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

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 nightmare. Iphone 14 has a black spot on it --brand new. I use 2 SIMS. Should have checked thread first -- was stuck on update. Had to transfer number back to 14 phone then updates on old phone because new phone is defective. took so long --- just a ridiculous nightmare!

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.

I'm having this same problem today, on October 25th - a month after the first complaint was posted here. It's crazy that it's taken Apple this long to fix this bug. And same as other users, I wish I hadn't wasted 2 hours trying to update until I happened to find this workaround!

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.

It’s been my experience that this happens with almost every data transfer after a new iOS comes out for at least the first few updates. I’ve worked in wireless sales now for about 4 years I am not sure why this happens but I hope Apple will figure out this is happening and work on it

Same here in this past two months I have upgraded 3 phones in total for all the family members and the transferring phone to new device using old device is a nightmare. I am so disappointed with Apple that they stuck the huge update like iOS 18 in the middle of the transfer. I spent 2 hours of my time to get it running.

Well here it is Nov 8 and it's still a major issue! Apple is getting to be just like Walmart! "Make the customers work for us whether they like it or not." Sure I got nothing but hours to sit on try and figure out a phone, or my new iPad. Seems like apple could have sent something!

I'm having the exact same issue. Tried to do a backup and IOS update while connected to my laptop (Windows + Apple Devices). The phone got stuck during the update and I literally tried every possible method I could find but nothing worked. When I tried to do a factory reset the only option was "reset +update" and ofc that didn't work. Even called support and they were like "yeah it might be time for a new phone."

I eventually bought a new iphone, plugged it in into my computer to transfer data and guess what? THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED. The new phone froze during the update and now I don't have a phone and I'm out whatever money I spent on the new one! Glad to see I'm not the only one experiencing this. I'm seriously thinking about giving up on the whole Apple thing. The new phone is currently in service so who knows what's gonna happen.

I’m experiencing this same thing. Hey Apple stop forcing an upgrade to (now 18.1) while transferring from old phone id that doesn’t work!!! Software can easily be upgraded later. I thought a workaround would be to upgrade the old phone first m, thinking surely Apple wasn’t forcing a software upgrade if you already have it, but of course they are. APPLE IS FORCING YOU TO DO A STEP THAT WONT WORK. WHICH GENIUS DID THIS?

Just to push this thread up: my "Me Too" and a big "Booooh" to Apple for messing this up. We've alle been patiently and trustfully spending a couple of hours on expecting Apple to have our back, but it seems I've spent an evening for nothing, tinkering my new iPhone, trying to easily and effortlessly migrate from the older to the newer one (like usual). But nope, it's not working like that this time.

Hope they'll straighten this out really quickly, for all the other migrating iPhone users.

Well, to add insult to injury: as I hurried to get my new iPhone prepare itself to install the new iOS version, I just said "yes" and "no" or "not now" to a plethora of start-up questions, knowing that I would wipe them clean again with the migration, after that long awaited update. Unfortunately, it seems that several options like Find My and associated nifty security measures make it quite hard to just reset an iPhone.

So now I have to wait for a so-called cool-down period of an hour, before I can finally release the protection against stolen iPhones and switch off "Find My iPhone" and wipe all existing apps and data to eventually start the migrate procedure...

Don't get me wrong: I think Apple is very clever in implementing all kinds of security measures. But when things don't work as expected, any hacks or work-arounds are tough, making your misery even tougher. :-(

Mine had another twist added to this unusual pattern of problems that have occurred.   I read all that was written by this terrific community. And meticulously planned my new strategy to circumvent this trend.

My previous IPhone was a ‘ten’ year old 6 Plus.     And-So, I took extreme measures to make sure I wouldn’t also be one of the fallen brothers that had succumbed to this mysterious condition.  

I opened my new iPhone 16 ProMax with delight and started my new phone with no transfer of previous data.

  I updated with IOS 18 .  I waited ten days.

  Then I slowly installed my previous iPhone 6 over the next 3 days and waited.  After 3 more days my wait was over.      

I received a new message in my battery settings. That my Locked Screen will not be functioning correctly until my old data has been evaluated and introduced to the new IOS 18 update.

  I waited 3 weeks as my battery was discharged every day as this IPhone 6, IOS 12, data was being processed.  

And the battery warning and locked screen battery discharge continued.

  And so, my journey is also over for me.  

I also have joined the rest of you.  Had to ERASE & reset my iPhone 16 and completely reinstall it again.  

   The battery message disappeared.   THE END.

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