Things to know about iOS 16 stuck on update request:
- It’s normal when a new version of iOS comes out. Waiting a while helps.
- But if you’ve been waiting too long, restart your iPhone to fix the issue.
- And when all else fails, reset all settings by opening Settings → General → Reset → Reset all settings. After that, try updating your iPhone. This will work.
Whenever Apple introduces a new version of iOS, people from all over the world flock to download it and be among the first users. In this regard, it is quite normal for iOS 16 to get stuck on the Update Requested screen for a while as Apple’s servers are overloaded. However, if the screen stays still for a very long time, here are the fixes.
By following the steps here, you will be able to download iOS 16 and install it successfully.
- Force close the Settings app
- Check your Wi-Fi connection and restart your router.
- Restart your iPhone
- Delete the iOS file if it is visible
- Free space on your iPhone
- Reset network settings
- Update using a computer
1. Force close the Settings app.
The first solution is to force close the Settings app. To do this, on an iPhone with Face ID, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold. On an iPhone with a Home button, quickly double-tap it. Then drag the Settings app card up to force close it.
After a few seconds, open the app again and see if the issue is resolved or not.
2. Check the Wi-Fi connection and restart the router.
Make sure you have fast and reliable Wi-Fi. Restart your Wi-Fi router and it will improve connectivity, making it easier to download iOS 16.
Also, make sure you disable all VPNs on your iPhone (if enabled). And if none of that helps, connect your iPhone to a different Wi-Fi network. This will most likely start a new iOS download.
3. Restart your iPhone
Another working way to fix iOS update stuck on the update prompt screen is to restart your iPhone. This will update things that can help you start downloading iOS 16. So, turn off your iPhone and turn it back on after a minute.
4. Delete the iOS file if it is visible
- Open iPhone Settings and tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down and if you see any file named iOS 16, tap it.
- On the next screen, click Uninstall Update.
- Then restart your iPhone and follow the instructions to download iOS 15 again.
5. Free space on your iPhone
If your iPhone doesn’t have enough space, the whole update process won’t work properly. To fix this, delete some unnecessary apps, photos, videos, music, and files to free up about six to seven gigabytes of storage. If you need detailed instructions, check out how to free up space on your iPhone.
6. Reset network settings
If none of the above solutions work, reset your network settings. This will remove all user settings related to things like carrier and Wi-Fi.
- Open “Settings”and click “General”.
- Tap Reset.
- Click “Reset network settings”and continue.
- Once completed, try downloading the update again. This will work.
And in the rare case that network reset is not enough, reset all settings. The steps are the same as described above. Just remember to select “Reset all settings”in step 3.
7. Update using a computer
Finally, if all else fails, consider updating to iOS 16 using a Mac or PC. You’ll need iTunes on older Macs or Windows PCs. And on macOS Catalina and later, the Finder gets the job done. Check out this guide to learn how to update iPhone using a computer.
These are the solutions to fix iOS 16 stuck on update screen preparation. I hope these solutions have worked for you and you can now enjoy the exciting new version of iOS. If you need more help, please ask in the comments section below.