10 Easy Solutions to Fix iPhone Software Update Failed (iOS 18/26 Supported)

Does the "Software Update Failed" message pop up when attempting to upgrade your iPhone to the latest iOS 26 Beta or iOS 18? Apple fans often have high hopes of experiencing a slew of new capabilities on their iPhone. However, they often encounter this annoying problem. Don't worry now. The 10 methods outlined here will help you fix the iPhone software update failed issue successfully. Let's dive in!

Part 1. Why iPhone Software Update Failed?

iPhone software update failed issues happens for a variety of reasons. Here, we list the most frequent ones you're likely to encounter.

• Device Shut Down During the Process – If you power off your smartphone during the updating process, the issue arises. Disruption to the procedure rendered the iPhone software upgrade ineffective.
• Unable to Connect to the Apple Update Server – When trying to update the software on your iPhone, the Apple update server could not establish a connection with it. There is an Apple server problem that many users must experience sometimes.
• Less Storage Space – Unfortunately, your device doesn't have enough free space.
• Wrong Network Connection – The network your phone is attempting to connect to may be down, or your phone may not have an active internet connection. This may occur if you're using a cellular data plan and aren't near a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Part 2. How to Fix iPhone Software Update Failed?

The following are some of the best practices to implement if your iPhone is facing trouble while updating the new iOS software.

Method 1. Check Network Status

First and foremost, check your device network status. This is the simplest yet most effective solution to fix software issues, especially the update failure. Start with the following steps:

Step 1: First, ensure your Apple device can connect to the Internet.
Step 2: To download iOS software, avoid using cellular data or an unsecured Wi-Fi network. If the Wi-Fi is excessively unstable, your iPhone won't update and will claim there is no Internet connection.

Method 2. Check Apple Update Servers

Since iOS 26 Beta launch, the new iOS has been eagerly awaited. Because of this, once an update is released, millions of people worldwide immediately begin downloading it. Due to the high volume of updates, Apple's servers may get overloaded, so iOS 26 software update failed on your iPhone.

You can go to the Apple System Status page to check whether it's OK. If all icons are green, it means everything is fine. If there is a yellow icon, it may be wise to wait until the problem has been resolved before trying again.

Method 3. Close Settings App and Update Again

Next up is closing the settings application and trying to update again. Sometimes updates fail and Apple devices get stuck due to issues in certain applications. For this reason, it is a good idea to restart the settings app. When the "Software Update Failed" pop-up appears on your phone, you will find two options, "Close" and "Settings".

Step 1: To dismiss this error notice, choose "Close" and wait a minute or two.
Step 2: Then try selecting "Update Now" once again. If the problem persists this time, exit the program and relaunch it.

Method 4. Restart Your iPhone

If the software update failed issue is caused by software bugs, you can try to restart or reboot your iOS device. By doing this, some simple glitches may be solved immediately. Here is the quick steps to restart your iPhone.

Step 1: Press and hold the Side button (or Top button) until you see the power-off slider appear.
Step 2: Then drag the slider, and wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.
Step 3: Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears to turn it back on.

Method 5. Reset Network Settings

It’s highly recommended to use a secure Wi-Fi network when you want to update your device to iOS 26 Beta. Thus, if your device can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network or Wi-Fi is not working, the software update failed problem may arise. To solve this issue, you can simply reset your network settings by following the steps below.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Go to General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Follow the instructions to confirm the action.

Method 6. Fix via TunesKit iOS System Recovery - Advanced Solution

When fixing your iOS system such as iOS 26 software update failed, go no further than TunesKit iOS System Recovery. It allows you to swiftly and easily resolve over 150+ common iOS problem on your own, without the need to contact an Apple technical support representative.

This iOS repair tool will get you out of whatever jam you find yourself in, whether software update failed, stuck in recovery mode, DFU mode, white Apple logo screen, or if your screen goes dark, frozen, or disabled. Not to mention, the recovery process is 100% secure, which means you don't have to worry about any data loss.

To inspire you, here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to fix iPhone software update failed problem using the amazing TunesKit iOS System Recovery.

Step 1 First, download and launch TunesKit iOS System Recovery on your computer. Now, connect your iOS device iPhone to the computer through the USB cord.

Step 2 Once TunesKit detects your device, choose the iOS System Repair feature and click the Start button. There will be two options, "Standard Repair(no data loss)" and "Deep Repair (erase all data)". Standard Repair is highly recommended without data loss.

Step 3 Next, confirm your device information manually and search for a compatible firmware package of your choice. Hit the Download button to download the firmware package.

Step 4 When the download completes, click on the "Repair" button to begin fixing the iOS system. Make sure not to disconnect your device mid-process.

Method 7. Free Up iPhone Storage

Your iOS 26 Beta download may fail if your device runs short on storage space. This is because it can't save the most recent iOS data. Deleting old files is a good way to make room for new ones.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to check and free up your iPhone storage.

Method 8. Update iOS via iTunes

The next step includes utilizing iTunes if you are still stuck with the iOS software update failed issue. It might be a quick and simple solution. If you're having trouble in updating your iOS, try these steps to fix the issue.

Step 1: Download and install the most recent version of iTunes on your computer.
Step 2: Then launch the iTunes program and connect your Apple device to your computer. iTunes will automatically detect your device.
Step 3: Now, select "Summary" from the available choices, and press "Check for Update" to see if any newer versions are available. If an option to download and update appears on your screen, choose it.

Method 9. Update via IPSW File

Another way to resolve the iPhone software update failed problem is to update your iOS via IPSW file. IPSW files can be used with iTunes on Windows or Finder on macOS 10.12 or later. Just make sure that you have the most recent version of iTunes/Finder installed on your computer before attempting to upgrade an iOS device using IPSW firmware files.

Step 1: Connect your Apple gadget to your PC.
Step 2: Click on the device and open it in iTunes or Finder.
Step 3: Click "Update" while holding the "Option" key on a Mac.
Step 4: Click "Update" while holding the "SHIFT" key on a Windows computer.

Method 10. Delete Update File and Download iOS 26 Beta Again

Are you still experiencing iPhone software update failed problem? Then you can try the last method which is to remove the iOS update file and then download the update again. Here are the exact steps.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Then tap General > iPhone Storage.
Step 2: Scroll down to find and tap the iOS update file.
Step 3: Tap Delete Update button. Follow the on-screen prompt to remove this iOS update file.
Step 4: Move to Settings > General > Software Update to download and install the latest iOS update again.

Part 3. FAQs about iPhone Software Update Failed

Part 4. Conclusion

Getting to the bottom of why your iPhone software update failed might be time-consuming. But totally worth it. Next time, when you face this issue, follow the strategies outlined in this article to fix the problem independently. TunesKit iOS System Recovery is worth a go if nothing else helps. The problem may be resolved with only a few clicks of the mouse.