iPhone won't update? Try these simple fixes

iPhone update failed? This guide helps you solve it!

I always make sure my iPhone is kept up to date because I know that updates are essential for security and new features. But my husband has been in trouble lately – his iPhone cannot be updated anyway. If you also have the same "iPhone cannot be updated" issue, let's fix it together. In this guide, I will share common reasons why iPhones may not be updated and the steps we took to resolve.

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Why can't my iPhone be updated?

If you're wondering "Why can't my iPhone be updated?", here's a short answer. One of the most common reasons for update failure is that your Wi-Fi is not connected or has poor connection. If you don't have enough storage, your update will not be downloaded. Or it may be that your iPhone model does not meet the requirements of the new update and you need to consider replacing a new phone.

Depending on the reasons, there are a variety of solutions available. Let's take a look at these options to solve the "My iPhone can't be updated" issue and finally get the latest features.

How to fix an iPhone that cannot be updated

When my husband's iPhone couldn't be updated, we tried the following:

Method 1: Check whether your iPhone model supports new updates

Some older iPhones may not be able to run the latest iOS updates. For example, if you find that your iPhone cannot be updated to iOS 17, you need to make sure your device is compatible with the latest update before installing it. If you download a new version of iOS on an incompatible device, your iPhone may slow down and the app may stop working. Therefore, please visit the Apple Support page to see if your device qualifies.

If you are not sure which iPhone model you have, follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > About this unit.
2. There you will see your iPhone model name and software version.

See also: iOS Version History

Method 2: Charge your phone

Often, those who ask "Why can't I update my iPhone?" do not know that they have to have at least 50% of their phone battery to start the update download process.

Remember that you may also receive notifications about available updates, which you can choose to automatically accept. At night, it will automatically update when your phone is fully charged and connected to the internet.

Method 3: Restart your iPhone

This seems obvious, but sometimes update issues can be solved by restarting the iPhone. Press and hold the power button on your iPhone until the "Slide Power Off" slider appears. If your iPhone does not have a Home button, press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time.

To turn off your iPhone, swipe the red and white power icons from left to right. Wait for 30-60 seconds to get your iPhone to shut down completely. Then, press and hold the power button or the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen. Shortly after that, your iPhone will restart.

Important: You should have about 6-8 GB of available space for updates. For some iOS versions, it even requires more than 10 GB. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to view the remaining space on your iPhone.

If you want to free up space, the Photos app is a great place to start. You may have something that doesn't need to take up space, such as duplicate photos, old screenshots, or whiteboard photos of a meeting. Apps like CleanMy® Phone can easily and quickly categorize them.

Another step is to back up your iPhone before updating. If there is a problem during the update process, you can recover. You can back up your iPhone using Mac apps like iCloud or AnyTrans. I like that AnyTrans can also do incremental backups in addition to doing a full backup every time. It saves a lot of time and disk space because it only makes new backups of data that has been changed or added since the last backup.

Method 4: Make sure your iPhone can be connected to Wi-Fi

To get a new iOS update, your iPhone needs to be connected to the internet. Because some updates are very large, I recommend downloading updates via Wi-Fi instead of cellular data. It will be faster and will not exhaust your data plan.

Before you start downloading updates, make sure your phone is connected to the network with the strongest signal. Also, don't forget to protect your connection when using a public Wi-Fi network. I use ClearVPN. It's easy to use and when I have some free time at night it allows me to unblock streaming services.

Method 5: Make sure you can connect to your Apple server

If you still can't figure out why your phone cannot be updated, it may be that there is a problem with the Apple server. Your iPhone should give you a digital or text error message. Check out Apple's website to learn about the error's meaning and its solutions. This is exactly how my husband can update his iPhone.

How to update my iPhone via Mac

You might be wondering, "How to update my iPhone with a Mac? Is this possible?" Yes, you can update software on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on your Mac. The operation method is as follows:

1. Connect your device to your Mac.
2. You can connect it using a USB cable, a USB-C cable, or Wi-Fi.
3. Select the device in the Finder sidebar of your Mac.
4. Then click "Check for updates".
5. To install available updates, click Update.

Useful tools to fix iPhone failures to update

Many users have problems downloading iOS updates. This can be due to any reason, from poor Wi-Fi signals to lack of available space. Some simple things, like restarting, may help. If not, use the tips in this guide.

The most important thing is to remember to always back up your phone for security. To do this, please install the AnyTrans application mentioned above. Freeing up some storage space with a CleanMy® Phone may also be helpful.

Both apps are available on Setapp, a platform that offers over 240 apps for your Mac and iPhone at a price! These apps can help speed up your daily work, keep you focused, and improve the quality of your work. Before you decide to pay the membership fee ($9.99 per month), you can try the platform for 7 days for free to see if it’s right for you. You have nothing to lose, and you may even find some new apps you like. Try Setapp now!

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