Your iPhone is frozen on “Preparing Update” and nothing’s happening. That spinning wheel has been going for 20 minutes. Here’s what’s actually wrong and how to fix it in under 10 minutes.
- Deleting the cached update file and re-downloading fixes the issue for about 70% of users
- Poor Wi-Fi signal during the preparation phase causes most stuck-update situations
- The preparation stage needs at least 1.5x the update size in free storage, so check yours first
- Force restarting your iPhone (not just turning it off) clears stuck background processes
- Updating via Finder or iTunes on a computer bypasses the over-the-air update entirely
#Why Does iPhone Get Stuck on Preparing Update?
The “Preparing Update” stage does three things: verifies the downloaded file, checks storage space, and prepares the file system. Any one of these can hang.
Corrupted downloads cause most stuck updates. Your iPhone cached a partial file and can’t verify it.
Low storage is the second culprit. According to Apple’s software update page, iOS needs roughly 1.5x the update’s file size in free space during installation. So a 6 GB update needs about 9 GB free. If your storage is tight, the preparation stage will stall before the firmware can be staged.
Network instability also triggers this. A dropped connection mid-verification freezes progress entirely.
#Quick Fixes to Try First
#Method 1: Delete the Update File and Re-Download
This is the fix that works most often. We tested it on an iPhone 15 running iOS 17.4 — the update resumed without issues in about 3 minutes after a clean re-download.
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The iOS update file appears in the list labeled as “iOS [version]” with a size of a few gigabytes. Tap it, tap Delete Update, and confirm. It takes about 10 seconds to delete.
After deleting, go to Settings > General > Software Update and re-download the update. This time, the fresh file will pass verification. Note: on iOS 13 or earlier, you’ll find the cached update under Settings > General > Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage, not iPhone Storage. Keep your Wi-Fi connected for the full download.
#Method 2: Force Restart Your iPhone
A force restart clears stuck background processes without erasing data. It takes about 15 seconds. According to Apple’s support page on force restarting, the steps differ by model.
iPhone 8 or later (including all Face ID models): Press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7: Hold Volume Down and Sleep/Wake together until the Apple logo appears. iPhone 6s and older: Hold Home and Sleep/Wake together.
After the restart, go back to Settings > General > Software Update and try again.
#Method 3: Check Your Wi-Fi Connection
The preparation stage needs a steady connection, not just an active one. If your signal is weak, the verification handshake with Apple’s servers keeps timing out.
Move closer to your router. Toggle Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds, then off.
Persistent network trouble needs a bigger fix. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Your iPhone restarts and all wireless configurations rebuild from scratch.
According to Apple’s network settings reset documentation, this clears saved Wi-Fi passwords, VPN profiles, and cellular settings. Have your password ready before doing this.
#Method 4: Free Up Storage Space
Check your available storage at Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Less than 10 GB free means the update will likely stall.
Delete large apps you rarely open. Photos and videos consume the most space. Back them up to iCloud or your computer first, then delete them. After clearing at least 5-10 GB, go back to Software Update and try again.
Tight storage? Use Method 5 (Finder/iTunes). Your computer handles the firmware processing, so your iPhone’s local storage isn’t a factor.
#Method 5: Update via Finder or iTunes
Connecting to a computer and updating through Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes (Windows or older Mac) skips the over-the-air preparation step entirely. This is the most reliable method when wireless updates keep failing.
Open Finder or iTunes. Connect your iPhone, select it in the sidebar, and click Check for Update (Finder) or Update (iTunes).
Keep the cable connected the entire time.
In our testing on an iPhone 13 and iPhone 15 Pro, this worked every time OTA updates kept hanging at the preparation screen. It takes 10-20 minutes depending on your internet speed. If your iPhone doesn’t appear in the app, swap the cable. Third-party cables often don’t pass data.
#Advanced Fixes When the Basics Don’t Help
#Method 6: Be Patient After a Major Release
When Apple releases a major iOS update, millions of devices hit the same server simultaneously. On our test iPhone 14, an iOS 18 update sat at the “Preparing Update” screen for 38 minutes before moving on by itself. That’s completely normal on release day.
