Are you getting Update Requested message on the iPhone screen and it is stuck there for several minutes without any progress when updating to iOS 17? If yes, there could be several reasons for this. In the following sections, you will learn what happens behind the scene, what causes this issue, and how you can eliminate the problem with some proven quick fixes.
Questions about iPhone Update Requested
Below are 2 questions that you might have when you got this problem.
1. How long do iPhone update requests take?
Although it depends on the speed of your network, the size of the update that has been requested, and, sometimes, even the model of your iPhone as well, it usually stays on the Update Requested screen somewhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. If you notice that the message is stuck on the screen for too long, you know that there is some problem and you can try the fixes that are suggested in the next section.
2. What does it mean when your iPhone update says Update Requested?
As soon as you tap ‘Software Update’ on the ‘General’ screen, your iPhone connects to the Apple server and checks if there is an updated version of iOS available for your device. If it finds one, for example iOS 17, the next screen that appears shows the details about iOS 17 and the ‘Download and Install’ option at the bottom. When you tap ‘Download and Install’, your iPhone sends a message to the Apple server requesting the update file. During this process, you see ‘Update Requested’ on the screen.
How to Pass “iPhone Update Requested” Screen
There could be several reasons that may make your iPhone stuck on the iOS Update Requested screen when updating to iOS 17 or other versions. When this happens, you can try a couple of following fixes to get past the stage.
Solution 1: Force Reboot iPhone
Force rebooting iPhone momentarily withdraws all the current from its circuit and then puts it back in. Doing so flushes out all the junk data which might be preventing your phone from contacting the Apple server from the phone’s memory.
Now, because not all iPhone models have the same method to force restart, the procedures for iPhones of each form factor are explained below.
For iPhone 8 or later and iPhone SE – 2nd Generation
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold down the Sleep/Wake button.
- Wait until the phone turns off and the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- Release the Sleep/Wake button.
- Wait while your iPhone reboots properly.
- Try updating the iOS again to see if the problem is resolved.
For iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 7
- Press and hold down both Volume Down and Sleep/Wake buttons together.
- Wait until your iPhone turns off and the Apple logo is displayed on the screen.
- Release both buttons.
- Wait while the phone reboots normally.
- Try to update the iOS version and see if it works this time.
For iPhone 6s or earlier and iPhone SE – 1st Generation
- Press and hold down both Home and Sleep/Wake buttons together.
- Wait until the phone powers off and the Apple logo shows up.
- Release the buttons.
- Wait while your smartphone restarts normally.
- Retry updating the iOS, and check if the problem is gone.
Solution 2: Switch to a Different Wi-Fi Network
Many times, iPhone Update Requested message gets stuck due to weak Wi-Fi signals or an unstable wireless connection. Even if you’re not sure that this could be the problem in your case, there’s no harm in trying a different Wi-Fi to see if you can update to iOS 17 or other versions smoothly. The process to switch to another wireless network is given below:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the name of the wireless network that you believe has better signals and/or more stable connectivity.
- Enter the password for the Wi-Fi network.
- Tap Join from the top-right corner of the screen.
- Try updating the iOS again.
Solution 3: Make Sure You Have At Least 50% Battery
Although the ‘Download and Install’ option remains grayed out if your iPhone’s battery is less than 50%, in some cases, the phone even stays on the ‘Update Requested’ message. Therefore, it is important to see if your smartphone’s battery is enough charged to download the latest version of software (iOS 17 for now) and install it. The best way to check the current battery percentage on iPhones with a notch is by going to their ‘Control Center’ screen.
As for the devices with the Home button, the ‘Battery Percentage’ switch must be turned on manually to make the figure visible next to the battery icon on the screen. For your convenience, both methods are explained below:
For iPhones with the Notch
- Get to the Home screen.
- Swipe down the screen from the top-right corner.
- Check the battery percentage from the Control Center screen.
For iPhones with the Home Button
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Battery.
- Turn on the Battery Percentage switch.
- Check the battery percentage that is now visible next to the battery icon.
Alternatively, if your phone supports Siri, you can say, “Hey Siri! What’s the battery percentage?”, and Siri will speak out the current battery percentage and will display the figure on the screen as well.
Quick Tip: It is advisable to keep your iPhone plugged into a power outlet and put it in charging mode while performing the software update.
Solution 4: Try Updating iPhone After Some Time
If you try to update the iOS version right after it is released, you may get stuck on the iOS Update Requested screen. This is happening when Apple released iOS 17. One of the main reasons for this is that the Apple server gets requests from too many iPhones of different models at the same time which causes a bottleneck (network congestion). This is something that no one can do anything about. Therefore, if none of the above solutions help, you should stop any further attempts and try after about 60 minutes or on another day.
Solution 5: Delete Software File and Try Updating iPhone Again
Sometimes your iPhone is stuck on the Update Requested screen because it had already downloaded the update file earlier but couldn’t install it due to some reason. For example, you are trying to update to iOS 17, but you downloaded iOS 15 before and didn’t install it. In such a case, the Apple server may not respond to your iPhone’s request. To come out of this situation, you can remove the update file from your device and try downloading and installing it again. The process is explained below:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap iPhone Storage.
- Scroll down the list to locate and tap the update file. Note: The update file will have the iOS version in its name.
- Tap Delete Update on the next screen.
- Tap Delete Update on the confirmation box that pops up.
- Wait while the update file is flushed from your iPhone.
- Try updating the iOS again.
Note: You will see the update file in the apps’ list only if it is downloaded and not installed. If any of these conditions are not met, you won’t see the update file in the list.
Solution 6: Use iTunes to Update iPhone
Most people attempt to update the iOS from their iPhone itself, and there are merely a few who use iTunes for the purpose. Therefore, if you choose the iTunes method, you are likely to get past iPhone Update Requested message and will be able to update your iPhone to iOS 17 easily.
When you use iTunes, in the background, the software contacts the Apple server, requests the latest version of iOS available for your iPhone model, downloads it to your PC, and then installs it on your phone. Nevertheless, this entire process remains seamless, and all you see is that iTunes is downloading the latest update and installing it on your device.
The method of getting this done is explained below:
- Launch iTunes on your computer.
- Use the Lightning Cable to connect your iPhone to the PC.
- Wait while iTunes detects your phone. Note: At this point, usually iTunes automatically notifies you if there’s an iOS update available for your iPhone. If it doesn’t, you can move to the next step to do things manually.
- Click the Phone icon from the top of iTunes’ main interface.
- On the next window, make sure that the Summary option under the Settings category in the left pane is selected.
- From the upper section of the right window, click Check for Update or Update (if iTunes has detected that the latest software is ready for your iPhone).
- Wait while iTunes checks for the latest version of iOS available for your iPhone.
- Follow the on-screen instructions from there to download and install the newer iOS on your device.
Conclusion
If your iPhone has the “Update Requested” message on the screen and it is stuck there for a while, the fixes explained above can help you get past the issue within no time. However, if the Apple server is temporarily down or is facing network congestion, you are suggested to quit attempting, and retry to update to iOS 17 after some time, maybe after 60 minutes or another day.
