iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update? 8 Real Fixes

Updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version, such as iOS 27 beta or iOS 26, 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.

What Does Preparing Update Mean?

When your iPhone displays the message "Preparing Update," it means the device is getting ready to install the downloaded iOS update. This stage occurs after the update file has been successfully downloaded but before the actual installation begins. During this phase, the system is verifying the integrity of the update file to make sure it hasn't been corrupted. It is also unpacking and decompressing the update contents and making sure your device is compatible with the new version.

The "Preparing Update" process usually takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the update and the performance of your device. However, if it takes significantly longer—such as more than 30 to 45 minutes—it could indicate an issue.

Why Is My iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update?

If your iPhone is stuck on "Preparing Update", it typically means something went wrong during the early stages of the update process. Here are the most common reasons.

• 01 Poor or Unstable Wi-Fi Connection: The update can't properly download or verify due to internet issues.
• 02 Low Storage Space: iOS needs extra space to unpack and install the update.
• 03 Apple Servers Are Busy: During peak times (like right after a major iOS release), Apple's servers may slow things down.
• 04 Software Glitch: A temporary bug may cause the system to hang on "Preparing Update."
• 05 Corrupted Update File: A partial or failed download might get stuck during preparation.

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 your Wi-Fi connection is working properly, the problem may be caused by the Settings app freezing or not responding during the update process. Force closing the Settings app can refresh it and may help fix the issue.

• 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 or iOS 26 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 reinstall iOS 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 27/26 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.

• 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. Lastly, hope this article can be useful for you.