iOS Update Stalling? 8 Proven Fixes to Get Your iPhone Updating Overnight

Table of Contents

Apple introduced a convenient feature with iOS 12 that aimed to streamline the update process for iPhone users. This feature was designed to automatically download and install iOS updates during the night, minimizing disruptions during typical usage hours. This was a significant improvement, especially considering that iOS updates tend to be larger and more time-consuming compared to those on other mobile platforms. The traditional update installation process could render an iPhone unusable for a considerable period, making the overnight update feature a welcome enhancement for user convenience.

However, despite the intended seamlessness of overnight updates, many iPhone users have encountered situations where their devices fail to update automatically as expected. This can be frustrating, leaving users wondering why their iPhones are not taking advantage of this helpful feature. If you are experiencing this issue, rest assured that you are not alone, and there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve it.

iOS Not Automatically Updating Overnight? Try these 8 Fixes¶

If your iPhone is not automatically installing updates overnight, there are several potential causes and corresponding solutions. It’s important to methodically check various settings and device conditions to pinpoint the reason behind the stalled updates. Below are eight proven fixes to help you get your iPhone back on track with automatic overnight updates. These fixes range from simple restarts to checking specific settings and configurations that might be interfering with the update process.

1. Force Restart your iPhone¶

A force restart is often the first and simplest troubleshooting step for various tech issues, and it can be surprisingly effective for resolving problems with iOS updates. This process can eliminate temporary bugs and glitches within the system that might be hindering the automatic update tool from functioning correctly. Think of it as a digital reset that clears out minor software conflicts.

Furthermore, a force restart is a valuable technique if your iPhone becomes unresponsive or sluggish. It provides a way to reboot the device without using the touchscreen, which can be crucial when the screen is frozen. Here’s how to perform a force restart on most iPhone models:

1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. Make sure it’s a brief press and release, not a hold.
2. Immediately press and release the Volume Down button. Again, ensure it’s a quick press and release.
3. Press and hold the Side button (power button). Keep holding the side button, even after the screen goes black and the volume buttons are released.
4. Release the Side button when the Apple logo appears. The Apple logo indicates that the iPhone is restarting.

After your iPhone has force restarted, allow it to boot up completely. Then, leave your phone locked and connected to power and Wi-Fi overnight, as this is when automatic updates are typically scheduled to occur. In many cases, a simple force restart is enough to resolve minor software issues and allow the automatic update process to proceed as intended.

2. Check the Storage Space¶

Insufficient storage space on your iPhone is a common reason why automatic updates might fail to install. While your iPhone might have successfully downloaded the update files in the background, the installation process requires a certain amount of free storage to unpack and apply the update. If your device is nearing its storage capacity, the installation may be blocked.

To check your iPhone’s storage space and free up space if needed, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app from your iPhone’s home screen. The Settings app icon usually looks like a grey gear.
2. Tap on General. This option is usually located near the top of the Settings menu.
3. On the General screen, tap on iPhone Storage. This will take you to a detailed overview of your device’s storage usage.
4. Review the storage information. Examine the bar graph at the top, which visually represents your used and available storage. Below the graph, you’ll see a breakdown of storage usage by category and app.
5. Free up storage space if necessary. If you see that your storage is nearly full, you’ll need to free up some space. Common ways to do this include:
   • Deleting unused apps: Tap on apps listed below the storage graph and select “Delete App.”
   • Removing large files: Go through categories like Photos, Videos, and Files to delete unnecessary large files. Consider backing up important files to iCloud or another cloud service before deleting them.
   • Clearing browser cache and data: For Safari, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data. For other browsers like Chrome, you’ll need to do this within the browser’s settings.

Once you have freed up sufficient storage space – ideally, several gigabytes – check if the automatic update feature starts working overnight. A good rule of thumb is to aim for at least 2-3 GB of free space for updates to install smoothly.

