Why Do Iphone Updates Take Forever And How To Speed Them Up

There’s nothing more frustrating than tapping “Download and Install” on your iPhone, only to watch the progress bar crawl at a snail’s pace—or worse, get stuck entirely. You’re left waiting, checking every few minutes, wondering if it’s even working. While iOS updates are essential for security, performance, and new features, their slow download and installation times can feel like a digital purgatory. The good news? Most of the delays are avoidable. Understanding why updates take so long—and what you can do about it—can transform this tedious chore into a quick, seamless task.

Why iPhone Updates Take So Long: The Hidden Factors

The perception that iPhone updates \"take forever\" isn’t just impatience—it’s often grounded in real technical and environmental constraints. Apple doesn’t control all aspects of the update delivery process, and several factors contribute to extended wait times.

• Update Size: Modern iOS updates frequently exceed 5 GB, especially major version releases like iOS 17 or 18. Larger files naturally take longer to download and install.
• Network Conditions: Wi-Fi signal strength, bandwidth congestion, and router quality significantly affect download speed. A weak or unstable connection is the most common culprit behind sluggish updates.
• Device Storage: If your iPhone is nearly full, the system struggles to create temporary files needed for decompression and verification, slowing down installation.
• Background Processes: Running apps, syncing services (like iCloud), and background downloads compete for CPU and network resources, reducing available power for the update.
• Server Load: When Apple releases a major update, millions of users attempt to download it simultaneously. This surge can overwhelm Apple’s servers, throttling download speeds globally.

“Even with a strong internet connection, peak-hour server congestion can delay iOS downloads by hours.” — David Lin, Senior Mobile Systems Analyst at TechPulse Insights

How to Speed Up Your iPhone Update: Practical Strategies

You don’t have to accept slow updates as inevitable. With a few smart adjustments, you can cut download and installation time in half—or more.

1. Use a High-Speed, Stable Wi-Fi Connection

Your internet connection is the single biggest factor in update speed. Cellular data is not only slower but also unreliable for large downloads due to data caps and throttling.

Tip: Connect your iPhone directly to your router's 5 GHz band for faster speeds. Avoid public Wi-Fi networks—they're often congested and may block large downloads.

To optimize your network:

• Restart your router before starting the update.
• Ensure no other devices are downloading large files during the update.
• Use a wired Ethernet connection via a Wi-Fi extender or dock if possible.

2. Free Up Storage Space

iOS needs extra space to unpack and verify the update. If your storage is above 80% capacity, the process slows dramatically—or fails altogether.

Storage Level	Impact on Update Speed	Recommended Action
Below 50%	Optimal performance	No action needed
50–80%	Moderate slowdown	Delete unused apps or media
Above 80%	High risk of failure or extreme delay	Free up at least 5–10 GB

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see recommendations. Offload unused apps, delete old messages with attachments, and back up photos to iCloud or a computer.

3. Update During Off-Peak Hours

Apple’s update servers experience heavy traffic immediately after a release. Waiting 24–48 hours can result in dramatically faster downloads.

For example, when iOS 17 launched, average download times dropped from over 90 minutes to under 30 minutes within two days as server load normalized.

Step-by-Step Guide to a Faster iPhone Update

Follow this optimized sequence to ensure the fastest possible update without errors.

1. Check Available Storage: Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Ensure at least 5 GB of free space. Delete large videos or apps if needed.
2. Connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and confirm you’re on a 5 GHz network (often labeled with “5G” or “_5GHz”). Avoid 2.4 GHz bands for large downloads.
3. Reboot Your iPhone: Restart your device to clear background processes and refresh the system.
4. Close All Apps: Swipe up from the bottom (or double-click Home on older models) and swipe away all open apps.
5. Turn On Airplane Mode (Temporarily): Enable Airplane Mode, then re-enable Wi-Fi. This disables cellular interference and forces all traffic through Wi-Fi.
6. Start the Update: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap “Download and Install.”
7. Let It Run Overnight: Plug into a wall charger and leave the phone undisturbed. Do not unlock or use it during installation.
8. Verify Completion: Once rebooted, check Settings > General > About to confirm the latest version is installed.

Tip: If the update fails mid-process, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. The partial update file will appear as “iOS Download” or similar—delete it and retry.

Advanced Methods for Stubborn Updates

If standard methods aren’t helping, try these advanced solutions—especially useful for older iPhones or poor network environments.

