iPhone stuck on preparing update screen

You can try and delete the downloaded update and to download it again. See this on how to do that

1. Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage.
2. Find the update in the list of apps.
3. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.
4. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and download the latest update.

See this user tip I have written about the updating 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!

My husband and I just got the new iphone 15 pro max and went through the process of trying to do the data transfer and got stuck where everyone else seems to be getting stuck which is updating to the new ios 17.4.1 update. I spent about an hour on chat with apple support. They first had me do a different kind of restart

Force restarting device is completely different from normal restart and these will refresh the iOS version and fixes the bugs on the iPhone.

1 Press and quickly release the volume up button.

2 Press and quickly release the volume down button.

3 Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo (this takes around 10 seconds).

I tried the above steps and started the whole process over again. I got a little further that time and got to Preparing update. It hung there for about 30 mins. Finally they had me turn off my phone and do the software update using my computer.

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the Finder - Apple Support

Once I updated my phone to the new iOS system (that worked by the way) I’m now on to doing the data transfer from my old phone to my new one. Fingers crossed says it’s got about an hour to go

hope this helps

I was able to get around this without connecting to a pc. Had to restart the process and reset/wipe my new 15 pro multiple times.

when setting up the phone from the start, don’t link it to anything at all. Not the old phone, no Apple ID, nothing. Just connect the WiFi as needed. in doing this, it didn’t prompt me to update. Just fly through, deferring the set-up of everything “until later”

after that the phone let me set up as blank device with the bare bones apps and settings. I went in and updated to the 17.4.1. That took about 10 min. After verifying the software update was up to date, I went to settings, general, transfer or reset iPhone, and erased all settings.

I went back and set the phone to my old back up via iCloud, and everything loaded just fine. becuase I had downloaded and installed 17.4.1 before resetting my iPhone

It took me 2 days to figure out how to bypass this issue, but it saved me from having to bring new iPhone 15 into an Apple Store. I was able to resolve the issue without needing to use a Mac or PC. Here are the steps I took:

1. I set up the phone as a new device, without linking it to any iCloud account. I went through all the initial setup screens.

2. Once I reached the home screen, I went into Settings > General > Software Update and manually initiated the iOS update.

3. The update completed successfully this time.

4. After the update finished, I then wiped the phone back to factory settings again.

5. When I set the phone up as new again, it no longer prompted me to install any updates. I was able to successfully transfer everything over from my iPhone. The device was ready to use without that annoying "Preparing Update" screen.

Hopefully this helps others who run into a similar problem with their new IPhone getting stuck during the update process.

How to fix iPhone 15 software update issue, I have no idea why Apple hasn't created a page on this because it's extremely frustrating.

I finally resolved this by connecting my iPhone via USB-C to a Mac Computer then launching the Apple Music App selecting iPhone in the left sidebar, and selecting Software Update through Apple Music App.

Then follow the prompts until the software has been updated. Then you should be able to proceed as expected.

1. Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage.
2. Find the update in the list of apps.
3. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.

Then use itunes to update

I was able to finally fix the issue by connecting the phone to my Mac via USB-C, going into the Finder tab and selecting the device in the sidebar, clicking General, then Check for Update, and installing the update. You should be able to do the same on PC, although I'm not sure of the exact process. Hope this helps anyone having the same issue!

Update:

after many failed attempts to set up brand new iPhone pro max I was able to finally progress past stuck 17.3 to 17.4.1 software update.

What worked for me was connecting via usb to Mac. Opening ‘music’ on Mac (didn’t work when using ‘finder’ for me).

I then used music app to ‘restore iPhone’.

After that I was able to load it with iOS 17.4.1 (instead of 17.3 which it was shipped with).

hope others have similar success, and faster than I did!

Thanks, it worked for me.

Deleted the upgrade software from download, rebooted the mobile and it prompted to reinstall and it took it from there.

I was able to get around this issue by connecting my iphone 15 pro to my pc and installing the update through the itunes app. It took about 20 minutes.

Soph-37 response worked for me. I was having the same issue, and I plugged in the iPhone 15 pro into my MacBook and proceeded to update the iPhone software through my MacBook. No problems and smooth sailing.

Set up the new phone without transferring any data from the old phone. Connect it to a Mac or PC and download the 17.4.1 update on the computer. If using a windows pc, use the Apple Devices app. After the update is installed, reset the new phone and setup as normal. It worked for me a few minutes ago.

Just here to say thar I work for a cellphone retailer with over 50 locations; this issue appears to be a widespread system issue, which is really disrupting our operations because we can’t do direct phone transfers without updating the phone first.

The only solution that appears to work at the moment, regrettably, is updating the phone through a Mac/PC with iTunes. We will have to await for Apple to fix OTA updates.

Pc works. Download the Apple Devices app from the windows store. It’s free.