iOS 8 update download takes forever

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Level 1

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iOS 8 update download takes forever

I've been trying to update my iPad thru iTunes for two days. Every time, it estimated 30+ hours to download. I left on Mac on, but eventually, it got network connection error and I had to started all over again. Tonight, it's even worse, it's estimated 63 hours to download. This is the worse iOS update I've experienced. Previously it could be slow, but I can usually get it done for a couples of hours. This is just insane. I understand the severs are busy to deliver these big files all over the world. But iOS 7 was a pretty big update, I was able to upgrade pretty quickly. Seriously, can anyone from Apple can look at the server log and make sure there is no oversight.

Posted on Sep 19, 2014 11:20 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Chevycraze86

Level 1

5 points

Sep 20, 2014 6:26 AM in response to wgogo

Exactly the same issue that I am encountering. I even updated my iTunes to the latest version in hopes that iit would solve it. It didn't. either if I download it my phone or laptop, it still says it will take 14 hours but even after an hour or so it has no progress. Worst update ever...

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Answer 2

Sep 21, 2014 5:29 PM in response to wgogo

Thank you! Your instructions were very, very helpful. I have download speeds of 57+ mbps with my ethernet cord connecting my MBP to my router, but the download of iOS 8 was still slated to be 30+ hours (better than 80+ over Wi-Fi).

I followed your instructions, only had to pause once, and reduced the download time to a whopping 7 minutes!

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Answer 3

wgogo Author

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5 points

Sep 20, 2014 8:15 AM in response to Briansyddall

my internet seed is consistently at 20+Mbps but the iOS download speed is running at 10-20kbps. Something is terribly wrong for sure. I read report that iOS 8 adoption rate is even slower than iOS 6. I have no doubt about that because it is extremely slow on delivering to people. I also read that Apple switch to their own Content Delivery Network instead of using Akaimai. I wonder it has anything to do with that. Anyway, it's Day 3 of iOS 8 availability, download a 1.56GB at the rate of 20kbps is just not acceptable by any measure.

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Answer 4

Sep 20, 2014 9:27 AM in response to wgogo

Try going to a Starbucks and using their fast WiFi. I updated my iPad to iOS 8, at my nearby Starbucks, and it was only 30 minutes for the download portion of the update. The other parts take a little bit more time, too ... like checking the download, and then the actual installation part. Probably another hour after that.

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Answer 5

Csound1

Level 9

60,033 points

Sep 20, 2014 9:30 AM in response to wgogo

wgogo wrote:

my internet seed is consistently at 20+Mbps but the iOS download speed is running at 10-20kbps. Something is terribly wrong for sure. I read report that iOS 8 adoption rate is even slower than iOS 6.

You read wrong.

wgogo wrote:

I have no doubt about that because it is extremely slow on delivering to people.

It may be slow for you, please do not assume that is slow for others based on a sample of one.

Go to a different location and try again.

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Answer 6

wgogo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 20, 2014 9:37 AM in response to Csound1

so let me get this straight, if people have problem update their iOS at home, the solution is going to starbucks (a public wifi connection supposedly with slower speed) to download the update? and btw, i am not the only one with problem update download. this is wider spread problem. also noted, i was able to update my iphone two days ago within an hour. there is nothing wrong with my internet connection, there is something wrong on apple server side.

it may not be slow for you, please do not assume that is fast for others based on a sample of one.

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Answer 7

Sep 20, 2014 9:47 AM in response to wgogo

Yeah, that's exactly my suggestion ... go get another Internet pipe ... if yours is not doing it for you. You only have to do it for this one thing anyway, so it's not a big deal.

At various times, various different Internet pipes have a problem. You can sweat and hassle over that particular one ... or ... you can go to another one. I've always found that it's simply easier to go to another one.

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Answer 8

wgogo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 20, 2014 9:55 AM in response to Star Traveler

i am trying to point out this ios rollout is flawed. if everybody just go to different location to get a temporary fix, they will never figure the root cause of the problem. i have developer account, i can get the GM build from the developer website if i want. but I think the congestion issue need to be recognized at day 3 of implementation.

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Answer 9

Sep 20, 2014 10:01 AM in response to wgogo

Apple is using Akamai, plus their own content delivery service. Depending on the pipe and the location of the user, it could be either one. Instead of the user trying to figure it all out and be frustrated, just go to a different place. You know ... you can keep banging your head against a brick wall ... or ... you can simply get it done "just for yourself". Let Apple deal with and fix its own stuff, which it is good at doing.

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Answer 10

wgogo Author

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5 points

Sep 20, 2014 10:16 AM in response to Star Traveler

just chated with an apple support. they said there are a few cases that ios update on iphone is fast but on ipad is very slow. so it's not just my internet pipe. i reported to issue to apple. they filed it under several similar cases on hand. hopefully, they can figure the root cause based on the data they collected.

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Answer 11

wgogo Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 20, 2014 11:55 AM in response to Csound1

i finally be able to download the iOS update for both my iPad Air and iPad mini within 15 minutes. This is how to do:

When connected to iTunes and prompted the new iOS. click on "Download only"

then bring up the Downloads windows via "Menu->Windows->Downloads"

you will see "iPad Software Update". if you click on the progress bar, it will show the download speed.

if the speed is very slow (like 50kbps). then right click and choose "Pause"

then right click again and choose "Resume".

you might need to do several tries to get a reasonable speed, it took me 5-10 tries to get a 11.4Mbps speed.

My guess is there are some very slow servers on the other end and even if you are patient enough to wait, the server is not and eventually drops off. By pausing and resuming, you get a chance to connect to a faster server and be able to download the update within reasonable time.

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Answer 12

RoiTV

Level 1

0 points

Sep 21, 2014 4:11 PM in response to wgogo

Thanks, I'll have to give this a try, because I am having the same problem... mine is incredibly slow as well. And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it's not my internet speed. So there is no need for me to "go to Starbuck's" to download it. I think some people just like giving an answer even if it's a wrong one.

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Answer 13

xMickeyx

Level 1

4 points

Sep 21, 2014 5:55 PM in response to wgogo

Thanks, wgogo, the "refreshing (pause and restart) the download" trick worked for me as well. By downloading via iTunes and pausing and restarting the download a few times I was able to "lock in" download speeds that were reasonable (20 minutes versus 30 hours). I assume it's a server/demand/delivery issue.

To clarify for the Starbucker... I had tried at home and at work since Friday afternoon with similar results. Lots of folks have reported the extremely slow downloads. I don't bring it up to bash Apple, but rather to point out a solution that worked for me that I read about on this forum. I tried a few times to let the slow downloads run their course but they always timed out. That's when I started searching for references to other people with this issue and found this thread.

Thanks again.

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Answer 14

Sep 21, 2014 5:56 PM in response to carpathia16

i keep trying this and am having no luck...seems like apple has installed a dial-up line to get to their servers.

i've got a wired connection to the internet and i've been trying this through iTunes since wednesday...no wonder

the adoption rate is so bad...you can't even download the update.

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Answer 15

Sep 21, 2014 7:26 PM in response to wgogo

Thanks for the directions. I've been experiencing incredible download times at work, home, Starbucks and other locations all weekend long. Finally got the iPad hooked up to iTunes and forced restarted the download about 15 times. Finally got a server that brought the update down in less than 6 minutes. Until there is some other option, force restarting the download until you hit the right server works.

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