Tech Reference

'Why won't my iPhone update to iOS 13?': How to troubleshoot iPhone updating issues in 4 ways

Written by Dave Johnson
iPhone X iPhone 8
You'll need the right model of iPhone to update to iOS 13. Justin Sullivan/Getty
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iOS 13, the newest operating system for the iPhone, is officially available for download. Installing iOS 13 can refresh your phone, making even an older model seem new again, and deliver some amazing new features. 

What to do if your iPhone won't update to iOS 13

iphone 6s plus
Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider

For most people, the upgrade to iOS 13 should be straightforward, but if you're having trouble, check out these troubleshooting tips to get up and running with the newest version of iOS.

Check to make sure your iPhone is compatible

iphone lineup 2019
There are several different iPhone models that are compatible with iOS 13. Apple

Not all older models can run the newest version of the operating system. According to Apple, these are the only iPhone models you can upgrade to iOS 13:

  • All iPhone 11 models
  • All iPhone X, iPhone XR, and iPhone XS models
  • iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
  • iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus
  • iPhone SE

It's also available for the seventh generation iPod Touch.

Ensure you have enough available storage

update 1
Make sure you have more than 2GB of storage space available. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

If you have a compatible iPhone model, but it still won't update, you might not have enough free space. 

You'll need more than 2GB of free storage. You can see how much storage is available by checking your Settings app.

To see how, as well as how to free up additional space, see our article, "How to free up space on an iPhone that's running out of storage."

Make sure your phone has access to Wi-Fi and sufficient battery life

update 2
Your phone should be plugged in and connected to Wi-Fi before running an update. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

Your iPhone might not update if it doesn't have a Wi-Fi connection, or if the battery is running low. 

The best way to ensure your device can update is by performing the update at home or in an office where you have access to Wi-Fi and a charger.

Restart your iPhone

restart iphone
Restart your iPhone by holding the power buttons until you see a slider appear. Dave Johnson/Business Insider

If your phone hasn't been restarted in a while, there could be a glitched app or other temporary issue preventing the update from occurring. 

Rebooting a computer can resolve a lot of problems, and your iPhone is no exception to this rule. See our article "How to restart and force-restart any iPhone model" to find out how to restart your iPhone. 

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dave june
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.