Every year, Apple brings its latest flagship smartphones to a great level by improving overall performance. Talking about the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, they are surprisingly stunning smartphones with excellent hardware. Not just the hardware but the software is equally outstanding. As we all know, Apple frequently releases software updates to fix several issues and bugs and also improve the performance of the device.
Generally, software system updates are an essential part for keeping your iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus running smoothly and more secure. But what if you are unable to update your software version on your iPhone? Recently, several users have encountered issues with software updates.
According to multiple forums, many iPhone 14 and 14 Plus users are unable to update their software version. They reported that they’re facing an error or the update taking forever. If you are one of them and having an issue with a 
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What Causes iPhone 14 and 14 Plus Software Update Error?
Before we begin the guide, it is essential to understand the reasons behind the issue on your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. However, several users reported the issue on Reddit and other platforms. Recently, Apple has released its latest iOS 17 update version to all Apple devices and a number of users are excited to experience the additional features that Apple has included in their latest iOS version.
According to some reports, when users are trying to update their iOS 17 version on their iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, then they are unable to update it or they’re getting errors on the screen. Therefore, it’s pretty hard to install or download the latest firmware as the iOS 17 is taking forever to update on their iPhone 14 and 14 Plus models.
Talking about the possible causes, the software update error mainly occurs when you are connected to an unstable internet connection. Sometimes, it is also possible that due to software bugs and glitches, the software system is unable to install on your iPhone. So, these are some reasons why the software update error is showing on the screen. Now let’s focus on the solutions we have listed in this guide.
How to Fix iPhone 14 and 14 Plus Software Update Error or Update Taking Forever
If you are having an issue with software update error on your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, try the below solutions carefully to fix the software update error on your iPhone. Make sure to follow each and every step until or unless you fix the problem on your own. So, without further ado, let’s begin with the first solution.
Solution 1: Check Internet Connection
If you are encountering an error with a software update on your iPhone, the first thing you need to do is check the internet connection. As an internet connection is required to update the software system on the smartphone. Without a stable internet connection, you can’t update your device software to the latest version.
Therefore, it could be possible that you are unable to update iOS versions because of poor internet connection on your iPhone. In such a case, you will have to check for a stable internet connection on your device. Make sure to connect your iPhone with a strong cellular network. After that, ensure to update the software on your iPhone and then check if the error has been resolved.
If the cellular network isn’t functioning or providing stable internet connection then we suggest you to use a Wi-Fi connection over Cellular data. As the Wi-Fi connection is much faster than a normal cellular data network. Therefore, you will probably fix the software update error on your iPhone once you’re connected with a Wi-Fi network. If the issue persists, try the next solution.
Solution 2: Check iPhone Storage
Once you have received a stable software version on your iPhone then your device uses more storage data to download it. In that case, you must make sure that your iPhone has enough storage space in order to download and install the update. In order to avoid such issues like “unable to update” or “iOS 17 taking forever to update,” you should ensure that your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus has enough storage space.
Double check the storage space on your iPhone device to ensure you have enough space to download the software update on your device. To check the iPhone storage, head over to the Settings > General. Then get into Storage & iCloud Usage > Manage Storage. Here, you can check the status of your iPhone storage.
In case the storage space isn’t available sufficient then make sure to delete unnecessary files and photos to free up the storage space on your iPhone. After that, try updating your iPhone to the most recent version by going to Settings > General and then choosing Software Update. Follow the next solution if the issue persists.
Solution 3: Force Restart Your iPhone
Have you restarted your iPhone to fix the software update error on your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus? If not, then ensure to force restart your iPhone. It is possible that you are unable to update your software version on your iPhone because of software issues and glitches. This generally happens with most smartphones, which can be quickly fixed by restarting the device.
Apart from that, if iOS 17 is taking hours to update, this method will help you in fixing the problem. Several users also reported that when they’re trying to update the iOS version, then it may take an hour to update. In this situation, you should force restart your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. This is one of the most workable methods of all time.
Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then, press and quickly release the Volume Down button. After that, press and hold the Power button until or unless the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears on the screen. After restarting the device, try updating your device once again to check if the issue has been resolved. If the issue persists, try the next solution.
Solution 4: Check Apple Server Status
If you are still reading this article, then it is likely that there’s an issue with the Apple server itself or the server may have been encountering tremendous traffic. In addition, it could be possible that the server has been temporarily down due to some server or maintenance issue. Make sure to check the Apple server status and you can find the server information with Apple customer service.
Most of the time, when the new software is released, the server will automatically get down and stuck, which prevents the device from updating the software system version. In that case, we suggest you wait until or unless the server issues get resolved and then try updating your iPhone. But if the server status is running and still you are unable to update software or it may take an hour, try the next solution.
Solution 5: Reset Network Settings
If you have tried the above workarounds and it fails to work, we suggest you reset the network settings on your iPhone. This will remove all the glitches that are causing the issue with software updates. However, it also fixes the network connection on your iPhone. Therefore, if anything goes wrong with the network connection, this solution will help you to restore the network back.
This will also restore your iPhone Wi-Fi network, VPN, APN, and Cellular settings to their factory defaults. Therefore, you will have to access your Wi-Fi and network connection back by entering the password again. To reset network settings on iPhone, follow the below steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Next, tap on “Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.”
- Here, tap on “Reset Network Settings.”
- Enter the passcode and then tap on Reset Network Settings to proceed.
Solution 6: Reset Device Settings
You can also try to reset device settings on your iPhone. This will generally fix several issues on your iPhone whether it is related to specific application or system settings. This might help you to fix the update error on your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. Resetting the device settings also restores the Home Screen’s layout, network preferences, other settings, and keyboard dictionary to their default state.
Additionally, the incorrect settings will wash away when you perform this reset on your iPhone. But the good thing is that your data and installed applications won’t be deleted. Therefore, don’t worry about losing your personal data as it’s not a factory reset process. To reset device settings on your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Next, tap on the “Reset” option.
- Tap the “Reset All Settings“ option.
- Enter the device passcode and tap on the “Reset All Settings” option.
Once you have attempted this method on your iPhone then leave your device idle for about five minutes to complete the process. Afterwards, try checking if the issue has been resolved on your iPhone by updating the software version.
Solution 7: Contact Support Team
If none of the above solutions work for you, it’s time to contact Apple support team for further assistance. They will surely provide the best troubleshooting methods to fix the software update error or update taking forever issue on your iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. Make sure to provide the information in detail about when you’re getting this error and what method you have taken to fix the problem. In the end, you can easily troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
Wrapping Up
Updating the software to the latest version will improve the overall performance and you can also access additional features as well. But it could be annoying when you are trying to update software and it shows an error. Fortunately, by using the remedies we have outlined above in this article, you may probably resolve the problem.
Make sure to try each and every solution and you should be good to go. If none of the above solutions works then contact the support team which is one of the best choices to fix the problem. We hope you have found this article helpful for you. If you have any other queries or questions, let us know in the comments section. Let us know which one of the above solutions works for you in fixing the issue on your iPhone.