Fix iPhone Taking Forever to Update iOS 17/18 [Video Tip]

Category: iPhone Issues

October 15, 2024 3 mins read

The latest iPhone software iOS 17/18 update has been released and iPhone users are excited to experience the new features.

But it has been reported that some people including iPhone 15/16 users find it a difficulty task to download and install the latest firmware as the iPhone taking forever to update.

So, exactly how long does iOS 18 update take to install? Why iPhone update taking forever? This article will explain the reasons behind this iPhone update issue and provide solutions to fix it.

You may wonder: Why is my update taking so long on iOS 17/18? Is this iOS update taking forever only happening to me? The answer is NO.

This problem is quite common every time there is a new iOS version released, you're not the only victim. So, let's focus on why this issue becomes a common phenomenon.

If your iPhone is fully charged with a stable network connection, then it should take at least 30 minutes for iPhone to complete the update process, depending on the network connection and the size of the update.

Another factor is your device age. Older iPhones may take longer to update due to slower processing ability compared to newer models. Below is a diagram of the full iOS update process, you can have a quick look.

Tips

1. If your iPhone is taking forever to update, and you need to unfreeze it safely without losing data because you don't have any backup, then this iPhone update repair tool is recommended.
2. If your iPhone is working fine, but only because the iOS update is very slow, you can head to the second part with basic solutions, though some of them may cause you data loss.

When your iPhone taking forever to update iOS 17/18 via the OTA method, you may not be able to update your iPhone normally no matter how much time you spent on waiting.

Your iPhone may stuck on verifying update or other update screen when not dealt with in time. In this case, you can use an iOS repair tool - iMyFone Fixppo, which can solve these update issues and complete the iOS update process with ease.

Key Features of iPhone Update Repair Tool:

• Fix iPhone Issues & Update iOS in Minutes: Fix iPhone update taking so long issue in minutes, easily update iPhone to iOS 17/18 after fixing.
• Keep All Data: Unlike iTunes, 100% ensure to keep all iPhone data while fixing iOS update issues.
• Wide Compatibility: Compatible with all iPhone models and iOS versions, including the latest iPhone 16 series and iOS 18.
• Update iOS Without OTA & iTunes: Easily update to iOS 18 without via OTA or iTunes, saving time and trouble.
• Other Key Features: Complete iPhone softweare update smoothly, minimize the chance of iPhone stuck on updating.

How to fix iOS update taking so long? This question can be answered by Fixppo. You can download and install it to your computer first!

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch Fixppo to go to Apple System Repair > Standard Mode, which can fix iPhone update issues without losing data.

Step 2: When Fixppo detects your device and shows the available iOS firmware for downloading, click on the Download button to get the firmware.

Step 3: After downloading, click the Start Standard Repair button, Fixppo will begin to fix the iOS update problem using the firmware.

After repairing, your iPhone will restart and you can see that not only has the update issue been fixed, but also your iPhone has been updated to the latest version. You won't encounter any update issues next time.

You can also watch the intuitive video to fix iPhone update issues:

The following methods are the most basic ones you can try if you have met the iOS 17/18 update taking forever issue while updating over the air.

1 Check Network Connection

There is a possibility that the network connection might be posing a problem and hence, iOS 17/18 is taking hours to update your iPhone.

If you are updating your device through cellular data, you need to be sure that the network connection is stable. If it doesn't, we recommend that you use a Wi-Fi connection over Cellular data to stop iPhone taking forever to update.

2 Check iPhone Storage

iOS updates often require a considerable amount of space to store the downloaded files. Also, during the update process, the system creates temporary files and backups to ensure a smooth installation.

If iPhone has not enough storage available for iOS 17/18 files, the download and install process could fail, making your iPhone update taking forever.

To check this, head on to Settings, navigate to the General tab, then get into Storage to check how much storage is left on your iPhone. If it's too full, free up some space for the iOS update.

3 Check Apple Server

The Apple server may have been experiencing a surge in traffic with million of users attempting to download the update simultaneously, triggering iOS 17/18 taking forever to update issues.

When you want to make a major update, like from iOS 17 to iOS 18, this reason is always considered. so, you can go check if the server is busy and is having a temporary downtime. If yes, we would suggest you update your iOS sometime later.

4 Reset Network Settings

You can reset the network settings in order to remove all the glitches that might have been creating hindrances if iOS 17/18 update taking forever.

This is an advanced method if you can't solve the issue by simply switching from cellular data to Wi-Fi.

Step 1: Tap on Settings > General.

Step 2: Scroll down to find Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

Step 3: When you click on it, iPhone will ask you to enter the passcode then begin to reset your network.

5 Force Restart iPhone

If iOS 17/18 is taking hours to update, you can go with one of the simplest ways of solving the problem by performing a force restart on your iPhone.

Depending upon your iPhone model, the restart is carried out in a different way. You can choose the method based on the iPhone model you have.

6 Use iTunes to Update iPhone

If you have tried the other methods and the iPhone update taking forever won't let you complete the process, then you can try to install the newest version using iTunes.

Though iTunes claims that updating iPhone using it won't cause data loss, users often find their iPhone stuck on connect to iTunes during the process, so it's better to make a backup before starting.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the PC and launch the iTunes.

Step 2: Select the device icon from the iTunes screen and get into the Summary section.

Step 3: Tap on the Check for Update button. Your device will then be updated to the latest software iOS 17/18.

With all the 7 methods provided in this article, the iPhone taking forever to update issue can be perfectly solved. Different methods are offered for iPhone in different conditions and the iMyFone Fixppo can help you handle this issue regardless of the cases!

Melvin Cooper

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