iOS error message: Unable to Check for Update

1. Check Your Internet Connection:
2. Ensure that your device is connected to a stable and reliable Wi-Fi network. Software updates require a stable internet connection.
3. Try Cellular Data:
4. If you're using Wi-Fi, you might also try using cellular data to check for updates. Sometimes, Wi-Fi networks can have restrictions or issues that prevent software update checks.
5. Restart Your Device:
6. Restarting your iOS device can sometimes resolve temporary glitches that might be causing the update check to fail. Press and hold the power button, then slide to power off. After the device is completely off, press and hold the power button again to turn it back on.
7. Check Apple's Servers:
8. Sometimes, the issue might be on Apple's end. You can check Apple's System Status page (Apple - Support - System Status) to see if the Software Update service is experiencing any problems.
9. Check Available Storage:
10. Make sure you have enough free storage space on your device for the update. Updates require a certain amount of storage space to download and install. To check your available storage, go to "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage" (or "iPad Storage").
11. Disable VPN or Proxy:
12. If you're using a VPN or proxy connection, try disabling it temporarily and then check for updates again. Sometimes, network configurations can interfere with the update process.
13. Date and Time Settings:
14. Ensure that your device's date and time settings are accurate. Incorrect date and time settings can sometimes cause issues with connecting to Apple's servers.
15. Reset Network Settings:
16. If the issue persists, you can try resetting network settings. Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset" > "Reset Network Settings." Note that this will remove saved Wi-Fi passwords and other network settings.
17. Try Later:
18. If none of the above steps work, you might want to wait and try checking for updates later. Apple's servers could be experiencing high traffic, which might be causing the issue.
19. Update via iTunes (if applicable):
20. If you have a computer with iTunes installed, you can connect your device to the computer and check for updates through iTunes. This can sometimes bypass issues with the over-the-air update process.

GridUser wrote:

I have an iPhone 11 Pro with iOS version 16.5.1 (c) on it. I have a red notification ballon on the Settings icon that says there's an update available. When I try to update it, I repeatedly get the following message: "Unable to Check for Update, An error occurred while checking for a software update. Cancel or Try Again".

Yes, this is a known issue. It does seem to have resolved for many people. I currently no longer have the issue.

I have no idea what these items are, nor how to transfer them to the Mac even if I did. I called my son, who lives in OR (I'm in IA), and he has the same problem (with the phone part).

Yup. It seems to have affected a number of people.

Should I throw caution to the wind and just update the phone without doing anything about the non-transferred items? I had a problem with "lost" music a while ago, so I'm concerned about the warning. Can anyone help? Thanks.

My sense is that these two things may be related. If you buy your music from the iTunes Store or are using Apple Music, the risk is not great. You'd just need to re-download things. If you ripped the music from your own CDs, again, you should have copies on your computer and can always reload. Make sure your photos are synced to iCloud or backed up. Updates shouldn't result in any kind of data loss.

Personally, I'd just wait a day or so. I expect you'll be able to do an over-the-air update soon.