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iOS 15.6 stuck on “preparing update”. cannot delete started update from storage

when Updating to 15.6 on iPhone 11, update gets stuck at “preparing update”. Cannot remove started update from storage. Cannot get iPhone 11 to update to 15.6. Always gets stuck on preparing update. Help!

Posted on Aug 11, 2022 6:02 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 11, 2022 6:04 AM

Try and update via a pc or Mac instead


Update your iPhone using a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher, you will use the finder in order to upgrade your iPhone. Make sure to Back up your device before starting the upgrade process.

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you will follow the following steps:

  1. Open a finder window
  2. Connect your device to your Mac via a lighting to usb A or a lightning to usb c cable
  3. Select your device in the left sidebar of the finder window
  4. click general, then click check for update
  5. Click download and update.
  6. If asked, enter your iPhone passcode



Update your iPhone via a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a Windows PC

On macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a windows machine, we won't use the Finder to upgrade your iOS

Instead, we will use iTunes. Make sure to Back up your device before doing any update or upgrade to your phone.

  1. Open iTunes
  2. connect your device to the computer with an lightning to usb a or a lightning to usb c cable
  3. Click device button in the iTunes toolbar
  4. In the summary tab, click check for update
  5. Click download and update, follow The on screen instructions
  6. If asked, enter your iPhone passcode.


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 11, 2022 6:04 AM in response to Sunnyfla

Try and update via a pc or Mac instead


Update your iPhone using a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or higher, you will use the finder in order to upgrade your iPhone. Make sure to Back up your device before starting the upgrade process.

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you will follow the following steps:

  1. Open a finder window
  2. Connect your device to your Mac via a lighting to usb A or a lightning to usb c cable
  3. Select your device in the left sidebar of the finder window
  4. click general, then click check for update
  5. Click download and update.
  6. If asked, enter your iPhone passcode



Update your iPhone via a Mac running macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a Windows PC

On macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a windows machine, we won't use the Finder to upgrade your iOS

Instead, we will use iTunes. Make sure to Back up your device before doing any update or upgrade to your phone.

  1. Open iTunes
  2. connect your device to the computer with an lightning to usb a or a lightning to usb c cable
  3. Click device button in the iTunes toolbar
  4. In the summary tab, click check for update
  5. Click download and update, follow The on screen instructions
  6. If asked, enter your iPhone passcode.


iOS 15.6 stuck on “preparing update”. cannot delete started update from storage

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