Where to Start If Your iPad Update Gets Stuck on Progress Bar?

Apple's priority of enhancing the user experience reflects perfectly on the software updates they provide.

Your iOS device either fixes a bug, receives a performance boost, or brings in new features with every update.

However, many iPad users encounter one problem: the iPad update gets stuck on the progress bar.  

Software updates on iPad require you to download the file on your system and install it. During installation, a progress bar with the Apple logo appears on the screen.

If there is any error, you might notice that the update progress bar stops moving.

If you are experiencing this problem, here are some troubleshooting methods you can try to resolve this issue.

Let Your iPad Complete the Process

The speed of the installation depends on the file size. While smaller files take a few minutes to install completely, larger files can take up to an hour or more.

As a result, when you update a large number of files, your installation progress bar will move very slowly. In some cases, the progress bar will feel never-ending.

In such cases, it is best to wait for the process to gradually complete. If you notice that the update is not proceeding, press the Power Button. If you see an updating message on the screen, it means that the installation is ongoing.

You can also install updates directly from your computer. Just connect your iPad to it via a USB cable.  

If your iPad has been detected by your computer, you can configure sync options. This will sync content on your device and computer and help complete the process smoothly.

Plug Your iPad into a Wall Outlet

Your iPad requires a minimum battery percentage of 50 percent to complete the update. If it dips below the minimum power level, you will not see the progress bar moving.

To avoid this situation, find a wall outlet, attach your iPad charger to it, and plug in your iPad.

Wait for ten to fifteen minutes for the update to resume. Moreover, you can try a hard restart (force restart) to ensure the update continues smoothly afterward.

You can find a step-by-step walkthrough on how to force restart your iPad later in the guide.

Ensure a Stable Wi-Fi Connection

A stable Wi-Fi connection is mandatory for downloading and installing updates on your iPad.

To connect to a Wi-Fi network, head over to Settings and tap on Wi-Fi. Then, select a network and type in the password to connect.

If you experience authentication errors while accessing the WiFi, reboot your WiFi router. To reboot, turn off the switch of the wall outlet connected to the router.

Wait for five to ten minutes before turning the switch back on. This should fix any minor problems with the router.

Additionally, check if the password you typed in is correct. You will not be able to access the Wi-Fi with the wrong password.

It is also worth mentioning that you should make sure multiple devices are not connected to the WiFi connection while you update your iPad. More devices slow the WiFi down.  

Force Restart Your iPad

Sometimes, your iPad gets stuck on a black screen during or after an update. This happens due to software failures or when your iPad fails to install a particular file properly.

An easy solution to this is to force restart your iPad. This will help reactivate the system when your device becomes unresponsive.

To force restart your iPad, follow the steps below:

Force Restart for iPads with a Home Button

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Top button simultaneously.
2. Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears on your screen.

Force Restart for iPads without the Home Button

1. Press and hold the Volume Up button for a few seconds, then quickly release it.
2. Press and hold the Volume Down button for a few seconds, then quickly release it.
3. Lastly, press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo pops up on your screen.

Once your iPad turns on successfully, allow it to complete the rest of the reboot process. After that, try installing the updates again.

Remove the iPadOS Update file and Redownload the Software Update

Another reason why iPad update gets stuck on the progress bar is when the downloaded files have any errors.

In this case, it's best to do a force restart, then remove the current software update files and redownload them.

Follow the steps below to remove and redownload the software update on iOS successfully.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and select General.
3. Next, tap on iPhone Storage.
4. Scroll down and locate the update file, for example, the iOS 15 Update File. Then tap on Update File.
5. Then choose Delete Update.
6. Now remove the file from your iPad. A confirmation alert will pop up. Then tap on Delete Update.
7. After the file is removed, go back to Settings > General.
8. Click on Software Update.
9. Lastly, tap on Download and Install. Your iPad will start downloading the software update files.

Once the download is complete, you will see the message Preparing Updates, or your iPad will directly start the installation process.

Apply TinyFix System Repair Tool

While specific troubleshooting methods, like what we mentioned above, can help resume the update, you can also use third-party software like TinyFix to get the job done.

TinyFix is an easy-to-use tool that fixes any technical difficulties you face with your device. The software is reliable and uses top-notch privacy features to keep your data safe.

To use TinyFix, follow the steps below.

1. Download and install the software on your computer.
2. On the home screen of the software, select iOS System Repair.
3. Now connect your iPad to the computer with a USB cable and click Standard Mode.
4. If the software fails to detect your iPad, you will receive a set of instructions on the interface.
5. On the next screen, you will see all the available firmware options for your iPad. Select one and click on Download.
6. After the download is complete, click on Start and wait for TinyFix to fix the iPad update stuck on the progress bar issue.
7. Once your device gets out of the progress bar black screen, click Done and unplug the USB cable from the iPad.

Visit or Contact Apple

If none of the troubleshooting techniques helped fix the update problem, your iPad might have a major software glitch or hardware failure.

It's best to visit an iCenter or Apple store to get it repaired. Or you can contact the Apple helpline and consult an expert's opinion.

Conclusion

While Apple refines user experience with every update, installing them can lead to you having a headache if your iPad gets stuck in the update progress bar.

The reason behind the abrupt stop might be a corrupt file or a huge update that is taking too long to complete.

Whatever the problem is, you can try waiting for the update to finish for your iPad to reactivate.

If the progress bar is stuck, you can try manual methods like charging your iPad while it installs the update, ensuring smooth WiFi connectivity, force restarting the iPad, or removing and redownloading the update file.

If none of that helped, then you can use TinyFix to fix iPad updates stuck on the progress bar seamlessly.  

We hope our guide helped you identify and fix the problem behind your iPad update progress bar not moving forward.

Now you can complete the update and enjoy the latest iOS features conveniently.