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I have purchased an iPhone 15. I am trying to set it, copying from my old phone. My new phone keeps getting stuck when trying to update the software to IOS 18. Can you please advise how I can resolve this as currently my phone has been stuck on the software update screen since 930 this morning (it is now nearly 530pm)
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 15 Pro
I've spent the last week on this issue and it even rendered one iPhone 14 unrepairable. With the help of Apple Support, I figured it out today. First, you have to setup your new phone as a new phone, NOT by using your old phone. Once you go through the initial setup, you have to download iOS18. Only took about 45 minutes compared to the hours I waited thinking it was gonna load before. I sympathize with each of you that waited over night only to wake up to a still downloading phone. No bueno. After, iOS18 is downloaded, you have to go into settings and reset the phone. I reset all settings but kept the eSims. After the phone resets, you go through the initial setup again, but this time you can use your old phone to setup and transfer data. This data transfer was 30 minutes from the old phone, easy peasy. I did this twice and it worked, once on my wife's phone and once on my father-in-law's. I **** near cried after it worked the first time. Thanks to the Apple lady that helped me and I hope this helps you guys. Good luck.
You are a life saver! 🛟 I’ve been trying to install iOS 18 to my new phone for over 5 hrs until I read po_victory tips. You are correct in saying that you MUST select Erase all content and settings to proceed to transfer data from old to new iPhone! Thanks so much!
Just like many other ppl in thread, I also faced this issue. After trying for 2-3 hours it worked for me without upgrading to ios 18. Normally when you try to setup new iphone 15 using old iphone, during the setup process you will get an option to upgrade to ios18 on new phone & it gets stuck in verifying stage of ios 18.
What worked for me is disable internet connectivity on your old phone (both wifi & cellular). You would sill see the popup in out old phone to setup the new phone (obviously you need to keep both phone alongside ). Now it would show you a message saying, no internet connectivity, select the option to continue the setup process on old phone. Now there is no popup comes to install ios18 on new phone during setup of new phone.
Hope this helps.
Similar issue for me - have tried to download IOS18.0.1 for hours with our new iPhone 15s. Yet another example of Apple incompetence in issuing ‘releases’ without testing them properly!😡
If Apple even had the common sense to let these releases be tackled later rather than not providing any option, it would be so much easier.
Disappointing - to say the least and does not reflect well on Apple’s credibility.
Same issue here with Iphone 15 pro. Stuck for hours and i can't even transfer files from old iphone.
Any other ideas? My new iphone 15 took an hour to download the ios 18 upgrade and has been ‘processing’ for 3 hours now. Same status as the Lunytoon member’s photo. There is no way to get to Settings to check anything, because the phone is still doing the initial setup. I doubt it can access my wifi since I have set nothing up yet, and don’t know if those settings were moved over before it started this darn ios 18 upgrade.
Thank you for this. IT REALLY WORKED! I am circa 1947 and just upgraded from an iPhone 11 Pro Max. I spent all day yesterday trying to transfer and then hit the update. I was so frustrated but I found your directions and it makes so much sense to upgrade the new phone and then transfer. Thank you and God bless you.
Just checking out the new phone. All my photos and phone contacts were on the new phone, but none of my music or apps. I’ll check again in the morning to see what syncs up overnight via icloud.
Many thanks for your contribution. Finally set up my new iPhone 15 after 2 days of trying! All the best.
Confirming this is true for me as well. Transferring from old iphone 12 to new iphone 12 (had an extra as backup in case you wonder why 12 lol) and would hang for hours. Tech support couldn't get it and then finally i saw this thread . I Went to Settings-General-Erase all content on new phone. Went through new setup without transferring anything from old device or icloud. Once set up, i installed ios 18. After that, I went back to Erase all content again. Did the startup process all over and this time, instead of the transfer stalling on the ios 18 update, it progressed to the data transfer between the phones. After an afternoon wasted waiting, playing around, and 3 tech support chats (as they kept getting disconnected), the issue was resolved from this thread. And it took less than an hour. Sooooo Grateful!!
What happens when you try?
Can you post a screenshot of the whole screen, it could reveal why you aren't able to update.
Make sure you:
• Are using a WiFi connection (not a hotspot).
• You have an active cell signal (You need both WiFi and cellular service to perform the upgrade).
• Are not using a VPN connection.
• Have your battery charged at least 50%. Better yet, keep it plugged in during the update.
• Do not have power save mode turned on.
• Do not have a beta version installed.
• You have at least 10 gigs of storage available.
Click on this link on what to do if you can't update your phone -
If your iPhone or iPad won't update – Apple Support (UK)
Hi, thanks for sharing. I have 2 questions:
Hope you could help on that!
Thanks and regards,
This doesn't appear to be working for me.
Phone restarts with a vanilla setup, but shows my phone call history, text messages, etc
I don't get the option to transfer from another phone (my old iPhone 11 is connected to home Wi-Fi)
Am I missing something / doing something wrong?
Thank you so much for this. Same here and I see also from today. Spoke to Apple Care earlier and they told me to go into the shop (connecting to MacBook Pro didn’t enable the iOS18 update).
Followed your steps, updated empty new phone (while connected to iCloud account..), then reset, keep eSIM, restart, quick starts, have cable plugged in USB-C to lightning (my old iPhone is a 12 Pro Max in Europe so lightning).
It says it is “Setting up your account…” now for the last 10 minutes. Not sure if it’s using the cable or not, as I did sign into WiFi.
Do you think this is working now, or should it say something else than “Setting up your account…”
Do exactly what “po_victory” explained .*set up the phone without the old one * install ios18* erase the phone and configure it with the old one * It worked ! Thank you !
Thank you so much!!!
New iPhone 15 stuck on iOS 18 Update
