iPhone and iPad fail to update to iOS 27 on home Wi-Fi

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iPhone and iPad fail to update to iOS 27 on home Wi-Fi

I am having issues updating my iPhone 16 and iPad (4th Gen) to iOS 27 on my home network. I have never had an issue previously. I have followed all troubleshooting steps, gone through Apple Chat (for that, I connected my iPad to my MacBook and updated my iPad through iTunes, and even though it showed as completed, it didn't actually update), for which they found nothing wrong with my settings, and requested help from the Genius Bar, but that isn't something they will schedule appointments for. I've forgotten the Wi-Fi networks, and it worked once for my iPhone for the last update in 26, but not for 27. When I go into Software Update, it goes to "Update requested", then spins around for an hour or so with no progress bar, and then a couple of hours later, I get a message saying the update failed. I have no idea what to do. As a last resort, I went to my phone carrier and asked for help. They connected me to their shop Wi-Fi, and it updated my phone straight away, so maybe it is an issue with my home router (same carrier), but I have had no issue with my MacBook, just my iPhone and iPad.

Any suggestions?

iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 27

Posted on Oct 7, 2026 10:02 AM

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Answer 1

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LotusPilot

Level 10

330,016 points

Oct 7, 2026 10:27 AM in response to Gobraves9

Given your description - and system software updates being successful when using a different WiFi network - the issue is almost certainly with your Home WiFi network and/or the Router that connects your network with your Internet Service Provider.

If you have a VPN or third-party firewall enabled, ensure these are removed/disabled. A restart of your WiFi Router may be helpful.

To restart your router, disconnect power from the router for at least 30 seconds - then reconnect power to restart. After your router reboots (which may take several minutes), force restart your devices:

Force restart iPad - Apple Support

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

If you continue to have difficulties, check to see if your iPad is using the WiFi Private Address feature. This feature is intended to provide additional privacy and security when using “public” (untrusted) WiFi networks.

Settings > WiFi > [Your WiFi Network / SSID] - tap the “i” icon - Private Address

The Private Address feature is largely unnecessary for your home WiFi network; if enabled, Private Addressing can cause issues if specific MAC addresses are expected by your WiFi Router. You may need to disable this feature - and can be enabled or disabled for each individual network.

Use private Wi-Fi addresses in iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and watchOS 7 - Apple Support

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