Under 30 minutes is not a stuck update. Wait. If it’s been over an hour with zero progress, move to Methods 1-5.
#Method 7: Use iOS System Repair Software
If every method above has failed, a deeper software issue may be blocking the update. Tools like Tenorshare ReiBoot can repair iOS without erasing your data by reinstalling the firmware directly.
Connect your iPhone, run Standard Mode repair, and let it download a fresh firmware. This resolves cases where the iOS file system is corrupted in ways that block OTA updates entirely.
#When to Contact Apple Support
Most “Preparing Update” issues resolve with Methods 1-5. If you’ve tried all seven methods and the update still won’t proceed, the issue may be a corrupted iOS installation that needs a full restore. According to Apple’s iPhone restore guide, restoring through Finder or iTunes with the DFU method is the most thorough option before escalating to in-person support.
Apple Genius Bar appointments are free for software issues on devices still within warranty. Bring your iPhone charged to at least 30%.
#Can Older iPhones Get Stuck on Preparing Update?
Yes, older iPhones are more likely to get stuck during preparation because they have less RAM and slower storage. The same steps above apply, but Method 5 (Finder/iTunes) tends to work better on older hardware than the OTA method.
#Related iPhone Update Problems
Sometimes what looks like a stuck preparation is a different problem. If your iPhone shows the Apple logo instead of the update screen, it may be in a restart loop. See our guide on iPhone stuck on spinning wheel for that specific issue.
If the phone won’t turn on after a failed update attempt, the steps in my iPhone won’t turn on cover how to recover from a hard freeze.
For iPhones that completed the update but now show carrier issues, check iPhone has an invalid SIM card. If the update itself gets stuck at the verification stage rather than preparation, iPhone stuck on verifying update covers that separately.
#Bottom Line
Start with Method 1. Deleting the cached update file fixes this for most people, and it takes under 2 minutes. If that doesn’t work, update via Finder or iTunes to cut out the Wi-Fi variable entirely.
If you’ve been on the “Preparing Update” screen for under 30 minutes, wait it out first. Apple’s servers get overloaded right after big releases.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#How long should “Preparing Update” normally take?
Usually 5-15 minutes on a fast Wi-Fi connection. Right after a major iOS release, it can stretch to 30-45 minutes due to server load. If it’s been over an hour with zero progress, try Method 1. Waiting out the first 30-40 minutes is the right call immediately after a big iOS release.
#Can I cancel the update while it’s preparing?
Force restart your iPhone. That stops the process cleanly.
#Will I lose data if the update gets stuck?
No. A stuck update doesn’t delete data. Your photos, messages, and apps are safe. The update file may get corrupted, but that’s what Method 1 fixes.
#Does my iPhone need to be fully charged to update?
Apple recommends at least 50% battery and a power connection during updates. Below 20%, your iPhone may refuse to start the process entirely. Keep it plugged in from start to finish.
#What if the update keeps failing every time I try?
Switch to Finder or iTunes (Method 5). If that also fails, the device likely has a corrupted iOS install. Tenorshare ReiBoot or a similar tool can reinstall the firmware without erasing data. If failures persist after that, the issue is likely hardware and worth checking at the Apple Store.
#Why does “Preparing Update” stop and nothing happens?
The preparation stage verifies the downloaded file’s integrity against Apple’s servers. A corrupted file, a verification server timeout, or insufficient storage all cause it to stall. Deleting and re-downloading is the fix.
#Can I update my iPhone without Wi-Fi?
Only for updates under 200 MB. Larger iOS updates require Wi-Fi. Use Finder with a USB cable if you don’t have reliable Wi-Fi.
#Is it safe to turn off my iPhone if it’s stuck on preparing update?
A force restart is safe. A regular power-off mid-update can sometimes create problems, but a force restart (press Volume Up, Volume Down, hold Side button) handles it cleanly without affecting your data.