Resolve iPhone Taking Forever to Update iOS 26 with Top Fixes

Part 1. How Long Does the iPhone Ideally Take to Update to the iOS 26 Beta?

To install the latest iOS update, your iPhone will pass through several stages, including download, preparation, and installation. On average, a full iOS 26 beta update can take 30 to 60 minutes if all goes smoothly.

When you are not facing the “iPhone taking forever to update” issue, the usual time taken will be as follows:

These estimates assume a stable Wi-Fi network and enough storage space. If the bar appears stuck for over an hour, something may be wrong, indicating the “new iPhone taking forever to update” issue.

Part 2. Why Is My iPhone Taking Forever to Update iOS 26?

Several common factors can delay an iOS 26 update. Always look out for the following causes when facing this annoying problem.

• Large Update Size: Introducing a major redesign with Liquid Glass effect, iOS 26 is around 15.5 GB, as it packs many new features. Such a large file size naturally requires more time to download.
• Improved Apple Intelligence: This update integrates more powerful AI features built with privacy from the ground up. These enhancements require additional system resources during installation to configure properly.
• Beta Version Instability: Only iOS 26 Developer Beta is out till now, so users may face glitches, requiring multiple installation attempts.
• Slow Internet Connection: If your network keeps dropping, the large beta file can stall. iOS updates need uninterrupted internet access to download and verify the software.
• Insufficient Free Storage: Such OS updates require extra space to unpack and install the latest version. With low available storage, the update will struggle or pause, so at least have 5 to 10 GB on your device.
• Apple Server Issues: When new betas drop, Apple’s servers get overloaded. Millions of download requests can slow the download, verification, and syncing steps.

Part 3. Top 9 Fixes for the iPhone Taking Forever to Update iOS 26 Issue

After understanding the common causes, let’s analyze how to resolve the “iPhone update takes forever” problem.

Fix 1. Check Apple’s Update Servers

Before anything else, verify that Apple’s servers are up. For this, simply visit their System Status page and check if there is any problem with their servers.

If it shows an outage, the update will stall no matter what. Waiting until Apple’s update server is operational can help you avoid relying on any workarounds.

Fix 2. Fix Internet Connectivity Issues

As Apple recommends, always use a high-speed Wi-Fi network instead of cellular. Poor signals or network interruptions will slow or freeze the download. Try moving closer to the router or switching to a different, trusted network when experiencing the “iPhone software update takes forever” issue.

You can also consider reconnecting to the network to remove temporary glitches. To do so, follow the steps explained below.

Instructions: Once you enter the Wi-Fi settings on your iPhone, access the connection settings to which you are currently connected. Proceed to press the Forget this Network button and hit Forget upon accessing the confirmation menu. Afterwards, simply re-establish the connection to your network and try updating again.

Fix 3. Force Restart Your iPhone

When the update progress bar is stuck for a long time, force-restarting the device can help. This reboot clears temporary glitches and often kicks-starts a hung update. Apple support explicitly suggests forcing a restart if an update won’t finish. Take guidance from the steps below to resolve the “iPhone update takes forever” problem.

Instructions: Start by quickly pressing and releasing the Volume Up button, then do the same with the Volume Down button. Next, press and hold the Side (Power) button until the Apple logo appears on your screen.

Fix 4. Charge Your iPhone

Always keep the device plugged in during large updates. As suggested by users, a low battery can cause iOS to pause or slow the update to conserve power. So, connect to a charger while updating to prevent an involuntary shutdown mid-update.

Fix 5. Toggle On and Off Airplane Mode

Turning on and off this mode will reset your iPhone’s wireless connection. This can fix network issues, such as bad DHCP or wireless glitches, that can slow down the download. With these steps, you will be able to fix the “iPhone taking forever to update iOS 26” issue.

Step 1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to access the Control Center. Now, simply tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn this setting on.

Step 2. After waiting for about 15 seconds, press the icon again to turn Airplane Mode off. Now, try updating your iPhone again to see if the issue is resolved.

Fix 6. Make Storage Space for iOS Update

According to Apple’s recommendation, you should have at least 5 to 10 GB available for the update. If storage is nearly full, delete unused apps or cached data. Follow the instructions below to create enough free space to install the update quickly.

