iOS 13.7 Update Issues

You can still install the update however you will need over 5GB Free space to successfully install over WiFi network. This is based on a 16GB total storage space.

One other way that you can install the update is by using iTunes on a computer.

Axel F.

Make sure that you have at least 20GB - 30GB of space left on your iPhone - You already appear to have done that.

1. Make sure that you are connected to a stable WiFi Network
2. Make sure that your iPhone is charged more than 50%
3. Make sure that VPN is turned OFF
4. Make sure that the Low Power Mode is set to OFF

Once the above is confirmed then try again.

Axel F.

This is the first time I have had this problem with an IOS update. I am on an iPhone XR 64gb, with 15gb free space. I am surprised to read someone else suggesting that one needs 20-30gb free space just for an incremental update....that's huge ! If that's true, there must be loads of users who won't be able to complete the update. However, here's what happened to me:

I tried 3 times to download and install this update. Got the error message each time and before each new attempt, I went into Settings - General - Storage and deleted the update files. Then I disabled my VPN connection after the 3rd failed attempt to download. After this step....it worked. I wonder why ? I haven't ever had a problem using VPN whilst updating software before.

In general, I have to say that I have spent more time troubleshooting issues on my principal Mac devices (phone and computers) over the last 6 months than I did over the previous 3 years. What is happening at Apple ? Too much money maybe ?!? (= complacency).

While I too would fine 16GB of storage entirely inadequate, if that's otherwise working for this person, then they still deserve to/need to update the OS. Updates frequently include security fixes and other bug fixes.

If the OTA update isn't working, as others have said, plug it into a computer and do it that way.

Since I've owned iPhones since long before OTA updates were a thing, I've never really trusted OTA updates anyway. I like the idea of installing the entire OS cleanly each time. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I never experience any of the upgrade glitches that other people complain about. (But I also have 318 GB of free space on my phone.)

What did help me was power cycling the iPhone. I tried updating through the finder on the Mac but it said it couldn‘t complete the backup. After disconnecting the iPhone, power off, power on and re-connecting the update through the finder when re-connected to the Mac did finally work.

I fixed my Installation issue with 13.7 by turning off my VPN during the install process.

Axel,

So what I did was back up by iphone on my iMac. Once completed, I went to settings/general/reset/reset all settings. That worked well, as soon as it was done, I shut down and then restarted my iphone. Then I went to settings/general/software update. It actually downloaded quite quickly. Keep in mind...I really didn't and still don't know what i am doing.

I disconnected my VPN and the update worked ok. Thanks! - IPhone 8 plus

Yeah, I suspect the vast majority or users do not have issues with OTA updates. Updating OSes using only differences (which is what OTA updating does, instead of reinstalling the entire OS) is a pretty normal practice for all OSes, from Windows to Ubuntu, and I suspect the updater runs some sort of hash checks on all of the installed pieces to check the OS's integrity. So yes, if you have lots of space, OTA should work fine.

But it does have more work to do and there is more to go wrong, so I just stick to updates with a USB cable and iTunes, since that's always worked well for me.

When you say you’ve “plugged it into iMac,” do you mean just for power, or you’ve actually tried to do the update from the computer (using whatever MacOS interface replaced iTunes for this purpose) instead of doing it on the phone?

Unless there is something in iOS 13.7 that you desperately need, I’d just wait a couple of days and try again, rather than jumping straight to wiping the phone.

But first try doing the update from you computer instead of from the phone, if you haven’t actually tried that yet. If that doesn’t work, doing a factory reset from the computer could work. (Make sure you first have a complete backup to the computer.)

For me it worked to power off the iPhone, power on again, connect to the Mac and do the update using the Finder.

Maybe the update would have worked over the phone as well after power cycling it.

I totally agree with your post.

In case anybody needs elementary tips on how to free up a bit of storage space, it’s quite easy to find out what is taking up space on your phone that needn’t be, for example by ordering your emails by size and then sifting through them to make sure that you still need to keep them on your phone; ditto WhatsApp messages, the app itself shows you what is taking up space and allows you to delete selectively.

Mine installed just fine. However, I was hoping that the Face ID issues caused by previous update would have been solved, but no. It’s super disappointing that Apple it’s just washing their hands saying not a lot of people are encountering Face ID problems with last update!

I see a lot of people having problems who have 16gb iPhones. I don't get why anyone would have an iPhone with anything less than 64gb but if you are stubborn and insist on staying with your iPhone then you are probably better off to not bother updating IOS. With so little space, you are not buying apps so probably are happy with whatever apps that you have. Why do you want to update your iOS version? Just for something to do? Not a great idea. Hey, go out and buy a phone with 128g. And reduce your stress level by 112gb and increase your fun level by the same amount. And you will be able to take advantage of having a smart phone and do more than basic stuff. Go crazy. Get some cool apps and go out and par-tay. Have fun. What is life for?