Can I Stop My iPhone in the Middle of An Update?

Anytime I update the iOS on my iPhone, it typically takes about 5-10 minutes. Since I don't currently have a landline, if I start the update process and suddenly have an emergency, I need to use the phone to call for help. Is there any way to stop the update so I can use the phone? In a normal situation, 5-10 minutes isn't a big deal, but if there is an emergency, 5-10 minutes is an incredibly long time to wait to call for help.

It is not recommended to stop your iPhone in the middle of an update process. If you stop the update process abruptly, it may cause your iPhone to malfunction or become unresponsive. Thus, there is no official button that says "Stop" or "Cancel Update." However, if there is an emergency that you need to cancel the iOS update and use your iPhone, you can follow the steps below:

Method 1. Delete iOS Update File

• Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
• From here, you can view the iOS update and choose "Delete Update" to cancel the installation process.

Method 2. Turn on Airplane Mode

• Swipe down from the top right and access the Control Center.
• Tap the Airplane Mode icon, which looks like a paper plane.
• When it lights up, it means you've turned on Airplane mode.
• Go to Settings > General > Software Update. The download has stopped if the Download and Install button is lit up.

Method 3. Disable Automatic Update

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.
• Move to the slider to turn it off.

After canceling the update, you may need to restart your iPhone to ensure that it is no longer in the update process. Press and hold the power button until the slider appears, then drag the slider to turn off your device. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button again to turn it back on.

By following these steps, you should be able to cancel an iPhone update completely in the middle of the process. However, if you cancel or stop an update in the middle, it may cause data loss. Thus, before starting or canceling the update, you should back up your iPhone to safeguard the essential data. EaseUS MobiMover is recommened to back up your iPhone. It supports photos, videos, audio files, text messages, WhatsApp messages, contacts, etc.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch EaseUS MobiMover.

Step 2. Choose Backup Manager > Back up > Adjust the destination.

Step 3. Click One-Click Backup, and the process will start.

Related Article: How Long Does It Take to Update iPhone