iPhone stuck on preparing update screen

There seems to be a problem with the update server. You can wait until it is fixed, but I suggest contacting Apple Support. They may have a workaround, but even if they don’t it will still be logged, and that will perhaps goad Apple into fixing the problem. Go to Contact Official Apple Support

Time to visit the Apple Store

TheLourie Said:

"stuck on preparing update..: Bought a used phone from neighbor. Attempting to update ios to 17.4.1 from 17.1. Downloaded successfully but now stuck on preparing update....What should I do?"

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Fixing a Boot Loop:

Your iPhone can at time be stuck in a Boot Loop. This typically occurs when you go abuut installing an update, and it stalled while in the process. So, use my User Tip: How to Fix an iPhone in a Boot Loop - User Tip

On PC you need to download the Apple Devices app. It’s free.

I legit have had this issue for HOURS. Manually set up your iPhone (mines is iPhone 15 pro max) with nothing but wifi connected. Go into settings and update to 14.4.1 from there. Mine took about 30 minutes. Then reset your phone and it should work!!!

I legit have had this issue for HOURS. Manually set up your iPhone (mines is iPhone 15 pro max) with nothing but wifi connected. Go into settings and update to 14.4.1 from there. Mine took about 30 minutes. Then reset your phone and it should work!!!

Update - Phone has taken the update and has completed the set up. This has coincided with our business replacing phones so it's been a nightmare. Went into the EE shop and had them & their Apple rep try to resolve the issue without luck. Suggestion was leave it and try over the next 48hrs while Apple try to fix the problem. It would seem that they have as we have managed to swap over to our new phones.

Still stuck.. looks like a trip to Apple Store. Our Mac is too old, it hasn't worked how it has for others. Can’t believe this, just hope Apple sort it out asap! Not great is it

Exact same issue, just received my second hand 13 Pro Max and can't upgrade from 17.3 to 17.4 because it's stuck on "preparing update", i really hope it's a global thing and not just me and apple will fix it.

Exactly the same situation. Setting up new phone (upgrade from 11 to 15 pro max) and it's stalled at Preparing Update for iOS 17.4.1. Never had this problem before, upgrades always went smoothly. Can't really do anything like go into Settings because it's been stuck here (for hours now).

Just came here to say the same thing is happening to me. Upgrading an iPhone 11 Pro to iPhone 15 Pro. Tried the settings suggestion to delete the update, but it stalled at Preparing Update again. I have been trying this for hours now.

Yes, last night I went to bed at about 60% and woke up with around 20% battery life. This has already happened 2-3 times in the last 2 weeks or so. I hardly have any apps downloaded or that run in the background on top of my 14 Pro being at 100% battery health.

I tried deleting the downloaded update twice and then installing but still stuck once it reaches “preparing update”. I have an Iphone 13 trying to update from 17.1 to 17.4.1. Never had issues updating in the past.

You can not access settings if you are setting up a new phone, it will not let you past the update screen.

If you reset the iphone and start again as a brand new phone it still wont complete the update.

The update either doesn't finish downloading (says 1 second remaining indefinetly) or is forever preparing to update.

Thank you for posting the solution. It worked for me as well. I noticed on my iPhone 15, the downloaded update used 1.8GB space (from 17.3 to 17.4.1). When my Mac mini downloaded update, it was over 8GB. Maybe somehow the iPhone is not able to download the proper update.