest iOS or iPadOS update.

Why Won’t My iPhone Update? How to Get the New iOS & iPadOS Updates

When it's time for your iPhone to have an iOS update or your iPad to have an iPadOS update, it doesn't always go quickly or smoothly. If your iPhone or iPad won't update, there are several things that may be going wrong. Let's get into what to do if your download speed is slow, or your iPhone or iPad won't update. For more great iPhone and iPad update tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day. 

iPadOS 17 & iOS 17 Compatible Devices 

If you're asking yourself, "Why can't I update my iPhone to iOS 17?", the first thing to check is that your iPhone or iPad is compatible with the latest update. Here's a list of devices that are compatible:

• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
• iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
• iPad (6th generation and newer)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and newer)
• iPad mini (5th generation and newer)
• iPad Pro 10.5 inch
• iPad Pro 11 inch (1st generation and newer)
• iPad Pro 12.9 inch (2nd generation and newer)

If you aren't sure which iPhone or iPad you own, we have an article that will help you identify it no matter which model or generation. If you do have one of the above devices but your iPad or iPhone won't update, check out the troubleshooting tips below.

Why Is My Download Speed So Slow? Speed Up Your Software Update

So, how long does iOS 17 take to install, anyway? The time it takes to download and install the newest iOS update or iPadOS update depends on its size and your internet speed. The slower the internet connection, the longer your software update will take. Depending on your internet speeds, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or longer.

Image courtesy of Apple

If Apple's iPad or iPhone update has a slow download speed, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your device is connected to power and has a strong internet connection. A Wi-Fi network is preferred. Next, You can speed up the process by not downloading other content at this time. Some people choose to download the software update and begin the installation in the evening, or another block of time when they don't need their iPhone or iPad, so there's plenty of time for the process to complete. You also have the option of downloading the update during the day and then installing it overnight while you're sleeping. Your iPhone should automatically suggest this option when downloading the update.

Make Sure You Have Enough iPhone & iPad Storage

Make sure you have enough iPad or iPhone storage to download and install the iPadOS or iOS update. Major updates, like iOS 17, usually require a little over 5 GB. Smaller updates, like iOS 17.1, don't require as much. You can check your iPhone storage, and your iPad's as well, then take steps to free up storage space if you don't have enough room for the iOS update. If you're getting a message that your iPad or iPhone storage is full, but it isn't, you can fix that as well.  

iPhone or iPad Unable to Check for Update

Image courtesy of Apple

What happens if you get an "Unable to Check for Update. An error occurred while checking for a software update.", or "Unable to Install Update. Software update requires a network connection" message? In this case, tap Try Again or Retry to try and update your iPad or iPhone using your same Wi-Fi network. If you get the same error message, try using a different Wi-Fi network. If you are still unable to check for an update on your iPhone or iPad, wait a while before trying again, in case Apple's servers are overloaded with so many people trying to update their devices at once. 

Remove the iPadOS or iOS Update & Download Again

If the software update failed and none of the above steps have fixed your iPad or iPhone update problems, you may need to delete the iOS update and download it again. To do this: 

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   
2. Tap General.
   
   
3. Tap iPad or iPhone Storage.
   
   
4. Find the iPadOS or iOS update in the list of apps.
   
   
5. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.
   
   
6. Now, go back through the iOS update or iPadOS update process again; hopefully, it works this time!

Update Your iPhone or iPad with a Computer

If your iPad or iPhone software update failed even after using the steps above, or you don't see the update in Settings > General > iPad/iPhone Storage in the step above, you'll need to update your device with your Mac or PC.  

If you have access to a Mac that's running macOS Catalina or later, you can update your device with the Finder. Before you update, be sure to back up your iPad or iPhone with iCloud or iTunes. If your Mac is using a Personal Hotspot on your iPad or iPhone, connect it to a different Ethernet or Wi-Fi network before you begin. Next:

1. Connect your iPad or iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
2. Click Finder to open. 
    
3. Click your device in Finder. Here's the fix if you don't see your iPhone or iPad in the Finder. 
4. Click General, then click Check for Update. 
   
   Image courtesy of Apple
5. Now click Download and Update, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete your iPadOS or iOS update.

If you have a Mac that's running macOS Mojave or earlier, you'll need to update your iPad or iPhone using iTunes. 

Time for Recovery Mode

If your iPad or iPhone screen is stuck on the Apple logo without a progress bar for several minutes, or if your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone or iPad, it's time to use Recovery mode. 

Once you've wiped your iPhone or iPad with Recovery mode, it's time to restore from an iCloud backup, iTunes backup, or using Finder. At this point, you can start the iPadOS or iOS update process from the beginning, but if you've already followed all the steps in this article and still can't update, it's probably time to contact Apple Support. 

Contact Apple Support

By now, I hope you've been able to download and install the latest iPadOS or iOS update. If this still hasn't happened, it's time to contact Apple Support, because there may be a hardware issue that needs to be repaired. If you found this article helpful, check out our other troubleshooting guides for fixes on all kinds of Apple hardware and software problems.