Instructions: First, enter the General settings on your device and then hit the iPhone Storage button. Upon reaching a new screen, look for files taking up extra space and delete the heavy apps or videos to make more space.

Fix 7. Disable Background App Refresh

We recommend you turn off this feature during the update to prevent interference from other apps. This solution will stop apps from using the processor or the internet in the background while iOS is downloading. Go through the steps given below to apply this fix for resolving the “iPhone taking forever to update” issue.

Instructions: After entering the General settings, tap the Background App Refresh option. On the next screen, hit the Background App Refresh button and then press Off to disable this feature.

Fix 8. Reset Network Settings

iPhone users can use this fix to erase saved Wi-Fi networks and reset network preferences to the default. With a fresh network configuration, you will be able to solve hidden connectivity problems that slow down downloads. Apply the following steps to see if they resolve the “iPhone software update taking forever” problem.

Step 1. Initiate by accessing your iPhone’s Settings and then entering the General screen. Moving forward, scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 2. Next, tap on the Reset button and choose Reset Network Settings from the bottom-up list. You’ll need to enter your passcode to confirm and complete the reset.

Fix 9. Update to iOS 26 via iTunes

If over-the-air updates repeatedly take forever, connect your iPhone to a PC and use iTunes to install iOS 26. This method downloads the full update file directly through your computer’s network and bypasses many glitches. Try this Apple-recommended method using the following steps.

Step 1. Start by connecting your iPhone to your computer and tapping Trust on your iPhone when prompted. Proceed to open iTunes on your system and click on the device icon.

Step 2. Moving forward, go to the Summary tab and hit Check for Updates under the Software section. From the pop-up menu, select Download and Update to successfully install iOS 26.

Part 4. Fix iPhone Taking Forever to Update With Dr.Fone – System Repair (iOS)

When standard solutions fail to fix the “iPhone taking forever to update” issue, consider using Dr.Fone as an alternative tool. Its System Repair tool is designed to fix all kinds of iPhone issues and manage iOS versions. Moreover, this tool can upgrade or downgrade your device’s iOS with one click, without jailbreaking.

While using its Standard Repair mode, your data will remain safe even when updating iOS. Apart from updating to iOS 26, it can repair over 150 system problems, including boot loops, crashes, and more.

Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)

Fix iPhone Taking Forever to Update Without Data Loss.

• Only fix your iOS to normal, no data loss at all.
• Fix various iOS system issues stuck in recovery mode, white Apple logo, black screen, looping on start, etc.
• Upgrade and Downgrade iOS without iTunes at all.
• Work for all iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch, running on all iOS versions.

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Steps to Update to iOS 26 Using Dr.Fone – System Repair (iOS)

Using this tool, users can update to the latest iOS version with just a few clicks, even without using iTunes. Take guidance from the steps below to use this tool to fix the “new iPhone taking forever to update” problem.

Step 1. Open Dr.Fone and Select System Repair

Once you've installed Dr.Fone on your computer, launch the software. From the main screen, click on System Repair to get started with the process.

Step 2. Pick iPhone and Enter the iOS Upgrade Tool

Upon reaching the next screen, select iPhone as your device type from the designated section. Moving forward, click on the iOS Upgrade/Downgrade option to enter this feature.

Step 3. Go with the Upgrade iOS Option

To fix the “iPhone taking forever to update iOS 26” issue, choose Upgrade iOS. Now, connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable so Dr.Fone can detect your phone.

Step 4. Select iOS 26 and Begin Downloading

After your device is recognized, you’ll see a list of iOS versions. From here, select iOS 26 and then hit Download to grab the firmware.

Step 5. Repair and Install the Update

Once the firmware is downloaded and verified, click Repair Now. Finally, Dr.Fone will begin installing iOS 26 on your device without any interruption or delay.

Conclusion

With a fast Wi-Fi connection and sufficient free space, the iOS 26 beta installs in about 20 to 60 minutes. However, users can face the “iPhone taking forever to update iOS 26” issue due to a bad network or busy servers.

This issue is easily resolvable with fixes, such as restarting your device or resetting network settings. For stubborn cases, we recommend using Dr.Fone – System Repair (iOS) to upgrade iOS without data loss. Thanks to this tool, you can repair any iOS-related issues, especially slow update issues.

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