8 Solutions to Fix iPhone Won't Update

Apple releases multiple iOS updates every year, bringing a new and improved experience. However, we found that some iPhone/iPad users are facing iPhone won't update issues for various reasons. After lots of searching, we have listed some common iPhone update issues, possible causes, and some approved solutions to help you get out of the trouble.

Part 1. iPhone Update Issues You May Encounter 

Here are some common iPhone update issues we collected from the Internet. These issues appear frequently. If you did not get the errors listed below, you can skip to the solution part and try the solutions one by one.

1. iOS 14 update option is not showing up on iPhone.

2. "Unable to Check for Update" error message appears on the screen.

3. Error message "Can't install update. An error occurred ..."

4. The download progress bar doesn't move.

Part 2. Why iPhone Won't Update Issues Happen

After searching online, we have located some causes for the iPhone update issue. Let's check them out. If you know the reason, it would be easier to find the right solution.

• Insufficient space on your iPhone to download the firmware.
• The network is slow and unstable.
• iOS 14 or 15 is not supported on your device.
• You are having iOS beta software on your iPhone.

Part 3. How to Fix iPhone Update Issues 

Below are eight tips we collected for the problem iPhone won't update. You can follow the sequence to try each one until you can update your iOS system. 

Method 1. Ensure your device connect to a stable Wi-Fi

If you get the error message "Unable to Check for Update", this is a large chance that your iPhone is not connecting to a network. Make sure your device is connected to Wi-Fi. Besides, some iOS users reported that they got this error message when they were using a VPN on their iPhones. Check if you are using a VPN service when updating Apple software.

Method 2. Restart your iPhone 

Restart iPhone is the way we would try for almost all iPhone issues. When something is wrong with your iPhone, try to restart the device and see if it is back to normal. It is said that 90% of problems on Windows, Android, and iOS can be addressed by restarting the device. 

Method 3. Delete Beta profile on your iPhone

If a beta profile is installed, this will prohibit the installation of the Apple software update. You can figure out this by checking if there is the option "Profile" in the "Settings" > "General." If the device has the option, you need to remove the beta profile before installing the latest iOS.

Method 4. Ensure enough free space on your iPhone

Insufficient space will also cause iOS update failures. To install the iOS 14, you will need roughly 2.7GB of free space on your iPhone. Make sure there is enough free space before you proceed. If there is not enough space, you can transfer videos from iPhone to PC, and other large files like photos and music to get more free space.

Method 5. Resetting your iPhone

If the above ways don't fix the iOS update failure on your device, this is too bad. You may need to try some complicated solutions, like resetting your iPhone. Go to "Setting" -> "General" -> "Reset", and you will see two options - "Reset All Settings" and "Erase All Content and Settings." Apply the first option and update your iPhone again. 

Method 6. Update iOS with iTunes [No data loss]

If the previous ways don't work for the issue "iPhone won't update" you've encountered, you'll have to give up the wireless update. iTunes can help you update iPhone. You can refer here for detailed steps. 

Method 7. Update to iOS 14 with EaseUS MobiUnlock or iTunes

If iTunes cannot perform the system update as well, restore iPhone is the last option in iTunes. You can try this reliable iPhone unlocker - EaseUS MobiUnlock or iTunes to install the latest iOS on your iPhone. You can refer to the steps below.

Step 1. Connect your iOS device to the computer and launch EaseUS MobiUnlock. On the home page of this program, select "Unlock Screen Passcode."

Step 2. Then, EaseUS MobiUnlock will start detecting your device. Once your device is detected, you will see a start button, click it to proceed. 

Step 3.  Check your device model and click "Next" to download the latest version of firmware for your device. If the firmware has been downloaded already, select the package manually.

Step 4. After downloading firmware, click "Unlock Now." Then, you'll see a new warning window, which requires you to enter the information. Just do as it requires and click "Unlock" again.

Step 5. Wait for the installation to complete. Then, the latest iOS will be installed on your iPhone or iPad.

Method 8. Install latest iOS firmware manually

If restoring iPhone is not getting you out of the trouble, the last way you can try is to install the latest iPSW (Apple update software) manually. If you are not tech-savvy, we don't recommend you to try this. If you are interested in this, check here for how to install IPSW file on iPhone without iTunes. 

Summary 

We have covered 8 solutions that work for the issue "iPhone won't update" issue. We hope your issue can be addressed by one of the solutions. If none of the solutions works for your device, you'll have to contact Apple support or go to a repair shop.