iTunes plays an important role when it comes to managing your iPhone, or any other iOS device for that matter, especially when you don’t have access to a Mac computer and are doing all your mission-critical tasks on a Windows PC. While updating your iPhone, many times you might experience that iTunes is stuck on ‘Verifying updated iPhone software’.
With that said, in the following sections, you will learn a few methods that can help you resolve the issue easily and quickly, and for free.
How Long Does It Take for iTunes to Verify Updated iPhone Software?
The answer to this question depends on multiple factors. In general, the time it takes for iTunes to verify updated iPhone software is directly related to the size of the update file, the speed of your Internet connection, and the performance of your PC.
Nevertheless, under normal circumstances, iTunes shouldn’t take more than a couple of seconds to a few minutes to complete the verification process.
How to Fix iTunes Stuck on ‘Verifying updated iPhone software’
Some of the most practiced methods to rectify the issue when iTunes is stuck on ‘Verifying updated iPhone software’ don’t require you to install any third-party tool or purchase a paid application. These working solutions are explained below in detail.
Tip 1: Troubleshoot the Network
iTunes may get stuck on the screen saying ‘Verifying updated iPhone software’ if there is a problem with your wireless or Ethernet network connection. You can do the following to fix the issue:
- On your Windows PC (a Windows 11 computer is used here for illustration), click Start.
- Click Settings.
- Click Troubleshoot from the System screen.
- Click Other troubleshooters.
- Click Run next to the Internet Connections option.
- On the Internet Connections box, click Troubleshoot my connection to the Internet.
- Wait while the troubleshooter detects and automatically fixes the issues that it may find.
Note: In some cases, the tool may ask for your input before it can proceed with the suggested fixes.
Tip 2: Check Apple System Status
Sometimes even the Apple servers face issues that may prevent iTunes from performing as expected. Fortunately, it is easy to check if you are trying to update your iPhone during any such period. The process is explained below:
- Launch your favorite web browser.
- Go to the https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/ link.
- Check the current status of all the entries on the page. (If marked Green, it means that the servers are up and available.)
Tip 3: Temporarily Disable Antivirus Software
Some third-party antivirus programs suspect any such activities and consider them a threat to the PC. Because of this, they don’t allow the data to interact with the operating system whatsoever. Since you cannot identify whether iTunes is stuck on ‘Verifying updated iPhone software’ screen due to this reason or not, it would be a good idea to turn off the antivirus application for some time and then try updating iPhone with iTunes again.
Although all such programs have different menus and methods for disabling, the universal process is explained below:
- Right-click the icon of the antivirus program from the Notification Area in the taskbar.
- Click Disable or Turn off.
- Set a time when the antivirus application should automatically enable (if the confirmation box appears).
- Click OK.
- Retry updating the iPhone with iTunes and see if the issue is fixed.
- Re-enable antivirus when done.
Tip 4: Put iPhone in Recovery Mode
When you put your iPhone in Recovery Mode, iTunes can detect your device and allows you to either restore it to factory settings with the most recent firmware or update it to the latest version of iOS. Although this method works best, putting your iPhone in Recovery Mode is a bit trickier as the process varies from model to model. Nonetheless, the procedures for all the phone models are explained below:
- Use the lightning cable to connect your iPhone to the PC with iTunes.
- Launch iTunes.
- For iPhone 8 and later:
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold down the Sleep/Wake button until the phone enters Recovery Mode.
- Release the Sleep/Wake button.
- For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:
- Press and hold down the Volume Down and Sleep/Wake buttons together.
- Wait until iPhone enters Recovery Mode.
- Release the buttons.
- For iPhone 6S and earlier:
- Press and hold down the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons together.
- Wait until iPhone enters Recovery Mode.
- Release the buttons.
- When iTunes prompts, click Update.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to update iPhone software with iTunes in Recovery Mode.
- Let the phone restart automatically when the process completes.
Tip 5: Put iPhone in DFU Mode
DFU stands for Device Firmware Update, and as the name suggests, when you put your iPhone in DFU Mode, the only option you get is to restore the phone to the latest version of firmware that is available for your model. As it is with Recovery Mode, the processes of putting different models of iPhones in DFU Mode vary as well, and are explained below:
- Use the lightning cable to connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes installed on it.
- Launch iTunes.
- For iPhone 8 and later:
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold down the Sleep/Wake button, and wait for the screen to go black.
- While keeping the Sleep/Wake button pressed, press and hold down the Volume Down button for 5 seconds.
- After 5 seconds, release the Sleep/Wake button while keeping the Volume Down button pressed.
- Wait while iTunes displays a confirmation box even when the iPhone screen is still black.
- Release the Volume Down button.
- For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:
- Press and hold down the Volume Down and Sleep/Wake buttons together.
- After 8 seconds, release the Sleep/Wake button while keeping the Volume Down button pressed.
- Wait while iTunes displays a confirmation box even when the iPhone screen is still black.
- Release the Volume Down button.
- For iPhone 6S and earlier:
- The process is similar to iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. The only difference is that you must press the Home button instead of Volume Down.
- On the confirmation box, click OK.
- Back on the iTunes window, click Restore iPhone.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to restore iPhone to factory settings with the latest firmware.
Note: Restoring erases all your data and custom settings from your iPhone. You will lose everything if you didn’t back up your phone.
Conclusion
Most of the time you can use iTunes to update your iPhone without any problem. However, if unfortunately, you see your iTunes is stuck on ‘Verifying updated iPhone software’ screen, we hope the solutions we have introduced above will help you out.
