My iPad is stuck verifying when I try to update to 15.0.2 (iPad Pro 9.7")

We have two iPad pros both cellular models but both have no cellular plan active. IPad A has a SIM card the other, iPad B has an empty sim slot. Both have iPadOS 15.0.0

iPad A was able to OTA update to 15.0.1 with no problem. IPad B got stuck on "verifying" after downloading and we tried everything from rebooting, deleting, and re-downloading the update, but always the same result: stuck verifying.

after deleting the update file in Settings>iPad Storage and hard rebooting, we took the SIM card out of iPad A (any correct size shape SIM card will do, working or not working) and putting in iPad B, we repeated the update steps and it worked as it should. Clearly, there is a bug in all this somewhere, but for now, we are updated and we didn't have to resort to PC to do it.

As soon as I removed the SIM tray, the "Verifying" message disappeared and it started updating.

I tried several other avenues, disabling auto-lock & passcode, attempted to update from a computer and lastly erasing the iPad entirely and trying to update with that fresh iOS 15 install. Nothing worked except ejecting the SIM tray.

confirmed user kytdluyfljyfliygöiyfliy solution with iPad Pro 9.7-inch WiFi, Cellular (empty SIM tray)

iPadOS update stuck with "Verifying Update" status message

stays dysfunctional:

power-off

remove SIM tray

power-on

hit install for update

works with solution 'workaround':

power-off

install working SIM insert tray

power-on

hit install for update

done

Note: After another power cycle to remove SIM to return to cell phone, SIM/phone had to be reconfigured by carrier

update: i did have a wi/fi cellular model, so did have a sim card tray. I didn't have a sim card but opened the tray (with a paperclip, like back in the day when a paperclip was used to eject a floppy) and finally, the update successfully happened. Apple is getting very sloppy. No where do they post that this is a fix. No where do they post that there is a concern about this problem and they are working on it.

We were able to repeat this procedure again updating to 15.0.2 as well. The iPad without the SIM card would not update wirelessly over the air until we inserted a SIM card into the slot. Old iPad Pro 9.7 in models.

As suggested above, inserting the SIM card from my iPhone into my iPad temporarily fixed the failed update problem. I spent over a week trying to figure out why the iPad update kept failing and was at a loss. Apple should never have such a simple problem, and when they do, it should be fixed quickly.

This worked exactly : stuck for ages. Hard reboot multiple times.

Removed the SIM card and within about 30 secs it then started the update. It did keep saying struggling to certify update due to internet connection. Clearly the verification process is using the non existent cellular connection and can’t read the WiFi strange but glad problem resolved.

I popped the sim from my iPhone into my iPad and it installed. Put the sim back in my iPhone and all is well with iPad and iPhone.

WOW! This solution worked first try. Empty SIM card tray, just had to remove and reinsert it. This is crazy. I had been dealing with this for days. All of the other blog posts pointed to resetting network settings. Nothing had worked until this fixed it. Thank you!

The first time I had this I tried to turn off & restart but couldn’t; tried everything but nothing worked! So I left the iPad for 3 days until power on it completely drained so the iPad was off. Today I tried to update & same thing occurred for 5hours saying “…verifying update”. Thanks to this amazing community; I took the SIM tray out; the problem instantly stopped, & my iPad got updated.

So this is what I suggest should anyone experienced same problem.

I had the same problem and it was fixed just by taking the SIM card tray out, and then putting it back in. (My iPad is the wi-fi/cellular version but I never activated the cellular for the iPad, so didn't have a SIM card). The hours spent trying to figure out what's wrong, that's something else. No where did I see instructions from Apple to do this. This forum was very helpful of course.

Worked for me too.

Tried lot of other things that didnt work but then put in the SIM card and it worked.

Believe verify update is making a call (that doesn't timeout) for SIM accessories and if there is no SIM Card there is no reply and there is no timeout hence verify update is hanged. or alternatively there is a loop that expects a specific reply and till it gets that specific reply it goes into infinite loop.

Could be a software bug or a hardware bug (aka the SIM card hardware). Either way can be fixed by some simple innovative software fixes.

I just want yall to know not even 30 seconds after taking out the sim card tray (no sim card was ever installed) from my ipad it started updating.

Finally my ipad Pro 9.7 is getting updated after waiting for so long.

Read the thread above and tried inserting a Sim Card and Whoaaaa it finally started updating.

If you find that you can’t install on an iPad 10.5 Pro, try taking out the SIM Card Tray, I also could not install iPadOS 15.0.1 & 15.0.2. I saw a comment here that suggested putting in a blank SIM, however it appears that it is not the SIM Card - just the SIM Tray. Once it is opened, the 15.0.1 & 15.0.2 will then install.