iOS 26 Stuck on “Update Requested”? How to Fix it

Is your iPhone iOS 26 update stuck on the "Update Requested?" Wondering why and how to fix it? Keep reading for answers.

Is your iPhone displaying "Update Requested" while updating to iOS 26?

If you’re facing this problem and don’t know what to do, help is at hand. Here are six working solutions for when your iPhone is stuck on "Update Requested" during the iOS 26 update process.

Why Is Your iPhone Stuck on "Update Requested"?

Your iPhone is stuck on the "Update Requested" error due to several reasons. Here are the possible ones:

• Unstable internet connection
• Insufficient storage space on iPhone
• Battery not sufficiently charged
• Issues with Apple servers
• Problems with the iPhone or iPad itself
• Corrupted downloaded update files

How to Fix iPhone iOS 26 "Update Requested"

If your iPhone shows "Update Requested," during iOS 26 update and it’s not progressing, try the following solutions:

1. Switch to a Stable Wi-Fi Network

If Wi-Fi is not connecting or the connection is unstable, it might be the root cause. What you need to do is to ensure a stable connection before retrying.

• Switch to a stable Wi-Fi connection.
• Toggle Wi-Fi settings (Settings > Wi-Fi).
• Reset network settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings).

2. Restart Your iPhone

If "Update Requested" persists, try restarting your iPhone.

Press and hold one of the volume buttons and the Side button until the power off slider appears. Drag the power off slider to shut down your iPhone, then, turn your phone back on.

3. Ensure Your iPhone Battery Is Sufficiently Charged

It’s essential to ensure your iPhone battery is sufficiently charged, as system updates require at least 50% of the battery.

4. Clear iPhone Storage

Ensure your iPhone has enough storage space to download and install the iOS 26 update.

• Check what’s taking up the most iPhone storage by clicking Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
• Delete unnecessary files or apps to make room for update files.

5. Delete and Redownload iOS Files

If your iPhone is still stuck on "Update Requested," try deleting and redownloading the iOS files.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage, find the update, and tap "Delete Update." Then, redownload the update from Settings > General > Software Update.

6. Update iPhone with Finder/iTunes

Another option you can explore is updating your iOS using Finder (on macOS Mojave and later) or iTunes (on Windows).

Here’s how:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer via an original USB cable.
2. Unlock your iPhone to help Finder/iTunes detect it.
3. Click your iPhone name in the Finder sidebar or your iPhone icon in iTunes.
4. Click the Update button, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Conclusion

Usually, updating your iOS is smooth sailing. But if you ever run into the "Update Requested" issue, don’t worry. Check out this guide to fix it. Hope this article comes in handy!

See also: 100 new iOS 26 features for iPhone! Do you know them all?