Installation failed: Can't install the software

I stumbled across another solution for the "Installation Failed - Can't install the software because it is not currently available from the Software Update server."

Solution: Make sure that your phone and laptop are fully charged before attempting the software update.

Further Details: In my case, my phone was at approximately 50% battery and my laptop was at 40% battery. I tried different Lightning cables (no luck), restarting the phone and laptop, confirming clock settings on both phone and laptop, reseting NVRAM, running MobileDeviceUpdater manually, and was only able to resolve the problem by charging the devices.

My devices:

iPhone XR - iOS v12.1.2, Model MT442LL/A

MacBook Pro, Retina, 15 inch, Mid-2015, Mac OS 10.14.2 Mojave, iTunes 12.9.2.5

If you can live with not syncing over the cable and just want to kill the popup and allow charging, then this seems to have worked for me 🤞

Simply check the "Prevent iPods... syncing automatically" box.

What "new software" is this, exactly? ... Who knows? The dialog box appears when my iPad is connected to the iMac via an Apple USB/Thunderbolt cable. The dialog box looks like this... The first message just suddenly pops up. If you accept the update the second appears then eventually the last dialog appears when the systems cannot find the software.

So to answer your question. It looks like it is a system update, but since both my mac and iPad are up to date, it would appear to be an issue caused by Apple.

What "new software" is this, exactly? How and where are you getting "prompted" to install?

Be specific. With just what you told us, it is unclear whether you are talking about legitimate updates or some scam that is luring you to install adware or other dody software.

Thanks for explaining.

Which version of OS X or macOS are you running on your mac?

Which version of iTunes?

Since you are using an iPhone 8, I am sure you are running some version of iOS 11, right? (Only other possibility might be you are running a BETA of iOS 12).

The above cited support note states "If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch has a newer version of iOS than is supported by your Mac, you may see this alert: "A software update is required to connect to your iOS device. Would you like to download and install this update now?"" I'm going to guess that the OP is running iOS 12 Beta, as am I, which appears to be the source of the update message. That we, and many others, are experiencing install failures remains of issue.

My issue as well. Date and time set to automatically as they have been for years. Solution was the cable. I had an Apple lightning cable that was working fine until today (still works to charge from an outlet). Used a non-Apple cable from a convenience store that solved the problem. Weird that all these people had the same problem at the same time with cables that have been working fine until recently.

Just updated to the new iOS 12. Latest OS. How is this still a problem?? Impacting greatly with my workflow as I mirror my designs to my device, with which this problem intermittently connects and disconnects. Almost impossible to continue like this... Sort it out guys.

Hey EVERYONE! I found the reason for this problem.

If my iPad or iPhone are not close to being fully charged the prompt for an upgrade will occur. However, if I'm close to 100% charged, this won't come up and I can plug in my devices with no problem. In other words,

It might be because I have a bunch of stuff plugged into my MacBook Pro (stuff: external monitor, external hard-drive, external Mac keyboard, etc...).

Note: the prompt actually came up for the download. However, I was able to close it and still use my devices normally without it trying to connect and chime continuously.

I have the same problem. All software on the computer is up to date. The problem occurred after the update of Xcode for iOS12 support. When I will test my app on the device I get the error "Installation failed: Can't install the software because it is not currently available from the software server." This problem stop me testing the on the device.

so Ive scoured the help and nothing. Apple seems mute on this - its not acceptable and it looks like over 300 people have this issue. Apple stop counting your stock options and spend some of your zillions looking after your customers if you want to keep them...

The cable solution did not work for me, I tried both lightning cables that I own but the result is the same. I started out on OS Sierra, then upgraded to High Sierra and then to Mojave. It doesn't work with any of these operating systems. Pretty annoyed, I had no trouble a couple of months ago when I last synced my ipad.

So in the end I had to track right back and upgrade my Mac OS which meant a time machine backup (recommended by apple) and then the long upgrade process. Then strangely the cables would work for the iPhone recovery which did succeed in restoring by iPhone data. In all it took not far short of 24 hours.

I had the same issue trying to install/restore backup to a brand new refurbished iPhone.

After a few unsuccessful attempts, instead of using the lightning to USB charge cable received with the new device, I've then tried with an "old" one (not even an apple one, just a no-name basic cable). And it worked perfectly fine.

So my advice is to try with a different cable and see if it's better and don't give up too soon.

By the way I had to setup the iPhone as a new iPhone and then only restore backup from previous device.

I've tried to use the "new" cable again afterwards and it keeps on connecting/disconnecting. So even if it looks new, obviously it has a defect.

Hope it helps those who are experiencing the same issue.

OMG, that did it!

I had downloaded Xcode some time ago. I just started it up and it asked to quit iTunes and install some additional software. After doing that, I restarted iTunes and was able to connect with my phone using the same cable that was failing previously.

Thanks for the tip!