Unable to install iOS 18.1 on my iPhone 13

If you have any add-on security apps, or any add-on VPN apps, remove all of those, restart, and try again.

Related:

• If your iPhone or iPad won't update - Apple Support
• Updating iOS: common issues and solutions - Apple Community

Failing all, use a Mac or PC: Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Mrsbertha wrote:

My daughter’s iPhone 12 wouldn’t do the 18.1. Her phone would just freeze. I took it to the Genius Bar and they said it was an eSIM issue. They did a hard reset to try to reset the eSIM and now it will not activate. We even bought a physical SIM card and it is essentially bricked.

What did Apple tell you about this iPhone, after the SIM card also doesn’t work?

My daughter’s iPhone 12 wouldn’t do the 18.1. Her phone would just freeze. I took it to the Genius Bar and they said it was an eSIM issue. They did a hard reset to try to reset the eSIM and now it will not activate. We even bought a physical SIM card and it is essentially bricked.

literally said ‘the phone is out of warranty so it will need an upgrade.’