How Long Does an iPhone Update Take?

iPhone update is necessary to keep your iPhone running smoothly. If you have tried updating your iPhone but it’s taking longer than necessary, then this article helps you with answers.

Apple update is regular unlike that of an Android device. Apple updates base on security improvements, bug fixing, or a major iOS update. Each update brings something new to your device it’s important you keep up.

The truth is that updating your iPhone should not take much time, 50mins max and you are done. So if your update is taking long then there is something wrong with your device.

Why is my iPhone taking long to update?

iPhone update could take long because of certain factors such as:

1. Size of iOS
2. Overloaded Apple servers
3. Slow network
4. Low phone storage
5. Running other applications in background
6. Age of phone

1. Size of iOS

iPhone has different iOS sizes to match different features. The most recent update is IOS 15.1, so to update from 15.0 to the most recent one will take longer to update, install and configure apps.

2. Overloaded Apple servers

Apple servers also affects an update. This is because when apple releases a new update, millions of Apple users may try to install the update within the same time period. This will overload the servers and they become slow.

You have to check system status to see if servers are down or not. On the system status page check for a green dot on your iCloud account. An absent green dot means you have to wait for apple to fix their server before you start updating.

3. Slow network

Also check your network connection before you start an update. A slow Network will translate to longer update time. If the network is not consistent it will also affect your update process.

4. Low phone storage

A new update brings something new like new fonts, bug fixes. That means it needs enough storage space to offload new goodies. If your iPhone lacks enough storage space, any update you start will take longer or even stop half way. Check storage space before starting a new update on your iPhone.

5. Running other applications in background

If other apps are running in the background while you are doing an update, it will affect your update process and make it slow. Because it splits the required resources and slows down the update. Turn off background apps.

6. Age of phone

This is very crucial even though you might not know or see it as important, but the older the phone, the slower the update. Older phones do not handle software updates well because updates are made for better hardware. An iPhone 6 will take longer but an iPhone 13 will b faster. Worst of all, if your device is at the brink of dying off, it’s almost impossible to perform an update.

Normally an update on your iPhone should take up to 50 mins;

1. Downloading software 10 -15 mins
2. Prepare update lasts 15 – 25 mins
3. Verifying update lasts 1 – 6 mins
4. Final installation including phone rebooting takes 10mins.

8 Precautions to take before future updates

Before you start your iPhone update, do these things:

1. Use strong internet connection for updates, always confirm if your network is working before proceeding. If you can run a quick speed test to be sure. 5Mbps is reasonably good. If you are using VPN turn it off.
2. Prepare and backup your files before you plan to update your iPhone.
3. Close other running background apps to shorten update time, background apps running slows down the process.
4. Delete useless apps and files so there will be enough storage space. Some updates are extensive and needs more space.
5. Ensure you have enough battery power. A battery percentage lesser than 50% might not update your phone.
6. Update your iPhone device few days after Apple releases an update. That way you bypass the traffic that can slow down your update. The server will be free to respond to you.
7. Restart iPhone: Restarting you phone gives it a fresh start to make your update easy and faster.

Its very important to update your iPhone regularly, skipping updates can make your phone vulnerable to virus and bugs to penetrate, which in turn can cause damages and make your iPhone obsolete.

This article was first published on July 3, 2022 2:21 p.m. WAT