New phone stuck on software update during data transfer with old phone.

Finally got it to work by using a workaround. Restarted phone and cancelled the migration. Setup new phone without copying anything from old phone. Installed new version of IOS on new phone. Then erased new phone and went through setup again to transfer data.

I have exactly the same problem, brand new IPhone15, sim transferred over to new phone and it’s stuck with the circle of death trying to install ios18. Now I have no working phone with a sim, screwed. I’ve tried starting again from scratch several times but there is no possible way to avoid installing it whilst setting up the new phone.

Ok. Restarted new phone by clicking the top volume button and the power button and then sliding power off. Restarted and it said “reconnecting”. Now both phones say “Transferring Data from…(name of old phone)” but now seem stuck on estimating the time. No progress made on bar in 10 minutes.

Hold on the power button during setup and click “start over”. The phone will factory reset to start from the beginning.

Don’t connect the old device right away.

Until Apple fixes it hopefully with iOS 18.1, the workaround is to push through setup and skip everything without transferring anything. Once you get to the Home Screen, go to settings > general > software update. Update to iOS 18, then factory reset the device and transfer as you normally would.

I hope this helped!

Freaking worked!

Spent 8+ hours on trying to do it normally and all i had to do was set it up as new phone, then once both 17 and 18.0.1 updates were done, ERASE NOT FACTORY RESET. My stuff transferred within 20 minutes. Granted I have 12,500+ photos and 780 videos.

I’m having the same issue with a replacement iPhone 14 Pro Max. Stuck on IOS 18 Software Update during data transfer and setup of new phone. Old phone is not usable because the eSIM already transferred Before getting stuck on the software update. The phone should completely transfer..THEN do any software updates. I’m on call for work and this is a MAJOR issue right now!

Same thing! Moving from 12 to 15 Pro and it was all going great… transferred SIM, downloaded iOS 18, clicked the button to do the upgrade on the new phone and the icon on the button has now been spinning overnight. Weirdly the new phone can receive calls with no “caller ID” because it has no contacts yet, but other than that it’s not working. Help!

What is workaround? I’m trying to set up new phone and its stuck on software update for over two hours

Chiming in to say thanks to ScottE45, the suggestion worked. Was waiting for 3 hours for the 'software update', figured something was wrong transferring from old to new phone and found this thread.

Cancelled the transfer, reset new phone, set up with no transfer, updated to 18.1, then did an Erase, then finally chose the transfer option. Took about 10 minutes. Not impressed Apple haven't addressed this.

I have the same problem as Skipladyy. Got a new iPhone 15 pro, am transferring info from my iPhone 13, and get stuck on the software update to ios18. Tried three times, waiting over an hour each time. My old phone is not usable.

Frustrating!

Hey Apple, WTF?

This is your community - where is your support? Who is responsible for this sheet you made under good name?

Who is responsible for fix or at list sorry for not working thing?

I haven't words to say how downgraded the level of apple products. Management should be fired all.

Same problem, from iPhone 14 Pro to 15pro , thanks for solution!

Shame Apple developers for this bug on release!

I'm having the same issue with a new phone. Since this is a know issue, could Apple not be nice enough to send me an email or text letting me know? I’ve wasted a lot of time sitting here waiting. I feel like “it just works” is not working.

Thank you for posting this workaround!! I only wish I had read this after multiple attempts instead of wasting hours on this!!

Thank you ScottE45. I was having the same problem, this workaround fixed it. I wish I had thought of it.