iPhone Stuck on Verifying Update? 10 Quick Tips to Fix It

User Concern

“My iPhone 16 tried to install the iOS 18 and was stuck on verifying update for hours. I tried to reboot it but the screen is not working. I also tried the iTunes but it didn't recognized the iPhone. Is there any other way to turn it off?”

When you're doing an iOS update on your iPhone or iPad over the air, you will see the "Verifying Update..." screen after downloading the update. This is a necessary step to update iPhone/iPad. Usually, it just takes a few minutes to finish the verifying process. But things can go wrong, and your iPhone gets stuck on verifying update.

How Long Should My iPhone Say Verifying Update?

There is no clear-cut answer to this question. The Verifying Update time depends on various factors like the Wi-Fi connection and the update size. Usually, the whole verifying process will be at most 15 minutes. We interviewed about this topic; most users said that it wouldn't take more than 10 seconds for the verifying.

On the other hand, if the iPhone is stuck on the "Verifying Update..." screen for more than 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or even 1 hour, something might have gone wrong on your iPhone.

What Does “iPhone Stuck on Verifying Update” Mean?

When the "Verifying Update" screen isn't going away on your iPhone when you try to install the latest iOS 17, it doesn’t mean the device is stuck in the update process. Instead, it means that the verification process takes longer than it should.

This issue typically arises when millions of users attempt to download the latest software update simultaneously, causing Apple servers to become overwhelmed and slowing down the verification process. Other factors like software glitches, unstable network connections, and insufficient storage space can also cause this issue.

If you see the "Verifying Update" screen on your iPhone, give it a few minutes to complete the verification process. However, if it takes longer than 15 minutes, your device is likely stuck, and you'll need to take action to resolve the issue. In this article, we will show you all the potential solutions to fix this problem. Read on and check out.

Basic Steps to Take Before You Start Fixing Your iPhone

• Ensure a stable WiFi connection: the update or verifying process will be interrupted due to a weak WiFi connection. Thus, you must go to Settings > WiFi to ensure the iPhone is connected to a good and stable WiFi network.
• Ensure the iPhone is fully charged: The update verifying process may be stuck if the iPhone battery is lower than 10%. Thus, it would be best if you kept the iPhone well-charged during the update process.
• Ensure enough free space on iPhone: Enough space on your iPhone should be spared to install the newest iOS 17 package, or the device will get stuck in the verifying process for less space.
• Back up you iPhone first: There is a great chance your iPhone data will get lost while installing the new iOS version. It is always reliable to make a full backup of the iPhone data.

How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Verifying Update on iOS 17

Tip 1. Lock and Wake Your iPhone

The easiest way to fix an iPhone stuck on verifying update issue is to lock it by pressing the power button on the side or top of the device and then wake it up. If the first try is not working, try to repeat the lock and wake up process 5 and 10 times.

Tip 2. Hard Reset Your iPhone

Your iPhone may get stuck on verifying update due to minor software glitches. You can force reboot your iPhone to fix the problem.

For iPhone XS or later: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then do the same with the Volume Down button. After that, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

After hard resetting your iPhone, try to download and install the iOS 17 update again. If your iPhone still gets stuck on the verifying update screen, move on to the next solution.

Tip 3. Enable and Disable Airplane Mode

There is a tendency for the iPhone to experience update issues if there are network connectivity errors. In this case, toggle the Airplane mode on and off should help:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone and click on Airplane Mode.
2. Turn on the Airplane Mode, and the wireless radios will be turned off.
3. Then restart the device and turn off Airplane Mode again.

Tip 4. Delete iOS Update and Download Again

The iPhone will not successfully verify the update if something went wrong with the installation. Thus, delete and reinstall iOS 17 with the steps below and try it again.

• Go to Settings on your iPhone, click General, and choose iPhone Storage; all the apps will be listed. Select the software update and tap on Delete Update.

