Updating iOS: common issues and solutions

by: Lawrence Finch

Last modified: Oct 12, 2024 11:37 AM

130 91625 Last modified Oct 12, 2024 11:37 AM

STOP: Before doing anything that might cause data loss, make a backup of your iOS device to either iCloud, your computer, or both for extra security—>How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Check compatibility:

iPhone XR, XS, SE 2nd or 3rd edition, iPhone 11 and newer: You can update to iOS 18.0.1
iPhone 8 and iPhone X, you can update to 16.7.10
Any iPhone series 6S and 7, and original SE: You can update to 15.8.3
iPhone 5S or 6: You cannot update to iOS 13 or higher; you can update only to iOS 12.5.7
iPhone 5: You can update only to 10.3.4
iPhone 5C: You can update only to 10.3.3
iPhone 4S: You can update only to 9.3.6
iPhone 4: You can update only to 7.1.2

If your phone is compatible, for most users, just go to Settings/General/Software Update or follow Apple's update support article→Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

If you have a problem updating with your computer (rather than over the air) the first place to go is→ If you see an error when you update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support

For over-the-air updates, here are the conditions that must be met to update iOS:

You must have a fast Wi-Fi connection; you cannot update over cellular data unless you have a phone that supports 5G (series 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and SE 3rd edition) and you have a 5G connection
You cannot update using an iPhone personal hotspot
You must have a cellular network connection with cellular data enabled so the account can be verified after downloading the update
The phone can not be in Low Power mode (how to tell: The battery icon will be yellow in low power mode)
The battery state of charge must be above 50%
You must have at least 6 GB of free storage (for iOS 14 or later), and more is better
You cannot be connected through VPN
If you are not planning to update automatically overnight you should turn this option off, as it will only update when the phone is plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi and locked
If you do want to update overnight your phone must be connected to power, Wi-Fi and it must be powered on and locked overnight - if it doesn't update go back to doing it manually so you can see any error messages
Even for manual updates you should leave the phone plugged in until it finishes updating, both to assure that it remains above 50% and to keep Wi-Fi enabled (Wi-Fi turns off when the phone sleeps if not connected to power)

Here are a few special conditions:

If you had a beta on your phone you must remove it by following these instructions→Apple Beta: Restore Shipping Software, or else make sure you are updating with the same beta method (developer, appleseed or public)
If you had a “bootleg” beta version (i.e., not from Apple's seed, developer, or public beta sites) or you jailbroke your phone you probably can't update unless you reset your phone to factory settings→ Restore your iOS device to factory settings - Apple Support

Finally, if nothing you do works for an over the air update you can always update using your Windows PC or Mac. It's described at the top of the page in→Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Here’s more info from Apple→If your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch won’t update - Apple Support

REALLY Finally, if you have given up hope either post as many details as you can think of in response to this post, or contact Apple's support team using the Get Support link at the top of every page.

Chris0107

Level 9

(51,935 points)

Dec 23, 2020 6:53 AM

Hi Lawrence,

This is a great user tip, I refer to it constantly.

There is just one other link that I wish was in here..

you never mention anything about errors, the 'won't update' link also does not mention errors.

So I regularly add this link in conjunction with yours when people post vague things like 'can't update'

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201210

just my 2 cents, you may have left out any reference to errors intentionally?

Dec 23, 2020 6:53 AM

Dec 23, 2020 7:10 AM

Thanks, I will add that, although I don’t think it addresses most user’s problems. The one problem with that link is it does not address error 4000, which is guaranteed to happen at this time updating with iTunes for Windows, until Apple releases a version of iTunes without this bug.

Dec 23, 2020 7:10 AM