iPad Won't Update? Complete Troubleshooting Guide

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A retired headteacher brought his iPad 6th generation in last month. "It keeps saying the update failed," he said. He'd been trying for weeks. The problem? His iPad was full of photos and only had 800MB free. The update needed 5GB. Twenty minutes of clearing space later, it updated fine. We help with update issues about 10-15 times a month.

Update problems rarely mean anything's broken. Usually it's a storage issue, a network glitch, or - for older iPads - Apple simply doesn't support the latest version anymore. Here's how to work out what's actually stopping your update.

Pro Tip

Before you start: Back up your iPad. Updates rarely cause data loss, but a failed update can occasionally require a factory reset. Use iCloud or connect to your computer. Better safe than sorry.

Check Your Storage First

This is the most common reason updates fail. iPadOS updates need significant free space - typically 5-8GB depending on the update size. Check yours:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage
2. Look at the bar at the top - how much is free?
3. If you're under 8GB free, that's likely your problem

Quick Ways to Free Space

• Offload unused apps - Settings > General > iPad Storage > Enable "Offload Unused Apps". Keeps your data, removes the app until you need it
• Clear Safari data - Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
• Delete old messages - Messages with lots of photos can use gigabytes
• Move photos to iCloud - Settings > Photos > Optimise iPad Storage
• Delete and reinstall large apps - Games especially accumulate cache data

After freeing space, restart your iPad and try the update again.

Fix Network Connection Problems

Updates download from Apple's servers over WiFi. If your connection is slow, unstable, or keeps dropping, the update will fail. Signs of network issues:

• Update gets stuck at the same percentage repeatedly
• "Unable to Check for Update" error
• "An error occurred downloading iPadOS" message
• Update takes hours then fails

Network Fixes to Try

1. Move closer to your router - Obvious but effective
2. Restart your router - Clears any connection issues
3. Forget and rejoin WiFi - Settings > WiFi > tap your network > Forget This Network, then rejoin
4. Try a different network - A friend's house, library, or coffee shop
5. Reset network settings - Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Reset Network Settings (you'll need to re-enter WiFi passwords)

Did You Know?

Mobile hotspot tip: If your home WiFi keeps failing, try updating over your phone's mobile hotspot. Just make sure you have enough data - updates can be 5GB or more.

Delete and Redownload the Update

If an update keeps failing, the downloaded file may be corrupted. Delete it and download fresh:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage
2. Scroll down and look for the iPadOS update file
3. Tap it and select Delete Update
4. Go back to Settings > General > Software Update
5. Download the update again from scratch

This often fixes "Update Requested" loops and "Verifying Update" freezes. Give it time to download completely before trying to install.

Update Using Your Computer

When over-the-air updates repeatedly fail, updating via computer often works. This method downloads the full update to your computer first, then transfers it to your iPad. More reliable than OTA, especially for larger updates.

On Mac (macOS Catalina or later)

1. Connect your iPad to your Mac with a cable
2. Open Finder
3. Select your iPad in the sidebar
4. Click Check for Update
5. Click Download and Update

On Windows or Older Mac

1. Download and install iTunes if you haven't
2. Connect your iPad to your computer
3. Open iTunes and select your iPad
4. Click Check for Update
5. Click Download and Update

Warning

Don't disconnect your iPad during the update process. Interrupting an update can leave your iPad in recovery mode, requiring a restore. Keep it connected until the update completes.

When Your iPad Is Too Old

If you're seeing "iPadOS [version] is up to date" but you know there's a newer version available, your iPad may no longer be supported. Apple typically supports iPads for 5-7 years from release.

iPadOS 18 (2024) Compatibility

What to Do If Your iPad Is Too Old

An unsupported iPad isn't broken - it just won't get new features. You can still:

• Use most apps - Developers typically support older iOS versions for years
• Get security updates - Apple releases security patches for older versions
• Keep using it as-is - If it works for your needs, why change?

When apps start requiring a newer iPadOS version than yours supports, that's usually when people consider upgrading to a newer device.

Fix Stuck or Failed Updates

"Verifying Update" Stuck

If the verification screen hangs for more than 15-20 minutes:

1. Force restart your iPad (see below)
2. Delete the update file from Settings > General > iPad Storage
3. Restart your iPad
4. Download the update again

"Update Requested" Loop

If it's stuck on "Update Requested" for hours:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPad Storage
2. Find and delete the update file
3. Connect to a different WiFi network
4. Try downloading again

Progress Bar Frozen

If the Apple logo and progress bar appear but don't move for over an hour, the update may have failed. Force restart by holding:

• Face ID iPads: Press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Top button until you see the Apple logo
• Home Button iPads: Hold Home + Top button together until you see the Apple logo

After force restart, your iPad may need to start the update again. If it's stuck in a loop, try updating via computer instead.

Warning

Recovery mode: If your iPad gets stuck showing a cable pointing at a computer, it's in recovery mode. Connect it to your computer and follow the prompts to restore or update. Your data may be lost if you haven't backed up recently.

Frequently Asked Questions