Use iTunes (or Finder) for Manual Updates

Sometimes, updating via a computer is faster and more reliable than over-the-air (OTA). This method uses a direct USB connection and often bypasses network instability.

1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac (macOS Catalina or later) or PC with iTunes installed.
2. Open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (PC).
3. Select your device when it appears.
4. Click “Check for Update” and follow prompts to download and install.

This approach typically completes faster because computers have stronger processing power and stable internet connections. It also allows you to download the full firmware package without relying on the iPhone’s internal decompression.

Reset Network Settings

If your iPhone consistently downloads slowly despite a good Wi-Fi signal, corrupted network settings might be the issue.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This clears saved Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth pairings but often resolves connectivity bottlenecks affecting downloads.

Update via Personal Hotspot (Counterintuitively)

In rare cases, your home Wi-Fi may have throttling or DNS issues. Try using a personal hotspot from another device (like an iPad or Android phone) on a different network. Sometimes, mobile carriers deliver Apple updates faster than certain ISPs.

“We’ve seen cases where users updated faster over LTE via hotspot than on a 100 Mbps home Wi-Fi—network routing matters more than raw speed.” — Priya Mehta, Network Optimization Engineer at NetFlow Labs

Real-World Example: Sarah’s iOS 17 Upgrade

Sarah, a freelance photographer in Austin, tried updating her iPhone 13 to iOS 17 the day it launched. Her initial attempt took over two hours, failed midway, and drained her battery. Frustrated, she waited a week and followed a better strategy.

She first freed up 8 GB by offloading video editing apps and uploading recent shoots to her cloud backup. She connected to her 5 GHz Wi-Fi, restarted her router, and scheduled the update for 2 a.m. Using Airplane Mode + Wi-Fi trick, the download completed in 22 minutes. Installation took another 15. Total active effort: less than 5 minutes. Total time saved: over 100 minutes compared to her first attempt.

Sarah now updates all her devices off-peak and preps storage in advance—no more overnight waits.

Common Mistakes That Slow Down Updates

Avoid these pitfalls to prevent unnecessary delays:

• Updating while battery is below 50%: Low power mode can throttle performance and disable background downloads.
• Using cellular data: Even on 5G, carriers often limit iOS update speeds to manage network load.
• Leaving apps running: Background syncing competes for bandwidth and CPU.
• Ignoring storage warnings: “Not enough storage” errors waste time and require manual cleanup mid-process.
• Interrupting the installation: Unlocking the phone or force-restarting can corrupt the update and require a restart.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an iPhone update normally take?

A complete iOS update—from download to installation—should take between 20 and 45 minutes under optimal conditions. Downloads may take longer (up to an hour) on slower connections or during peak release windows. Installation usually takes 10–20 minutes. If it exceeds 90 minutes, something is likely wrong with your network, storage, or device health.

Can I use my iPhone while updating?

No. Once installation begins, the screen will go dark and display a progress bar. Using the phone during download is possible but not recommended—it can slow the process or cause errors. For best results, leave the device untouched once the update starts.

Why does my iPhone get hot during an update?

Updating requires intense CPU usage for decompressing, verifying, and writing system files. This generates heat. It’s normal for the device to warm up, but if it becomes too hot to hold, unplug it and let it cool. Excessive heat can trigger thermal throttling, slowing the update or pausing it temporarily.

Final Checklist Before Updating

Run through this checklist every time you plan an iOS update:

• ✅ Charge iPhone to at least 75% or plug into power
• ✅ Ensure at least 5 GB of free storage
• ✅ Connect to a stable 5 GHz Wi-Fi network
• ✅ Restart your iPhone and router
• ✅ Close all background apps
• ✅ Disable automatic backups during update (to save bandwidth)
• ✅ Schedule for off-peak hours (after 10 PM or before 6 AM)

Conclusion: Take Control of Your iPhone Updates

Slow iPhone updates aren’t a flaw in Apple’s design—they’re usually the result of suboptimal conditions that you can fix. By managing your storage, optimizing your network, and timing your updates wisely, you can reduce frustration and downtime. These steps don’t just speed things up; they also lower the risk of failed installations and data loss. Don’t wait passively for progress bars to move. Prepare, plan, and update smarter. Your iPhone—and your patience—will thank you.

🚀 Ready to upgrade faster? Pick one tip from this guide and apply it next time you update. Share your success story in the comments!