It could be quite surprising if you’ve just bought a new iPhone and you are faced with an issue whereby your new iPhone is stuck on preparing updates screen. Hilarious right? Well, in this guide, we will consider how to fix new iPhone stuck on preparing update and how to prevent it from future occurrences.
The iPhone stuck on preparing update during setup usually occurs after the update has been downloaded and about to install but couldn’t and stuck on the preparation update stage.
Normally, this stage shouldn’t last for more than 5 minutes. But network connection and other factors could make it last longer than that.
But when it begins to take too long before it responds, there are a few things you need to do to resolve this, and you might also have to restart the whole process and delete the update.
However, that shouldn’t make you worried since I will be breaking down how to fix new iphone stuck on preparing update.
Not only that, I’ll reveal to you some other ways to update your iPhone without using the normal OTS on your device so that it won’t stuck in the preparation stage again.
That being said, let’s briefly delve into some of the reasons why your New iPhone is stuck on preparing the update to prevent it from happening again when you want to update your iOS.
Why is my iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update
It might sound quite rare for a new iPhone to start developing defects such as getting stuck when preparing updates; however, you cannot rule out network issues or storage issues from a new device since memory can be restored and the network isn’t dependent on whether your iPhone is new or not.
So, why is my iPhone stuck on preparing updates?
Let’s list all the common culprits for your iPhone being stuck on preparing update below.
- Poor Wi-Fi connection.
- Interruptions in the download process caused corrupted files.
- Lack of response from Apple’s servers.
- Lack of available storage on the iPhone.
- Poor cellular connection
Now, we will take a look at each of these causes and see how you can fix the iPhone stuck on update screen.
How to Fix New iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update
When you come across an issue like this with a new iPhone, you might think that you need to return it to Apple, but little did you know that most of these issues are something you can fix without contacting Apple Inc or requesting a professional guide.
And since you are now aware of that, I will be taking my time to go through the different ways to get it fixed.
Confirm the Apple Server Stats
In order to fix any issues with your iPhone while it is preparing updates, the first thing to check is the Apple server status.
You can verify that the server is functioning correctly by looking at the server statistics page.
If you need help accessing this page, you can follow the steps listed below
- Go to your browser and open a new tab.
- Access the server status page.
- Check to see if the server is functioning correctly.
- If the server is working correctly, then proceed to the next step.
Check your Wi-Fi Connection
Once you are done checking the status server and that the server that is in use during the update process is working properly, another thing you want to check is the network or WiFi connection.
You want to check that the WiFi is still working as it should.
You can do this by plugging another device into your WiFi Router and testing to see if you can open a web page. If the pages open, then the connection is still functioning correctly.
If it is not, then you should check the settings to see what might be causing the issue; possibly it has been disconnected.
Depending on the router you are using, you should navigate to the Settings app and see if the wifi is connected or if something is out of place.
Recommended: TheBest Wifi Extender for Your Home
Ensure you have Space on your iPhone
If you don’t have enough storage to download a new update to your new iPhone, then you have to delete some of the files and uninstall some unnecessary apps on your device. This may throw a tantrum that why would a new phone be shortage of storage. However, if the phone a repacked phone or out-of-box or the previous owner failed to reset the device you might be subjected to shortage of memory.
This could be the solution to the problem preventing your device from completing the update process.
Deleting the data from your device will create more space, which allows the downloaded update to unpack on your phone’s storage.
Reset Networking Settings
It is important to make sure that your Wi-Fi connection is always working properly. But your Wifi can be working properly and your network is a bit slow or ineffective.
While that can be a hindrance that can cause the preparing update to get stuck in the middle, it makes it very important to make sure that your network settings are correctly configured.
If you are using a router, double-check the Settings page to make sure that all of the information is correct. If you have an iPhone, you may need to reset the network if you are having problems with your connection so that it can be restored.
If you don’t know how to go about that, follow the steps below.
- Head to Settings > General > Reset on your device.
- Tap on Reset Network Settings.
- Reboot your device.
NB: After doing all this, we will be proceeding to try reinstalling the update again, but before you do that, you have to delete the one that didn’t complete earlier before you got stuck in the iPhone preparing update issues.
Delete the iOS Update File and Redownload it
You need to delete the current update that you just downloaded before you can download another update. The reason for this is that the recent update was incomplete and could be corrupted, and you don’t want to face the same issue you faced earlier, so it is essential to cancel it out to give more space for the new update.
If you don’t know how to go about that, follow the steps I have highlighted below.
- Tap on General in the Settings app.
- Tap on iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down and Tap Software Update or iOS 16.
- Tap Delete Update from Software Update or iOS 16.
- Confirm by tapping Delete Update again.
After deleting the files, you can update them using your iPhone directory, or you can use iTunes to Update your iPhone.
I will be breaking down how you can do both.
How to Update Your iPhone’s iOS Version
After following through with the process listed above, It is essential to reboot your device by simply shutting it down and powering it on again. After doing that, proceed with the software update by following the steps highlighted below.
- Navigate to the Settings app.
- Go to General
- Select Software Update
- Select Download and Install.
NB: If you have a good wifi network, enough storage space, and a fully charged battery, this should work flawlessly. However, if you don’t want to update it from your iPhone, you can do that manually with a wire from your PC.
How to Update an iPhone via iTunes via PC
If you have a Mac computer running macOS Catalina 10.15 or a newer version, here is how you can go about updating your iPhone through your PC via iTunes.
- Get a USB cable and connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Open a Finder window.
- From the left side of the Finder window, select your iPhone.
- Now navigate to General.
- Select Check for Update and then continue with the instructions shown on the screen.
However, if you have a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier or a Windows PC, You should follow the steps below.
- Launch iTunes on your personal computer.
- Establish a connection between your iPhone and laptop.
- While you are in iTunes, select your iPhone and navigate to Summary > Check for Update.
How Long Should Preparing an Update Take?
The iPhone has downloaded the major update file before it gets to this stage. Once it gets here, it shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes to complete, at most 10 minutes if you have a sluggish network. But if it is taking longer than that, then you have to follow through with the search process listed above.
Conclusion
There is no need to panic when next you are faced with your New iPhone stuck on preparing an update; all you need to do is follow the troubleshooting steps we have listed above to resolve it. And if the issues keep repeating themselves, try updating via iTunes.