Now that iOS 26 has been released, a lot of iPhone and iPad users are rushing to install the latest update to get access to all the new performance changes and feature additions. Unfortunately, during the update process, some devices get stuck on the “Preparing Update” screen, and the progress bar doesn’t move. This doesn’t mean your iPhone is broken or that the update has completely failed, thankfully, it’s a temporary issue related to your Wi-Fi connection, lack of available storage, or a corrupted update file. The good news is that it’s typically easy to fix.

Takeaways:

  1. The “Preparing Update” issue in iOS 26 is usually caused by Wi-Fi problems, insufficient storage, or corrupted files.
  2. Restarting your iPhone or deleting and re-downloading the update often resolves the problem.

Why Your iPhone Gets Stuck on “Preparing Update”

This is a common problem that can happen on any device compatible with iOS 26. Here are the main reasons:

Weak or Unstable Wi-Fi Connection
If your internet connection drops or slows down, the device may not complete the verification step. Without downloading data correctly, the system can’t move forward with installation.

Low Storage Space
iOS updates need extra space for temporary files. If your iPhone is almost full, the update process may stall during preparation.

Corrupted or Incomplete Update File
If the update file was interrupted during download, it may be unusable. In that case, deleting and re-downloading the file usually solves the problem.

How to Fix an iPhone Stuck on “Preparing iOS 26 Update”

As with most tech errors, you're going to have to try a few different things in order to solve the problem so work your way through the list of issues below.

Restart Your iPhone

A quick restart can often clear temporary issues and get the update back on track.

  • Hold down the side button and one volume button until the power slider appears.
  • Drag the slider and wait a few seconds for the device to power off completely.
  • Turn it back on by holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.
  • Go to Settings > General > Software Update and try again.

Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

This is a really common one and probably what is causing the issue for most people. So make sure you have a strong connection. If you don't, it's going to cause issues.

  • Move closer to your router.
  • Restart the router if needed.
  • Ensure other devices aren’t hogging bandwidth.
  • Toggle Wi-Fi off and back on in your iPhone before retrying.

Delete the Update File

If a connection issue or something else caused the update to become corrupted, you will need to delete the update file and redownload it.

  • Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
  • Scroll down and find iOS 26.
  • Tap it and select Delete Update.
  • Return to Settings > General > Software Update and download it again.

Free Up Storage Space

Unlike some other manufacturers, Apple doesn’t give an exact number on the amount of space you need for the update, but it’s best to have at least 10-12 GB free before updating. If you aren't sure how to make space here's a few simple suggestions.

  • Delete duplicate or unnecessary photos and videos.
  • Remove unused apps or large files.
  • Clear out your Downloads folder.
  • Offload content to a computer, iCloud, or another cloud service.