• After deleting the iOS update package, you can go to Settings > General > Software Update to reinstall the new iOS version.

Tip 5. Reset Network Settings on iPhone

Incorrect network configurations can also trigger the "Verifying Update" stuck issue. If this is the case, performing a network settings reset can help.

1. To do this, go to Settings, then tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
2. Scroll down to Reset and choose the option to Reset Network Settings.
3. If prompted, enter your passcode, and then confirm that you want to reset network settings on your device.
4. Your device will automatically restart, and you can set up and reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

Tip 6. Fix iPhone Stuck on Verifying Update without Data Loss

This method would be the most advisable to fix this iPhone stuck on verifying update issue without losing the device data. FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is a professional tool to fix all iOS issues and bring your iPhone/iPad to normal. It will resolve any iOS system stuck issues without data loss. Moreover, your iPhone will be updated to the latest iOS 18.

Key Features of FoneGeek iOS System Recovery:

• Fix all issues related to iPhone and iPad, including iPhone stuck on iOS upgrade, iPhone black screen, iPhone won't turn on, etc.
• All iTunes errors could also be handled with this program, such as iTunes error 9, 4013, 27, etc.
• Supports downgrading or updating iOS system without any data loss.
• Works with all iPhone models and iOS versions, even the newest iPhone 16 and iOS 18.

Now, look at how to fix this verifying update stuck issue with FoneGeek iOS System Recovery.

Step 1. To begin the fixing process, you must download and install this iOS repair tool on your computer. Then, choose "Standard Mode" to get started.

Step 2. Connect the iPhone to the computer via a USB cable. The software will automatically detect the device. If not, follow the on-screen instructions to put your iPhone in DFU or Recovery mode.

Step 3. When the program detects that the device is in DFU/Recovery mode, check the device model and click "Download" to download the latest iOS firmware package.

Step 4. When the firmware is downloaded, click "Fix Now" to update the connected iPhone to the latest iOS version.

Tip 7. Update iPhone with iTunes

If all else fails, iTunes is a great alternative to help you perform the iOS update on a computer. Here are the simple steps to update your iPhone with iTunes:

1. Check whether the iTunes on your computer is of the latest version. If not, update it to the newest one.
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a lightning cable, and iTunes will recognize the device.
3. Then tick the Summary option on the screen and click "Check for Update".
4. Click the "Update" button, and the newest iOS version will be installed on your iPhone. The Verifying Update message will be bypassed when using iTunes to update.

Tip 8. Restore iPhone with iTunes

Updating your device in iTunes will usually fix the issue. But if you find that after an update, the device is still stuck, or if you encounter any other issues after the update, you may want to restore the device in iTunes.

Please note, however, that restoring your iPhone in iTunes may cause you to lose data. You may, therefore, need to back up the data on your device before restoring it.

Restoring an iPhone in iTunes is a very simple process; follow the steps below:

1. Run iTunes on your computer and plug the iPhone into the computer.
2. Click on the device icon on the screen when iTunes recognizes the device.
3. Click on Summary at the left and tap on Restore iPhone.
4. Choose the backup you need and tap on Restore.

Tip 9. DFU Restore Your iPhone

If none of the above methods work, there may be a deeper software issue causing the problem. A DFU (Device Firmware Update) restore can help eliminate this problem by erasing and reloading all the code on your iPhone. This process is more complex and involves steps that must be followed carefully. You can find detailed instructions on how to perform a DFU restore online.

Tip 10. Contact Apple Support

If you've tried all of the solutions above, but your iPhone still gets stuck on the "Verifying Update..." screen, there may be some hardware issues. The hardware issues could not be resolved by iTunes restore or hard reset. You'd better take the device to the nearest Apple Store to have it repaired.

The Bottom Line

The issue of iPhone stuck on verifying update is very common when installing the new iOS 18. Try the 10 solutions introduced above if the verifying update process takes more than 15 minutes. FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is the most recommended solution to resolve all issues in the fastest way.