after update phone says "slide to upgrade" but won't allow it

i am currently trying out your solution. hope it will work. i badly need my phone back. 😟

omg it worked! thanks so much... though a few things observed: the software is still 8.4.1 but how come the font changed? and it has this Health app that i havent seen before. also, my contacts and messages are all gone. the pictures are still in tact, same with the Notes I made... im just wondering why it didnt do the same to my messages and contacts.. anyway, at least i got my phone back. thanks.

same! I was still on iOs 7.3 and decided to upgrade had no idea about iOS 9 and now I've lost everything because the store couldn't fix it and wiped my phone 😟

it doesn't work for Iphone 5.

On the 4'th step is an error - "incorrect IOS version".

This solution helped me (Iphone 5, IOS7->IOS9, with passcode, find iphone switched off) - If the Slide to Upgrade screen won't go away after you update to iOS 9 - Apple Support

But after using IOS9 whole day, i wish set up a passcode (4 digits).

After that phone freeze on loading (apple icon).

DON'T set up passcode in IOS9.

Made a couple calls to Apple after doing 3 days worth of research. Some phones have better luck than others so I'll only be referring to the solution for updating an iphone 4s to ios 9 from ios 7.

Apparently, restoring your phone is the only true, true method that's worked. Wipes out every piece of your data though so be advised. Plugged my iphone in and recognized it and then chose to restore my phone. If you have already updated to ios 9 then backing up is literally not an option (although I do advise looking into downgrading but I have done no research on that). After waiting for a period of time, in the itunes store it will let you set up a few options. SET UP YOUR DEVICE AS NEW. If you try to set up as a backup, you'll end up back where you came (at the slide to unlock screen) and thus have to restore all over again (like me).

Apple says that you cannot restore a backup due to the endless loop, so keep your factory reset phone (yes, that means all of the data your missing should stay missing) until Apple comes up with their next update in the predicted few weeks/sometime in November. Im pretty ****** that I had to do all of this, holding out and buying a new phone just werent options at this point in time.

Hi all, I HAVE A FIX!

Spent the last 12 hours pulling my hair out trying to find a solution to the problem - and I think I have one!

Did a bit of Googling and a guy on Reddit had the solution that worked for me. I upgraded from iOS 7 to iOS 9 and that caused an issue when I tried to restore my back up. However, by downgrading to 8.1.4 (as it is still signed), restoring the back up (my files all returned, but my apps disappeared strangely..) and THEN update to iOS 9 and it finally worked.

Here's the solution:

Finally fixed it! You have to downgrade to 8.4.1. Outlined the steps below.

Step 1 - Backup your pictures! Even though you can't get to your phone and use it you should still be able to backup your pictures

Step 2 - Download IOS 8.4.1 for your iPhone or iPad from this site --> https://ipsw.me/8.4.1

The file was taking a while to download for my phone so I searched the filename on Google and downloaded from Mega.

Step 3 - Reboot phone into DFU mode - hold down power button and home button - when it reboots let go of power button - still hold home button

At this point it will ask you to connect your phone to iTunes - will have to connect phone to the computer.

Step 4 - Hold down the Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows) and and then click restore.

Step 5 - Browse to the 8.4.1 file you downloaded and select it. This should restore to the previous IOS version. Note: This will wipe phone.

Step 6 - Restore from backup. Hope that you backed up before attempting to update.

Hope this helps you all! :-)

EDIT: Reinstalled the apps by going into the app store and viewing my purchases - they're all there. Downloaded them all and they all sorted themselves back into their categories as I had them before. Whatsapp conversations were also restored so it works. HOORAY!

I'm wondering if downloading 8.4.1 and installing is still an option if you are getting the Find My iPhone message?

Obviously I can't get into the device due to the slide to upgrade message to turn it off that way and I've already removed the device from the cloud as suggested but I'm still getting the "Find My iPhone must be turned off before "" can be restored" message when I try a restore using iTunes.

Would putting the phone into DFU mode allow me to install 8.4.1 or will Find My iPhone prevent that from working/installing properly?

I'm wondering if downloading 8.4.1 and installing is still an option if you are getting the Find My iPhone message?

Obviously I can't get into the device due to the slide to upgrade message to turn it off that way and I've already removed the device from the cloud as suggested but I'm still getting the "Find My iPhone must be turned off before "" can be restored" message when I try a restore using iTunes.

Would putting the phone into DFU mode allow me to install 8.4.1 or will Find My iPhone prevent that from working/installing properly?

The following worked for me and should work for everyone who has a backup made prior to the IOS 9 upgrade through iTunes.

If you enabled the 'Find My iPhone' feature previously, login to iCloud via icloud.com and remove your iPhone.

You will then need to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode and restore it using iTunes.

1. Hold down both the Lock Button and the Home Button until you see the Connect to iTunes screen. This is the recovery mode.

2. On iTunes, click "Restore iPhone". This will re-install IOS 9 on your iPhone but will erase all the data. This is the reason why you make backups. At this stage you should select which backup you wish to restore.

3. Allow iTunes to reinstall IOS 9. During this process, you should see 'Restore in Progress' on your iPhone. The reinstall took 30 minutes on my device.

4. When you see the 'Hello' message on your device, you may be prompted to enter your passcode, so key it in to allow the installation to finish.

5. During the installation process, your device may be restarted several times, please be patient.

Now this is the important bit!

6. You will then be prompted several messages;

- Passcode: tap 'Passcode options' and select 'Don't Add Passcode' at the bottom of the screen, then 'Continue'
- Join Wifi network: if you are prompted, DON'T join, skip this step
- Enter your Apple ID for iCloud: DON'T, just skip this step. Once your iPhone is up and running you can enter your details later.
- Use Find My iPhone: DON'T (never ever at this stage or on further upgrades)
- iCloud / iCloud Drive: Turn it off
- Tap 'Don't Send to Apple'
- Tap ‘Get Started’

7. Allow iTunes to copy all the apps and finish the restore. The Apple logo with a progress bar flashed several times during this process.

8. IOS 9 home screen should then appear during the sync. You may see the Apple ID verification message quite frequently on the unlock screen. Slide it to unlock the phone and enter your Apple ID if it bothers you - tap 'Settings' or alternatively go to Settings on your iPhone and log into your Apple ID if you don't see this. You will need to join a WiFi network at this stage.

9. At this stage, you should see the unlock screen functioning, slide to unlock it and you see your apps being installed.

10. Allow syncing to finish. Continue to be patient!

11. Hit Sync on iTunes to copy across all your stuff; music, photos, podcasts etc. That horrible Apple logo and the progress bar keeps flickering during the sync.

12. It should eventually sync everything from your iTunes. Slide to unlock and check your stuff.

13. Last thing you need to do is to enable all the things you skipped during the install process, like;
- Sign into iTunes
- Add a passcode
- Sign into iCloud and enable iCloud Drive
I hope this works. It took me 8 hours to recover from that horrible 'Unlock to Upgrade' bug.

One last word, Apple continues to be useless!