PLEASE PLEASE FIX THE AUTOMATIC UPDATE ISSUE

Updates usually happen overnight, when there is sufficient free storage, with Wi-Fi, and with no add-on first-few-hops VPN client apps.

An update generally becomes available within roughly two weeks of its release, when automatic updates are selected.

You’ve been having update issues for most of two years and maybe longer, given iOS 14 shown in the footer.

What has prevented performing the update manually to iOS 15 (SE 1st) or iOS 16 (SE 2nd, 3rd), in that time?

KLC3751 wrote:

I came here searching for answers to this same auto update feature. I can appreciate that it takes a while for updates to propagate, but in my case my phone and my iPad tell me that the update is available and will be installed that night and it never does install. Like everyone else who has this problem I have all of the settings turned on that are necessary, there is a strong Wi-Fi signal, and it is plugged in overnight. Yet repeatedly week after week I get a daily message telling me that the update will install tonight and then every morning I get another message telling me the update didn’t install. Finally, after several weeks of wondering if it will ever happen, I manually update my devices and they always install without a problem or hiccup. So they are all up-to-date but it is no thanks to automatic update.

I’d back up, factory reset, and then restore that iPad.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support (includes links to backup and restore)

itsjoelm wrote:

Well ok, than at least tell us that. At least say something like "your phone will automatically update within 7 days" or something like that. Cause I thought "automatic updates" happen immediately when a new version comes out. Looks like I'll have to turn off the automatic update I guess. Thanks for your help.

You seem to be under the impression you are speaking with Apple here? You're not. This is a user to user only forum, which Apple doesn't actively participate.

If you want to let Apple know your thoughts on Automatic Updates (sberman is correct though), you can let Apple know through this link --> Feedback - iPhone - Apple

MN2NMIXR wrote:

I’ve noticed the same thing. I have auto updates on but it never does. I’ve seen others that have auto updates on and have been behind a few updates. So I’m left to believe that auto updates, in fact, doesn’t work at all.

I have auto-updates enabled on about half the local fleet of various devices and users, and it works. Once in a while some update does get stuck, with a Watch update being the most recent example. Rebooted that Watch, and off it went.

Automatic updates do not happen very quickly. If you desire prompt updates, which seems to be your desire, do so manually.

itsjoelm wrote:

Well ok, then at least tell us that.

Sorry, I am not about to tell anybody anything. I don’t work for Apple, and never have.

Like others here, I am a volunteer answering technical Apple product questions.

That’s a question I have, too. (Still same question as Moskovit had in Jan ‘23, where someone redundantly replied with very steps Moskovit had just posted as taken.)

iOS 16.6 just installed itself automatically overnight on older iPhone X (emergency backup device), so assume iOS 16.6 has been out long enough for automatic updates?

But iOS did NOT update on iPhone 12 Pro Max. [Plugged in; Wi-Fi on; enough room; etc.]

Both have VPN, so don’t think that’s issue?

iPhone 12 Pro Max not automatically updating has been the case for several recent updates. What’s happening with newer model iPhone?

mac872 wrote:

…Both have VPN, so don’t think that’s issue?

Apple updates can take a couple of weeks to propagate—Apple doesn’t provide a schedule for how quickly the updates are propagated—and it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that an add-on first-few-hops VPN gets things tangled.

I came here searching for answers to this same auto update feature. I can appreciate that it takes a while for updates to propagate, but in my case my phone and my iPad tell me that the update is available and will be installed that night and it never does install. Like everyone else who has this problem I have all of the settings turned on that are necessary, there is a strong Wi-Fi signal, and it is plugged in overnight. Yet repeatedly week after week I get a daily message telling me that the update will install tonight and then every morning I get another message telling me the update didn’t install. Finally, after several weeks of wondering if it will ever happen, I manually update my devices and they always install without a problem or hiccup. So they are all up-to-date but it is no thanks to automatic update.

I’ve noticed the same thing. I have auto updates on but it never does. I’ve seen others that have auto updates on and have been behind a few updates. So I’m left to believe that auto updates, in fact, doesn’t work at all.