Your iPhone is stuck during an iOS update. It may freeze on the Apple logo, show a progress bar that won’t move, or stay on “Preparing Update.” These steps help get the update moving again.
1. Force Restart the iPhone
- iPhone 8 or newer: Volume Up → Volume Down → hold Side button.
- iPhone 7: Hold Volume Down + Power.
- iPhone 6s or older: Hold Home + Power.
This does not erase data — it simply forces the device to reboot.
2. Charge the iPhone
- Low battery can freeze the update process.
- Plug into a wall charger for at least 20 minutes.
3. Check Your Wi‑Fi Connection
- Weak or unstable Wi‑Fi can cause the update to stall.
- Move closer to the router or switch networks.
4. Free Up Storage Space
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
- iOS updates need several GB of free space.
5. Delete the Update File and Redownload
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage.
- Find the iOS update → Delete Update.
- Go back to Software Update and download it again.
6. Update Using a Computer (Recovery Mode)
- Connect the iPhone to a Mac or PC.
- Open Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows).
- Force restart the iPhone and keep holding until Recovery Mode appears.
- Select Update to reinstall iOS without erasing data.
7. Try DFU Mode (Last Resort)
- Connect the iPhone to a computer.
- Enter DFU mode using the correct button sequence.
- Choose Restore in Finder/iTunes.
Note: DFU mode erases all data unless you have a backup.
8. When to Seek Repair
- Update fails repeatedly even in Recovery Mode.
- iPhone restarts endlessly during the update.
- Device is not detected by a computer.
If the update remains stuck after these steps, the issue may be related to corrupted system files or internal hardware. A technician can diagnose the exact cause.