Having issues installing the latest iOS update on your iPhone or iPad can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and fix the problem.
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about iOS updates not installing:
- Make sure your device is connected to power and Wi-Fi during the update
- Check that you have enough storage space for the update file
- Try restarting your device and retry the update
- Update your device using a computer instead of wirelessly
- Erase your device and set it up as new to remove any software issues
- Take your device to an Apple Store for help if you can’t resolve the issue
Why Your iOS Update May Fail to Install
There are a few common reasons why an iOS update might fail to install properly:
Insufficient Storage Space
iOS updates can be quite large, often over 1 GB in size. If you don’t have enough available storage space on your device, the update download may fail or get stuck at verifying. Try deleting apps, photos, videos or music to free up space.
Connection Issues
For wireless OTA (over-the-air) updates, your device needs a strong Wi-Fi connection to download the full update package. Similarly, the update process requires power, so make sure your battery is charged enough before starting.
Outdated Software
In some cases, you may need to install prior iOS updates before the latest version will install correctly. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and see if any earlier updates are available to install first.
Corrupt Software
Existing software problems, glitches or file corruption on your device can prevent a clean install of the latest iOS release. You may need to erase and restore your device to address any underlying software issues.
Server and Authentication Issues
High demand may strain Apple’s servers during the first few days of an iOS update rollout, causing download failures. Authentication outages have also been known to prevent verification and installation.
How to Fix iOS Update Installation Problems
If you encounter issues trying to install an iOS update, here are some steps to fix the most common problems:
1. Check Storage Space and Clear Room
Go to Settings > General > Storage on your device to see if you have enough free space available. iOS updates may fail to download or get stuck if storage is insufficient. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2 GB free before installing an update.
You can remove apps, photos, videos, music and more to clear up storage space. Also make sure to empty the “Recently Deleted” folder which contains deleted photos/videos not yet permanently erased.
2. Update Apps and Restart Your Device
Before trying an iOS update again, go to the App Store and install any available app updates. Also restart your iPhone or iPad and retry downloading and installing the iOS update.
A simple device restart will clear out any temporary glitches that may be preventing the update from being verified and properly installed.
3. Try Updating Your Device Using a Computer
As an alternative to wireless over-the-air updates, you can update an iOS device by connecting it directly to a computer with iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac). This may resolve any Wi-Fi connectivity issues interfering with the download.
To update iOS using a computer, connect your device with a USB cable and launch iTunes / Finder. Select your device and then click “Check for Update” to download and install the latest iOS version.
4. Erase All Content and Settings
For persistent iOS update installation failures, one drastic troubleshooting step is to wipe your device entirely by going to Settings > General > Reset and choosing “Erase All Content and Settings”. This will factory reset your device and install a clean version of the current iOS build already on it.
You will lose all your data and custom settings, so make sure to fully back up your device beforehand. Then you will be able to restore from the backup after the wipe, or set up the device as new if preferred.
5. Contact Apple Support
If you still cannot get an iOS update to install after trying these self-troubleshooting steps, you should contact Apple support for further assistance. You can make a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store. Alternatively, you can call Apple support or speak with them online via chat or social media to troubleshoot the issue.
Provide the Apple support team with details on exactly when and how the iOS update fails. They will walk through additional measures as needed to identify the underlying problem and get your update properly installed.
Best Practices to Avoid iOS Update Problems
Following some simple guidelines can help minimize issues when installing iOS updates in the future:
- Update over Wi-Fi on a stable high-speed network connection
- Make sure your battery charge level is at least 50% before updating
- Delete unused apps and media to free up storage space
- Backup your device to iCloud or a computer before updating
- Avoid starting an update late at night or when short on time
- Disable automatic iOS updates and install manually when convenient
- Restart your device before attempting to update iOS
Also, delay updating for a few days after a new iOS version is released. This allows Apple time to iron out any major bugs that may interfere with installation. Unless the update fixes a critical security issue, it’s often wise to wait.
Downgrading from New iOS Version
If you find the latest iOS update causes problems with your apps or device performance, you may want to downgrade back to the prior version of iOS. However, Apple does not make this easy to do.
There is no straightforward option to revert iOS updates. But there are a couple of workaround solutions if you act quickly after installing an iOS update:
1. Restore from iCloud or iTunes Backup
If you backed up your device before installing the latest iOS, you may be able to fully restore your phone or tablet from that backup file. This will effectively downgrade iOS and restore your exact previous configuration.
To roll back using a backup, enter recovery mode and restore from your most recent iCloud or iTunes backup. Just be sure the backup was made prior to the iOS update you wish to remove.
2. Erase All Content and Settings
If you don’t have a viable backup from before the iOS update, resetting your device using “Erase All Content and Settings” under the Settings app will effectively downgrade iOS. Your phone or tablet will reset back to the out-of-the-box state with the prior iOS version that shipped with it.
Just keep in mind this will wipe all your data, settings, and content! Make sure to exhaust all other options before erasing your device this way to downgrade an unwanted iOS update.
Conclusion
iOS updates provide important new features, security patches and performance improvements. However, installation issues can arise on occasion. With some dedicated troubleshooting using the steps outlined here, you should be able to resolve most common iOS update installation failures.
The key things to try are freeing up storage space, updating apps, restarting your device, using a computer to install the update, wiping your device completely, and contacting Apple support if needed. Following best practices like updating over Wi-Fi and backing up beforehand can also avoid many issues.
While Apple makes it challenging to downgrade iOS versions, you can try restoring from backup or resetting your device to factory settings in order to roll back buggy or incompatible updates if necessary. With some patience and diligent troubleshooting, you can get your iPhone or iPad running the latest iOS version smoothly.