iPhone 15 Stuck on Software Update

For all those having this issue

Try and delete the update file and install the update again:

Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage.

Find the update in the list of apps.

Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update and download the latest update.

If this is not working try and install the 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 On the iPhone 15 series, use an usb c 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. On the iPhone 15 series, use an usb c 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.

See this user tip I have written about the update process for further reference

Updating/upgrading your iPhone - Apple Community

This has been super frustrating, but Apple's Chat support was able to help me with a solution. For context I was trying to restore an iCloud back up to a new phone, and it would force me to update, and then get stuck. Since no one has posted a solution, I figured I would save people some headache by detailing the steps:

Instead of Restoring from iCloud back up, you should connect your iPhone to a computer. On a Mac you would open click your iPhone icon in Finder and choose Set up as a new iPhone (on a PC, you may need iTunes). Then you can click the update button which will download the 8gb update and install it on your phone. After which, you will get the welcome screen on your iPhone, and choose restore from iCloud backup. Still takes a while, but it doesn't freeze indefinitely.

Hope that helps someone!

I just found a way to get this sorted: force restart.

Press and quickly release the volume up button. 

Press and quickly release the volume down button. 

Press and hold the side button

That will continue install. If you just choose "start over" from the menu that comes up when you press only the side button, it will get stuck again.

Force restart worked for me!

flrty wrote:

Just figured this out on my own. No apple store visit required. All you need to do is hold down your power button and click start over to reset the iphone. Once it’s done resetting start the process over again but DO NOT use the transfer from an old iphone feature. Instead set it up as a new phone with no backup. Once it’s all done setting up go to Software update tab in the new iphone and update it from there. When it’s all done updating go ahead and fully erase the new iphone again. This will allow you to set it up using a data transfer again but you won’t have to update the iphone in the process. Should be smooth sailing from there. Cheers.

Thanks, very helpful!

I was having the same issue, so I pressed the side button, clicked the “start over” option, and then set up my phone as a new one (no transfer from backup). Installed the update , erased all content and settings, and then began all over the process to transfer from my old phone as usual.

Just figured this out on my own. No apple store visit required. All you need to do is hold down your power button and click start over to reset the iphone. Once it’s done resetting start the process over again but DO NOT use the transfer from an old iphone feature. Instead set it up as a new phone with no backup. Once it’s all done setting up go to Software update tab in the new iphone and update it from there. When it’s all done updating go ahead and fully erase the new iphone again. This will allow you to set it up using a data transfer again but you won’t have to update the iphone in the process. Should be smooth sailing from there. Cheers.

I had a similar problem with my brand-new iPhone 15 Pro Max. I am stuck at the iOS update stage, and it was downloading halfway.

I saw one of the posts here about using a Mac and decided to plug my iPhone into my MacBook Pro, which solved the problem. After connecting your iPhone to the Mac, it will show up in the sidebar in the Finder.

Click on the iPhone, and you can update it from there. Didn't face any problems with downloading and installing the iOS to the new phone. Everything is smooth.

I fixed the issue by turning off the iPhone and then going through the setup process without restoring from an iPhone. I then manually updated the iPhone through the settings.

Once it was updated to the latest OS I was able to go through the process of wiping the iPhone and then restoring from my old iPhone.

This is not a good experience, Apple please pay people to fix this. IDK what tech companies are doing laying everyone off or not hiring enough people to have really basic things work.

For MacBook/iMac device holders: I waited 5 hours until I read one of the responses stating they finished updating when they went to the Apple Store. I plugged my iPhone into my iMac and had to update it through there. If you have an apple computer device, I suggest you plug it in - finder - iphone(left column) - update device.

If you don’t, you need to take it to an Apple Store or to someone who’ll let you borrow their MacBook.

You have to set up the phone as if you weren’t transferring data and without an Apple ID. Once you’re on the Home Screen go into settings and update the phone. After it’s done updating factory reset the phone with the “Erase all content and settings” option and you should be good to go from there.

Kmoon44 wrote:

You have to set up the phone as if you weren’t transferring data and without an Apple ID. Once you’re on the Home Screen go into settings and update the phone. After it’s done updating factory reset the phone with the “Erase all content and settings” option and you should be good to go from there.

Indeed; just like flrty posted 3 days ago.

hello guys, i have found a solution to this problem :)

1. step: go through the initial setup and dont import any data, just go for the blank setup
2. step: install the system update in your settings like you usually do
3. step: go to general> transfer or reset iphone>erase all content and settings, youll get back to your initial setup with the new system update
4. step: if you got issues with connecting to ur old phone where u scan that blue cloud of glitter, do it manual, there is a selection for it below
5. step: proceed normally and it should work :)))

found this comment on youtube

What a rubbish start to a new iPhone15. The unboxing/set-up process used to be immaculate. Tried updating, resets etc. Just hanging on ‘4 seconds remaining’ for hours. Had to plug into a desktop in the end to download the software.