iPhone Stuck on Software Update Complete Screen? Try the Fixes

by J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young Updated On Apr 19, 2023 Published On Jul 13, 2021 Update Issue

So, you've gone through the entire update process, but just when you think you're ready to begin enjoying the new features, the process gets stuck on the "Software Update Complete" screen.

This can be frustrating not because you had to wait for the update to be completed, but also because more often than not, you know that you will have to go through it all over again.

The iOS update process is a relatively easy process and for the most part, you will go through it without too many issues.

But every once in a while, stuck issues like this one popup, preventing you from getting all the benefits the new update promises.

This guide deals with the particular "Software Update Complete" stuck issue; why it can happen and what you need to do to fix it.

Why Does iPhone Stuck on Software Update Complete Screen

There are a lot of reasons why you're the software update can seem to stop suddenly and get stuck. Perhaps the device is not connected to the charger and there isn't enough battery power to complete the process.

If you are trying to update the device on the same day that the new version of iOS is released, overwhelmed Apple Servers may be to blame.

When too many people are trying to update their devices at the same time, the update process can be affected by slowing servers, making it increasingly difficult for your device to communicate with the Apple Servers.

A software issue affecting your device could also cause the update to get stuck. Perhaps there is a software glitch or cached data that is preventing the iOS system from running properly.

The good news is, there are ways around all these problems and you can get the update process back on track easily. The following are some good solutions to try;

Plug Your iPhone into a Charger

Apple recommends that you plug in your device to a charger while updating it, even if the device is at 100% battery power.

Users who have been faced with a stuck update system have found that simply connecting the device to a charger reignited the update process.

The error message seems to disappear on its own, but then it returns as soon as they disconnect the device from the charger.

We strongly advise against charging the iPhone while updating the iOS. This is because the device will generate a lot of heat which may end up damaging the battery.

This is why most iOS devices experience battery issues soon after an update.

Instead, we recommend charging the battery all the way to 100% before starting the update process.

If the process gets stuck in the middle of the update, plug the device into a power source, but remove the cable as soon as the update process starts again.

It is also a good idea to set the "Auto-Lock" to "Never" during the update and to turn the brightness all the way down.

If you can, place the iPhone on a metal surface to help dissipate some of the heat produced by the update process.

Plug the iPhone into charger

Check the Wi-Fi Connection

For an iOS update to go smoothly, you need to make sure that you have a very fast and reliable Wi-Fi connection.

You can refresh the connection by restarting the Wi-Fi router and turning off any other connections that may interfere with Wi-Fi, such as VPN.

If that doesn't work, try connecting the device to a different Wi-Fi network.

Check the Wi-Fi Connection

Simply Force Restart Your Device

A reset may seem like a very simple solution, but it can work wonders when the update process is stuck.

This is because a reset usually refreshes the device's memory, removing any system glitches that may be preventing the device from updating.

To reset your device, hold down the Home and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. Keep holding down the buttons until the device powers off and you see the Apple Logo appear on the screen.

Wait for the device to completely restart before attempting to update it again.

Force Restart iPhone

Fix the Update Stuck Issue with TinyFix without Data Loss

Stuck issues like this one often point to problems with the iOS system that an iOS system repair tool can be instrumental in fixing.

While there are many such tools in the market, one of the best is TinyFix. TinyFix will fix the device without causing data loss and it guarantees success since it is designed to specifically deal with these software problems.

Its key features include the following;

  • It can easily and successfully fix more than 200 of the most common iOS stuck issues including the "Update Completed" screen.
  • It also allows users to easily and very quickly enter or exit recovery mode.
  • The program's standard mode will fix the device without causing data loss.
  • It is fully compatible with all iPhone models and al versions of iOS including iOS 14.

This step-by-step guide shows you how to fix this issue using TinyFix;

Step 1: Download and install the program on to your computer. Run it after installation.

Step 2: Click "iOS System Repair" > "Standard Repair Mode" in the main interface and then connect the iPhone to the computer.

 main screen of TinyFix

Step 3: The program will then prompt you to download the latest firmware. Click "Download" to begin downloading the firmware.

get the appropriate firmware

Step 4: When the firmware download is complete, click on "Fix Now" to allow the program to begin repairing the device.

repairing the device

Keep the device connected to the computer until TinyFix notifies you that the repair process is complete.

Update Your iPhone Using a Computer

If you are still unable to update the device OTA, you can try to update it using a computer.

For older versions of Mac and PC, you can use iTunes. For macOS Catalina and later, Finder will prove very useful.

Just connect the device to the computer and open Finder or iTunes to update it.

Update Your iPhone via finder

Restore the Device in iTunes

Restoring the device in iTunes is one of the best ways to fix stuck issues like this one.

But doing so will also often cause data loss, so you want to make sure that you have a backup of all your data before restoring the device in iTunes.

Just connect the device to the computer and follow the normal process to restore it.

If you are unable to update the device in the normal way, you may need to put the device in DFU or recovery mode before you can restore it.

When the restore process is complete, the device will restart and you can restore the backup from iCloud or iTunes to continue using the device.

Restore Your iPhone in iTunes

Conclusion

Ordinarily, updating your iOS device is a simple process that doesn't require too much input.

But we'd recommend waiting a few days after the update is launched to update your device.

This will help you avoid the rush of millions of people updating their devices at the same time and the problems that can come with it.

If you are stuck on the "Update Completed" screen, it is our hope that one or more of the solutions above have been helpful.

J. Robertson Macaulay D. Young

Mako is a technical writer with a passion for all things tech. Whether you're wondering about how to fix your iPhone or Android device or trying to get something to work in your settings, Mako is your go-to for professional help. He loves writing, testing solutions, and most of all, making sure his research is factually accurate.

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