Why Your iPhone 7 Won’t Update and How to Fix It [Troubleshooting Guide]

Is your iPhone 7 failing to update to the latest iOS version? There are several potential reasons an iPhone 7 may get stuck during an iOS update and solutions to get it working again.

This guide will walk through the most common causes of iPhone 7 update failures and provide step-by-step instructions to successfully update your iPhone 7 to the newest iOS version. Here’s how to fix your iPhone 7 won’t update:

Restart Your iPhone 7

An easy first step is to restart your iPhone 7. Restarting resets any temporary glitches that may be preventing the update.

To restart an iPhone 7:

• Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons simultaneously until the power off slider appears.
• Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone 7 completely.
• After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo to turn it back on.

Check Your Internet Connection

Your iPhone 7 needs a steady internet connection to download and install iOS updates.

Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and make sure you’re connected to a strong Wi-Fi network. If not, connect to a better Wi-Fi network and try updating again.

Delete and Re-download the Update

If an update file is corrupted, it can prevent installation.

To delete and re-download the update:

• Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
• Find the iOS update file and tap on it.
• Tap Delete Update to remove the file.
• Go back to Settings > General > Software Update to re-download the update.

Update Using iTunes Instead of Settings

Sometimes updating through iTunes is more reliable than updating directly on the iPhone 7.

To update with iTunes:

• Connect your iPhone 7 to a computer with iTunes.
• In iTunes, click on your iPhone 7 and select Check for Update.
• Click Download and Update when prompted.

Restore Your iPhone 7

If still struggling, you can erase and restore your iPhone 7 to factory settings:

• Backup your iPhone 7 data first.
• In iTunes, click Restore iPhone to wipe it and reinstall iOS.
• Set up your iPhone 7 again and restore your backup.

Update in Recovery Mode

As a last resort, you can force an update by putting your iPhone 7 into Recovery Mode:

• Connect to iTunes and hold the Home and Side buttons.
• Keep holding until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
• In iTunes, click Update when prompted to install the latest iOS version.

Fix Common iPhone 7 Updating Errors

Here are some specific steps to fix frequent iPhone 7 updating errors:

Not Enough Storage Available

Delete unused apps, photos, and media to free up space for the iOS update. You generally need at least 500MB free.

Unable to Verify Update

This means your iPhone 7 lost connection during the update. Retry with a better internet connection.

iPhone 7 Stuck on Verifying Update

Force restart your iPhone 7 and retry the update. Also try a different Wi-Fi network.

iPhone 7 Compatibility Issues

Make sure your iPhone 7 model supports the latest iOS version you’re trying to install.

Connection Timed Out

Restart your iPhone 7 and router if you get a connection timed out error. Also use a different Wi-Fi.

When to Contact Apple Support

If you still can’t update your iPhone 7 after troubleshooting, contact Apple Support:

• Schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store for help.
• Call Apple Support to work through solutions over the phone.
• Chat with Apple Support online to troubleshoot in real time.

Apple can run diagnostics, replace any faulty components, or replace your iPhone 7 entirely if unfixable.

With focused troubleshooting, you should be able to successfully update an iPhone 7 stuck on an older iOS version. Key steps are restarting, ensuring connectivity, deleting and re-downloading the update file, using iTunes, and restoring your iPhone 7 software.