iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update? 8 Real Fixes

Updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version, such as iOS 27, can bring new features, better performance, and security improvements. However, the update process does not always go smoothly. Some users may find their iPhone stuck on the Preparing Update screen for a long time and do not know whether to keep waiting or take action.

In this guide, we will show you 8 effective ways to fix iPhone stuck on Preparing Update and help you complete the iOS update successfully. For a broader look at the entire update process, see our iOS 27 update troubleshooting guide.

What Does Preparing Update Mean?

When your iPhone displays the message "Preparing Update," it means the device has already downloaded the iOS update and is getting it ready for installation. This stage comes after downloading and before the update is verified and installed.

iOS Update Stages at a Glance

In our tests, Preparing Update often finished within about 5 to 15 minutes. Actual time varies by device, update size, and available storage, so a longer wait does not always mean the update is stuck. If the screen remains unchanged for an unusually long time, such as 30–45 minutes in our tests, you can start troubleshooting.

Why Is My iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update?

If your iPhone stays on Preparing Update for unusually long, the problem is often related to storage, the downloaded update file, or a temporary iOS glitch.

• 01 Insufficient Storage: Your iPhone needs enough free space to prepare the downloaded update for installation.
• 02 Incomplete or Corrupted Update File: An interrupted or incomplete download may prevent the update from being prepared correctly.
• 03 Software Glitch: A temporary system bug may cause the update process to stop progressing.
• 04 Network or Apple Service Issues: Network interruptions or temporary service delays may also affect the overall update process.

How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update?

Now let's try the following 8 methods to fix iPhone update stuck on preparing update. Start with the free and simple fixes.

Method	Best For	Difficulty	Data Loss Risk	Time Needed
Check Wi-Fi Network	Weak or unstable internet connection	Easy	No	1–3 minutes
Force Close Settings App	Settings app freezes or stops responding	Easy	No	Less than 1 minute
Force Restart iPhone	Temporary iOS glitches or frozen screen	Easy	No	5–15 minutes
Delete iOS Update	Corrupted or incomplete update file	Easy	No	5–15 minutes
Update iOS	OTA update fails repeatedly	Medium	Usually no, if you choose Update instead of Restore	15–30 minutes
Reset Network Settings	Network errors continue after reconnecting Wi-Fi	Medium	No personal data loss, but Wi-Fi/VPN settings are removed	3–5 minutes
Use TunesKit	iPhone still gets stuck after common fixes	Very Easy	No data loss in Standard Repair mode	10–15 minutes
Put iPhone into DFU Mode	Serious system issues that other methods cannot fix	Hard	Yes, it may erase your iPhone	20–40 minutes

Method 1: Check Your Wi-Fi Network

When the preparing update is retained on the iPhone, the first thing you need to do is checking whether your Wi-Fi connectivity is strong and if it is disconnected. Head to Wi-Fi in Settings to check this and make sure your device is not connected to a public Wi-Fi.

Method 2: Force Close the Settings App

If the Settings app itself appears frozen or unresponsive, force closing and reopening it can refresh the Software Update screen.

• For iPhone models with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle. Then find the Settings app and swipe it up to close it.
• For iPhone models with a Home button, double-click the Home button, find Settings, and swipe it up. After that, open Settings again and try to update your iPhone.

Method 3: Force Restart Your iPhone

One of the simplest ways to solve stuck problems like iPhone stuck on preparing update is to force restart your device.

• #iPhone 8 and newer# quickly press and release the Volume Up button first and then the Volume Down button. Finally hold the Power button till you watch the Apple logo.
• #iPhone 7 and plus# hold the Power and Volume Down buttons until the Apple logo appears.
• #iPhone 6 and older# press the Power and Home buttons until the Apple logo is shown on the interface.

Method 4: Delete the iOS Update and Download It Again

If force restarting your iPhone doesn't work, you can try out deleting the downloaded iOS update firmware and try to update it again. Here's what to do.

• Step 1. Open Settings on your iPhone and hit General.
• Step 2. Tap iPhone Storage.
• Step 3. Choose iOS 27 option.
• Step 4. Tap Delete Update and confirm the action.

Method 5: Update iOS via Finder, iTunes, or Apple Devices

If your iPhone is still stuck on Preparing Update after deleting and re-downloading the iOS update file, try updating it with a computer. This method can help when the over-the-air update fails on your iPhone.

• Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable.
• Step 2. On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app or iTunes.
• Step 3. When your iPhone is detected, choose your device and click Check for Update.
• Step 4. If an update is available, select Download and Update. Make sure you choose Update, not Restore, so the system will try to install the available iOS update without erasing your data.

Method 6: Reset Network Settings

Besides, you can also reset your network settings to make sure a stable network connection. To convert to a stronger and more stable Wi-Fi, follow the quick steps below.

• Step 1. Open the Settings app of your iPhone
• Step 2. Go to General> Transfer or Reset iPhone, tap the Reset button.
• Step 3. Tap the Reset Network Settings button.
• Step 4. Follow the on-screen prompt to confirm the reset process, once completed, your iPhone will restart, then you can reconfigure your network.

Method 7: Use TunesKit iOS System Recovery

If your iPhone still gets stuck on Preparing Update after trying the basic fixes above, the problem may be related to deeper iOS system errors instead of Wi-Fi or the update file itself. In this case, you can try an iOS system repair tool to fix the update issue without manually restoring your device.

TunesKit iOS System Recovery can help repair common iOS problems, including iPhone stuck on Preparing Update, stuck on the Apple logo, recovery mode loop, black screen, and other update-related issues. Its Standard Repair mode is designed to fix most system glitches without erasing your iPhone data.

Here's the specific steps to resolve iOS 27 stuck on preparing update issue.

• Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable. Open TunesKit iOS System Recovery and it will be detected by the program.
• 
• Step 2. Choose iOS System Repair, and then Standard Repair.
• 
• Step 3. Download and verify iOS firmware after confirming all the information is correct, including the model version, iOS version, etc.
• 
• Step 4. After the package has been downloaded successfully, start the repair process. Once the repair is complete, your iPhone should restart normally.
• 

Method 8: Put iPhone into DFU Mode

If none of the methods above works, you can try putting your iPhone into DFU mode and restoring it with a computer. DFU mode can help fix serious iOS system problems, including iPhone stuck on Preparing Update. However, this method will erase all data and settings on your iPhone, so make sure you have a recent backup before continuing. Only consider DFU restore after standard updating, system repair, and recovery-mode options fail.

• Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a computer with a USB cable.
• Step 2. Then open Finder on macOS Catalina or later, Apple Devices on Windows, or iTunes on older macOS/Windows versions.
• Step 3. The steps to enter DFU mode vary depending on your iPhone model. Check the detailed guide to put your iPhone into DFU mode.
• Step 4. Once your iPhone is detected, choose Restore in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes. Your computer will erase the device and install the latest compatible iOS version. After the process is complete, you can set up your iPhone again or restore it from a backup.

FAQs About iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update

Summary

This article has offered you the full solutions to fix iPhone stuck on preparing update. Most of them can be easily operated without requiring any skill, while a few of them like putting iPhone into DFU mode may bring risks to your data. Anyway, you can test them one by one to get your iPhone out of preparing update screen. If unfortunately above 8 ways are unable to resolve your problem at the end, then you can take your iPhone to Apple store to seek professional advice.

If your iPhone gets stuck at another stage, explore our iOS 27 update help center for more solutions.