"Why is my iPhone stuck on update requested during iOS 13 update?" Did this happen to you? Many users report that their iPhones or iPad are saying "Update Requested" when they want to update to iOS 13 or 12. Even after they turn the phone off and back on again, it's the same thing. So why does the iPhone/iPad update requested error happen? And how to fix iOS 13/12 update request on iPhone, iPad. Here are the answer and solutions you want.
Part 1. What Does Update Requested Mean on iPhone/iPad?
We all know that when a new iOS version is available, we are able to download and install that update in Settings > Software Update on iPhone/iPad. However, with tens of thousands of Apple users managing to access the iOS update files at the same time, there is overloaded traffic.
To ease the traffic peak of major update such as iOS 13/12 update, Update Requested has been added in iOS update since iOS 8. When the update requested is displayed on your iPhone/iPad, it means that your device is connecting to the Apple server to download iOS update files.
But if the update requested takes longer than usual and you find your iPhone/iPad has got stuck there, it should be a connection issue and you may try the following solutions to fix that.
Part 2. How to Fix iOS 14/13 Stuck on Update Requested
Solution 1. Plug iPhone/iPad into Power
It may sound a little bit silly, but many users say that when then plug their device in power, it immediately bypass the iOS update requested step and starts installing iOS 14 or iOS 13. It might work! Why not give this simple way a shot?
Solution 2. Reset Wi-Fi Connection
The iOS OTA update requires a stable and smooth network condition for the access to the Apple server to download the update files. So you need to make sure your iPhone/iPad has connected to a strong Wi-Fi.
If your iPhone or iPad gets stuck on update requested, try to reset the Wi-Fi connection:
Step 1. Head to Settings > Wi-Fi.
Step 2. Toggle off Wi-Fi for several minutes.
Step 3. Turn it back on and reconnect to the effective Wi-Fi again.
Solution 3. Hard Reset iPhone/iPad
If it's not the network issue, it might be a software glitch on the device so that the iPad or iPhone is stuck at update requested step. Although hard resetting the device is not recommended by Apple unless your phone is completely unresponsive, it is still a good try to force restart the phone to get the update working again.
Different generations of iPhone have different ways to hard reset the phone. In iPhone 6/6s, for example, press and hold the Power button and Home button at the same time, until the Apple logo appears. While in iPhone 7/iPhone 8, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time for several seconds till you see the Apple logo.
In iPhone X, iPhone XS/XR, iPhone 11, quickly press and release the volume up button, then press and release the volume down button, finally keep holding the side button until you see the Apple logo.
After the hard reset, head to the Software Update page again. Check whether the update requested has changed to downloading or not.
Solution 4. Delete Downloaded Software Update
Your iPhone/iPad may automatically download the update file when the network is connected, and you just need to install it. But if your iPhone is still saying update requested, you can delete the downloaded software and start over again.
Step 1. Open Settings > General.
Step 2. Tap iPhone Storage and wait for the apps to load.
Step 3. In the list of apps, locate the new iOS update file.
Step 4. Tap on it and choose Delete Update.
Step 5. Go back to Settings > General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install to download the update software again.
Solution 5. Software Update via iTunes
The easy way to upgrade iPhone/iPad through Software Update in Settings is called OTA (over-the-air) update. If OTA update fails and your device gets stuck in the update requested, you may need to resort to iTunes to get your device upgraded.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone/iPad to the computer.
Step 2. Launch the latest version of iTunes.
Step 3. Open the Summary tab and click on Check for Update > Download and Update.
Solution 6. Fix iOS Update Requested without iTunes
If you cannot get the latest iTunes or fail to get iOS 13/12 update via iTunes for various reasons, you may try to use Passvers iOS System Recovery . This piece of software can not only be used to fix an iPhone that is acting weirdly but also is used to upgrade a normal iPhone to the latest iOS system.
Step 1. Download and install Passvers iOS System Recovery on your PC/Mac.
Step 2. Launch Passvers iOS System Recovery on the computer and connect the iPhone to it.
Step 3. Click Start > Standard Mode to update or downgrade your iPhone. When the program detects your device, check if the information of your device is correct or not.
Step 4. Click Confirm after selecting "Standard Mode" to access the iOS update/downgrade feature. All the iOS versions available for your device are listed. Select a new iOS version you want and then click Download.
Step 5. The program will quickly download the new iOS version for your iPhone/iPad. After downloading, the program will start to install the new iOS 14 or iOS 13, etc. on your device. Your device may reboot several times.
Hope this article can help you fix the update requested issue. Any comment is welcome!