Updated: April 8, 2026
After you tap Install, iOS downloads the update then verifies integrity before applying it. That step can take minutes on a slow device—or hang if storage is tight, power is low, or the download was damaged.
Force restart using Apple’s combo for your model. If the bar returns but never finishes, you may need a computer: enter Recovery mode and update or restore, then see common iOS errors if iTunes or Finder reports a code.
Back up before major upgrades with i4Tools backup tools on Windows, free space aggressively, and install when the device is idle on a stable network.