New iPhone Stuck on Software Update: Why and How to Solve It

Apple is the only smartphone manufacturer that provides software updates to iPhones for up to six years. The latest updates always include new features, bug fixes, security vulnerability fixes, and more. 

Sometimes, your old or new iPhone can get stuck on a software update, and it can be due to several reasons, such as a glitch, bugs in the software, or due to several other factors.

Continue reading to learn what causes your new iPhone to get stuck on a software update and how to fix it.

New iPhone Stuck on Software Update: Possible Reasons

New iPhones should not get stuck during software updates in general, but if yours did, here are the possible reasons:

• Slow or unstable internet connection: If your internet connection is slow or unstable, your iPhone will struggle to download the update, resulting in the update to get stuck.
• Bugs or issues in the software: If the update was downloaded but got stuck during installation, it can be because of a bug in the previous software version that caused the update to fail.
• Low storage space: If your device is low on space, the latest update that you're trying to download will get stuck and fail.

How to Fix New iPhone Stuck on Software Update

Here are 6 of the guaranteed solutions that you can try to fix an iPhone that's stuck on a software update:

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

When your iPhone gets stuck during a software update, force restart your device to bypass the issue and perform the update again. If the issue was due to a software issue or bug, this should help, and you can update your iPhone now.

Here's how to perform a force restart on your iPhone:

Step 1. Press the volume up and down buttons quickly.

Step 2. Now, press the power button and keep holding it.

Step 3. Wait 10–15 seconds for your iPhone to shut down.

Step 4. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to turn on your iPhone.

2. Charge your iPhone's battery over 70%

If your iPhone is low on battery, it won't update, so if it's stuck updating and your iPhone's battery is low, charge your iPhone.

After charging your iPhone, try updating the software now, and it should update.

3. Offload or Uninstall Apps

When your iPhone is low on storage space, it can't download the update from the Apple servers because it doesn't have sufficient storage space.

Free some space by deleting or offloading a few apps that you don't use frequently. We'd recommend offloading apps, as only the app is deleted and not the app data, so if you reinstall the app, your settings, preferences, and other details are retained.

First, we'll show you how to offload an app, and then we'll show you how to uninstall an app.

Here's how to offload an app on your iPhone:

Step 1. Open "Settings" and tap on "General."

Step 2. Tap on "iPhone Storage" and select the app you don't use.

Step 3. Tap on the right end of your app's information, where the size of the app is listed, and slide your finger to the left.

Step 4. Select "Offload App."

Step 5. Your app will now be deleted, and the app's data will remain on your iPhone, undeleted.

Now, here's how to uninstall an app:

Step 1. On your iPhone's home screen, select an app you want to uninstall.

Step 2. Tap and keep holding on the app, and then select "Remove app."

Step 3. In the following window, select "Delete App."

Step 4. The app will now be deleted.

Alternatively, you can also delete an app from the Settings menu. Here's how:

Step 1. Open "Settings" and select "General."

Step 2. Select "iPhone Storage" and then choose the app you want to delete.

Step 3. Now tap and drag your finger from the right end of the app information and select "Delete App."

Step 4. A confirmation window will now open from the bottom; tap on "Delete App" to confirm your decision.

4. Reset Network Settings

If the iPhone was successfully downloading the update but then got stuck, and it's been hours since it got stuck, maybe it's because of a network issue. Reset your iPhone's network settings, and then try updating your iPhone's software again.

Step 1. Open "Settings" and select "Transfer or Reset iPhone."

Step 2. Tap on "Reset" and select "Reset Network Settings."

Step 3. Enter your passcode.

Step 4. You'll be asked to confirm if you want to reset your iPhone's network settings; tap on "Reset Network Settings" to proceed.

5. Try Updating Your iPhone on Cellular

If you were connected to Wi-Fi when updating your iOS version but it kept getting stuck, turn off Wi-Fi and update your iPhone using cellular data.

Step 1. Open "Control Center."

Step 2. Tap on "Wi-Fi" to turn it off.

Step 3. Tap on the antenna with a signal icon to use your mobile data.

Step 4. Open "Settings" and tap on "General."

Step 5. Tap on "Software Update" and allow a few seconds for Apple to redetect the latest update.

Step 6. Tap on "Download and Install" to proceed.

6. Use PC or Mac to update your iPhone

If you tried all of the solutions listed above and were still unable to update your iPhone, in that case, use your PC or a Mac to update your iPhone.

Before we proceed, we'd advise you to download and install iTunes on your Windows computer first. Now let’s get started.

Step 1. On your Windows computer, open the iTunes app, and if you're a Mac user, open the Finder.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to your respective computers using a Lightning to USB-C or Lightning to USB-A cable.

Step 3. After your iPhone is detected by your computer and then by iTunes or the Finder window, select "Check for Update."

Step 4. After your Mac or iTunes detects the latest update, it'll prompt you to confirm if you want to install the update.

Step 5. Confirm your decision and follow the on-screen steps to finish updating your iPhone with the latest iOS update.

FAQs on New iPhone Stuck on Software Update

If you have further questions about why a new iPhone is stuck on a software update, we address a few of them below. Check them out!

1. Why is my new iPhone stuck on a software update?

It can be possible due to a software issue, a lack of storage space, or even a slow internet connection.

2. How long should a software update take on a new iPhone?

It depends on your internet speed. If you have fast internet speeds, the software update will download quickly and install in no more than 10–15 minutes. But if your internet speed is slower, the downloading and installation of the update should take longer.

3. How do I skip the software update on my new iPhone?

You can turn off the "Download iOS Updates" and "Install iOS Updates" settings on your iPhone.

The Conclusion

Our above solutions should get your new iPhone that's stuck on a software update to install the update successfully. If most of the solutions didn't work, try installing the update using iTunes or Finder on PC and Mac, and you should successfully update the software of your new iPhone.

If you've found this article helpful, please let us know about the same!