3. Make Sure Your Phone is Connected to WiFi¶

A stable and reliable Wi-Fi connection is crucial for automatic iOS updates to download and install successfully. Even if your iPhone is configured to update overnight, a weak or absent Wi-Fi signal can prevent the update process from completing. While the update files might sometimes be downloaded over cellular data depending on your settings, the installation phase almost always requires a Wi-Fi connection.

Here’s what you need to check regarding your Wi-Fi connection:

• Verify Wi-Fi is enabled: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi and ensure that Wi-Fi is turned on (the toggle is green).
• Confirm connection to a network: Check that your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and the network name is displayed with a checkmark.
• Signal strength: Look at the Wi-Fi icon in the status bar at the top of your screen. Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi signal, ideally three or four bars. If the signal is weak, try moving closer to your Wi-Fi router.
• Internet connectivity: Even if you’re connected to Wi-Fi, ensure that the internet connection itself is working. Open a web browser or an app that requires internet access to check if you can load content.
• Network stability: A fluctuating or unstable Wi-Fi connection can also interrupt the update process. If your Wi-Fi is known to be unreliable, consider restarting your router or contacting your internet service provider.

For automatic overnight updates to work reliably, ensure your iPhone is connected to a stable and active Wi-Fi network throughout the night. A robust Wi-Fi connection is essential for downloading update files, verifying them with Apple’s servers, and completing the installation process.

4. Make sure your iPhone has sufficient charge¶

Battery charge level is another critical factor for automatic iOS updates. iPhones are designed to conserve battery life and prevent unexpected shutdowns during resource-intensive operations like software updates. Therefore, the automatic update process typically only initiates when the iPhone has a sufficient battery charge, usually above 50%, or when it is connected to a power source.

While your iPhone might have enough battery to start the update, it’s highly recommended to ensure it has ample charge or is plugged in throughout the update process. This prevents interruptions due to low battery, which could potentially lead to installation errors or even data corruption in rare cases.

Here are some recommendations regarding battery charge for overnight updates:

• Charge to 100%: Ideally, charge your iPhone to 100% before going to sleep, especially on nights when you expect an update to install.
• Keep it plugged in: The most reliable approach is to keep your iPhone plugged into a power outlet overnight while it’s supposed to update. This ensures a continuous power supply and eliminates battery level as a potential issue.
• Minimum charge level: Although the exact minimum battery percentage for automatic updates isn’t officially specified, it’s safe to assume that your iPhone should have at least 50% battery charge if not plugged in. However, for guaranteed success, plugging it in is always the best practice.

Many users have reported resolving issues with automatic iOS updates simply by ensuring their iPhones are plugged in overnight. A consistent power supply removes any battery-related constraints and allows the update process to proceed smoothly without interruption.

5. Check Date & Time Settings¶

Incorrect date and time settings on your iPhone can sometimes interfere with various system functions, including software updates. The update process often involves verifying timestamps and certificates to ensure the software is legitimate and up-to-date. If your iPhone’s date and time are significantly inaccurate, it can lead to problems with update verification and installation.

To ensure your iPhone’s date and time settings are correct and automatically synchronized, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on General.
3. On the General screen, tap on Date & Time.
4. Enable ‘Set Automatically’. On the Date & Time screen, you’ll see a toggle switch labeled “Set Automatically.” Make sure this toggle is turned on (it should be green).

When “Set Automatically” is enabled, your iPhone will synchronize its date and time with Apple’s time servers over the internet. This ensures that your device’s clock is accurate, resolving any potential issues related to incorrect date and time settings.

In most cases, enabling “Set Automatically” will immediately correct the date and time. If, for some reason, the date or time is still incorrect after enabling this setting, try restarting your iPhone. A restart can sometimes help the system re-establish the time synchronization.

Correct date and time settings are essential for various online operations, and ensuring they are accurate is a simple yet important step in troubleshooting issues with automatic iOS updates.

