Setting up new iPhone 11 software update

You have to hard reboot your phone.

Press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the button.

Try updating using your computer.

Update using your computer -

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/update-ios-iph3e504502/ios

Sorry, I meant activate.

I've seen this problem in almost every screenshot that a user has provided when the install won't finish, they don't have cellular.

Also see Lawrence Finch's response in this thread - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253611221

Kurtosis12 wrote:

You need both a WiFi connection and an active cellular connection to perform the iOS update.

No you don't. You can't update over cellular unless you are using 5G.

Wi-Fi is all that is required to update successfully.

Seems like its trying to load something but has not finished.

Maybe you can try to exit the screen and try again. Or wait a while.

Phil0124 wrote:

Kurtosis12 wrote:

Disregarding the new capability to install with a 5G connection -

"Wi-Fi is all that is required to update successfully."

No it's not, you need a cellular connection to verify the update.

WiFi downloads the update, cellular verifies it.

What are you talking about? You don't need a cellular connection to verify the update. Verification is done on on Wi-Fi as well. Where are you getting this requirement from. Its never been a thing.

It won’t let me set up the cellular connection

The cellular connection is not required to update or verify the update. However, you can insert your SIM card into the iPhone to get the cellular connection, or wait until the update completes and setup an eSim if your iPhone supports it.

This has been a common issue recently. I’ve seen many threads where the phone would not complete activation without a cellular connection, and that it did activate once the cellular connection was established. I know it’s not supposed to work that way, but empirically this currently appears to be necessary.

However, in this thread it hasn’t gotten to the point of activation, so there is some other problem if it doesn’t install when Install Now is tapped. Either that, or it may be that additional patience is required.

You need both a WiFi connection and an active cellular connection to perform the iOS update.

Disregarding the new capability to install with a 5G connection -

"Wi-Fi is all that is required to update successfully."

No it's not, you need a cellular connection to verify the update.

WiFi downloads the update, cellular verifies it.

Kurtosis12 wrote:

Disregarding the new capability to install with a 5G connection -

"Wi-Fi is all that is required to update successfully."

No it's not, you need a cellular connection to verify the update.

WiFi downloads the update, cellular verifies it.

What are you talking about? You don't need a cellular connection to verify the update. Verification is done on on Wi-Fi as well. Where are you getting this requirement from. Its never been a thing.

It won’t let me set up the cellular connection

The cellular connection is not required to update or verify the update. However, you can insert your SIM card into the iPhone to get the cellular connection, or wait until the update completes and setup an eSim if your iPhone supports it.

Thanks Lawrence.

For whatever its worth, I just updated my old iPhone 7 to iOS 15.3 and it worked fine without cellular service at all. The iPhone 7 doesn't even have a SIM card installed.