[Fixed]iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update 2023

“When I update my iPhone to the iOS 16 or the first Public Beta of iOS 17, it’s stuck on preparing update. I deleted the software update, restated and re-updated but it still stuck on preparing update. How do I get this fixed?”

Apple introduced iOS 17 at WWDC 2023 on June 5, with the global rollout set for fall, likely in mid-September, following the pattern of previous releases. The release often closely aligns with new iPhone launches, with a span of a few days separating the two events.

iOS 17 might launch on either September 11 or September 18. Prior to the full version, several beta versions will be made available, starting with the first developer beta on June 5, the same day as the WWDC 2023 keynote event.For the broader user base, Apple rolled out the Public Beta on July 12.

One of the most common issues is: you try to download and install iOS 17/16 on your iPhone but only find the installation is stuck on “Preparing Update”.

This annoying situation can be caused by both software bugs and hardware issues. In this article, we’ll explain why your iPhone is stuck on Preparing Update and what to do to fix this issue.

Why iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update?

Downloading and installing an update on your iPhone involves several steps, one of which is “Preparing for an Update.” Once an update is downloaded, there are certain preparation processes it must undergo before being installed on your device.

Typically, the “iOS Preparing Update” process only takes a few minutes. However, it may take longer due to several non-physical issues. For instance, a partially downloaded update file, a poor internet connection, or minor glitches in your current iOS version can all extend this preparation time. These issues, rather than physical damage to your device, are often the culprits when this phase takes longer than expected.

While physical damage can certainly cause unexpected issues with the way your iPhone downloads, prepares, and installs updates, it’s more likely to be one of the aforementioned problems if the process is taking longer than usual. So before considering a visit to a repair shop, it’s worth investigating these potential causes first.

How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update

The following solutions will help you solve the problem and jump start the update process:

1. Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

To update iPhone to iOS 17/16 over the air via Wi-Fi, the device should be connected to a strong and stable Wi-Fi network.

If the iOS update gets stuck, you can navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi to make sure that the iPhone is still connected to Wi-Fi.

If your device is connected to a Wi-Fi and you think that the network is having problems, try connecting to a different network before installing the update again.

2. Check Your iPhone Storage

Usually, you need at least 5 to 6GB of storage space to update your iPhone. Therefore, you may need to check if there is adequate storage space on the device when stuck on Preparing Update.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to check the amount of storage space that you have. If it is inadequate, you should consider backing up some of your photos and videos to iCloud or deleting some apps to make room for the update.

3. Remove VPN Setup or App

This solution also seems to work for some users. Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and then turn off “VPN”. You can always turn it back on when the update is complete. If the iOS 17/16 update is still stuck on Preparing Update, move on to the next solution.

4. Force Close Settings App

Force closing and then relaunching the Settings app can also be a solution to solve the problem of iPhone stuck on Preparing Update. This method may work if the Settings app has issues and works improperly. Here’s how to do it:

1. Double press the Home Button. If the device doesn’t have a Home button, swipe up from the horizontal bar to open the app switcher.
2. Find the Settings app and then swipe up to force close it. Then reopen the app and try updating the system again.

5. Hard Reset Your iPhone

As already mentioned, your iPhone may be stuck on Preparing Update due to software errors. Hard resetting the iPhone is another great way to fix the errors with the device. Below is how to to hard reset an iPhone depending on the device model:

• iPhone X and later: Press the Volume Up button and then press the Volume Down button. Then, keep holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 7 and 8: Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button. Keep holding the buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

6. Delete iOS Update in iPhone Storage

You can also fix this problem by deleting the update in your iPhone storage and then try to download the update again.

To delete the update, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and locate the software update. Tap on the iOS update file and then select “Delete Update” to remove it.

Once the update is deleted, go back to Settings > General> Software Update and try to download and install the iOS 17/16 update again.

7. Fix iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update without Data Loss

iPhone stuck on Preparing Update can occur when the system is corrupt or there is a problem with iOS system. In this case, the best way to fix it is to use an iOS repair tool such as Fucosoft iOS System Recovery.

This program can be used to fix most iOS stuck issues without causing data loss, including iPhone stuck on Apple logo, recovery mode, boot loop, iPhone won’t turn on, etc. It is fully compatible with the latest iPhone 15/14/13 and iOS 17/16.

To fix iPhone stuck on Preparing Update, download and install Fucosoft iOS System Recovery on to your computer, then follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the iOS repair tool on a PC or Mac and connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Once the device has been detected, click “Start” to proceed.

If your device cannot be recognized by the program, you can follow the on-screen instructions to put it into DFU/Recovery mode.

Step 2: The software will then display the iPhone’s model, iOS version and present matching firmware versions for the device. Check all information and click on “Download” to get the firmware package.

Step 3: After the firmware package has been downloaded successfully, click on “Start Standard Repair” and the program will immediately begin repairing the device and install the latest iOS 17/16 on your iPhone.

8. Avoid iPhone Stuck on Preparing Update by Updating in iTunes

If the iOS 17/16 update is still stuck on Preparing Update, we suggest you try to update the device via iTunes. To do that, simply run iTunes on your computer and then connect your iPhone using USB cable.

As soon as iTunes detects the device, you will see a popup message saying that there is a new iOS version available. Simply click “Download and Update” and then follow the on-screen instructions to update the device.

The Bottom Line

Here, we have introduced eight effective ways to fix the issue of the iPhone stuck on Preparing Update. We recommend you try the solution – Fucosoft iOS System Recovery. If you have other iOS update issues like iOS 17 taking forever to update, download and install button grayed out, this powerful iOS repair tool can always help you.