Related: loading

6. Re-enable Overnight Updates¶

Sometimes, the automatic overnight update feature might become disabled unintentionally, perhaps due to a previous system glitch or a setting change. Even if you believe you have already enabled automatic updates, it’s worth re-checking and re-enabling the setting to ensure it’s properly configured.

Here’s how to re-enable automatic overnight updates on your iPhone:

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on General.
3. On the General screen, tap on Software Update.
4. Tap on Automatic Updates. (This option might be labeled differently depending on your iOS version, but look for something related to automatic updates).
5. Ensure ‘Download iOS Updates’ and ‘Install iOS Updates’ are enabled. On the Automatic Updates screen, you should see toggles for downloading and installing iOS updates automatically. Make sure both of these toggles are turned on (green). You might have options like “Off,” “Download Only,” and “Download and Install.” To enable overnight installation, select “Download and Install” or similar wording indicating automatic installation.

If these settings were already enabled, you can try toggling them off and then back on again. This can sometimes refresh the configuration and resolve any underlying software glitches that might be preventing automatic updates from working. After re-enabling the settings, ensure your iPhone is locked, connected to power and Wi-Fi overnight to allow the automatic update process to initiate.

7. Re-download the Update¶

If an update download gets corrupted or encounters errors during the download process, it might prevent the automatic installation from proceeding. In such cases, deleting the downloaded update files and re-downloading them can resolve the issue. This ensures you have a fresh and complete copy of the update files.

To delete a downloaded iOS update and re-download it, follow these steps:

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on General.
3. On the General screen, tap on iPhone Storage.
4. Scroll through the list of apps and look for the iOS update file. The update file is usually listed with the iOS version number (e.g., “iOS 17.4.1”). It might be listed separately or within the “System Data” category.
5. Tap on the iOS update file.
6. Tap on ‘Delete Update’. Confirm your action when prompted.

After deleting the update, restart your iPhone. Once it restarts, go back to Settings > General > Software Update. Your iPhone will re-check for updates and should start downloading the latest available iOS update again. Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi connection during the re-download process.

Re-downloading the update ensures that you have a clean and uncorrupted version of the update files, eliminating potential issues caused by incomplete or faulty downloads. This can be particularly helpful if you suspect network interruptions or download errors might have occurred during the initial download attempt.

8. Disable VPN/Security Apps¶

VPN (Virtual Private Network) and certain security apps can sometimes interfere with the iOS update process. These apps often modify network settings and traffic routing, which can potentially conflict with Apple’s update servers or the update installation process itself. If you have any VPN or security apps installed on your iPhone, temporarily disabling them might help resolve issues with automatic overnight updates.

Here’s what you should do:

• Disable VPN apps: If you are using a VPN app, open the app and disconnect or disable the VPN connection. Some VPN apps also have system-wide settings in the iPhone’s Settings app under “VPN.” Ensure the VPN connection is turned off there as well.
• Disable security apps: Certain security apps, particularly those that include firewall or network monitoring features, might also interfere. Temporarily disable any such apps to see if it resolves the update issue.
• Check for profiles: In rare cases, VPN configurations might be installed as profiles on your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management. If you see any profiles related to VPNs, you can try removing them. However, be cautious when removing profiles, especially if you are unsure of their purpose.

After disabling VPN and security apps, ensure your iPhone is connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network and has sufficient battery charge (or is plugged in). Then, leave it locked overnight and check if the automatic update process initiates.

It’s important to remember to re-enable your VPN or security apps after the update is successfully installed, if you typically use them for security or privacy purposes. However, for troubleshooting update issues, temporarily disabling them is a valuable step to consider.

Even after trying all these methods, if your iPhone still doesn’t update automatically overnight, you can always initiate a manual update. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and tap on “Download and Install” or “Install Now.” While this bypasses the automatic overnight feature, it ensures your iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version.

If you continue to experience issues with automatic updates or have further questions, consider reaching out to Apple Support for more personalized assistance.

Let us know in the comments below which of these fixes worked for you or if you have any other tips to share!