This article will show you how to fix an issue with the current iPhone model that prevents it from checking for new updates. Continue reading to find out what to do if you get the “unable to check for update” issue while trying to access the most recent iOS version on your iPhone 13.
OTA updates for iOS
Manually downloading and installing an iPhone software update (OTA) is simple as long as all of the update conditions are met, such as fast and consistent Wi-Fi, adequate storage, and battery life.
However, there are various circumstances that might make a straightforward operation seem difficult. Many users have reported numerous difficulties and troubles while trying to manually install the latest iOS update on their iPhones.
Among the most prevalent causes are sudden internet connection dropouts and poor network reception on the iPhone.
Another cause is network congestion, which occurs when the Apple server receives an excessive number of update requests. The same can be said w hen Apple servers goes down due to technical issues
Random software malfunctions that cause system incompatibilities are also among the probable causes of the device’s inability to read and apply OTA updates.
An issue that often arises while looking for an available software update on the new iPhone 13 device is addressed in this context.
Troubleshooting the iPhone 13’s “Unable to Check for Update” problem
The remedies below will assist you in removing common causes that may prohibit your iPhone 13 from searching for over-the-air upgrades and instead simply display an error message.
Remember to charge your smartphone first to guarantee that it can complete the whole update procedure. Check that your phone has enough storage space to accommodate the new update file.
Once you’ve got everything set up, you may start with the following:-
1. Restart your iPhone after closing all background apps.
These are apps you’ve recently opened and may have remained open in the background. While this may be advantageous for multitasking between various applications, leaving apps in this mode for an extended period of time may cause problems and eventually cause other system services, such as wifi updating, to stop working.
To rule out this possibility, follow these steps to turn off all background apps on your iPhone 13:
- Swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to reveal the app switcher menu, which displays thumbnails of any applications you’ve recently used and left open/running in the background.
- To close each app preview, swipe up on it one by one.
To erase any irregular remaining app data and system cache, restart your iPhone after removing all background apps. - Try installing the latest iOS update.
2. Perform a Soft Reset
To perform a soft reset, simply follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Power/Side buttons for a few seconds, then release when the Power Off option appears.
- Then move the slider to completely turn off your iPhone.
- Press and hold the Side button for another 30 seconds, or until the Apple logo shows to power on the iPhone.
- Give sometime for the iPhone to establish a successful internet connection.
- Return to the Settings->Software Update menu as soon as your phone is back online and try the updates again.
3. Re-evaluate Your Internet Connection
Network connectivity troubles on the iPhone are frequently the cause of system update failures. This is frequently the case when the device has sporadic, sluggish, or no network access.
Because network connectivity difficulties are unavoidable with mobile devices, they are one of the likely causes.
Optimizing the phone’s internet connection is advised to cope with random internet difficulties affecting over-the-air updates. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways:-
A. Refresh your Wi-Fi.
Turning the Wifi off and on is a common method when dealing with unpredictable internet errors with iPhones.To do so on your iPhone 13, go to Settings-> Wi-Fi and then toggle the Wi-Fi switch on and off. You can also do this directly from your iPhone’s control centre.
B. Modifications to the aeroplane mode.
The so-called Airplane mode method is another efficient remedy for small internet issues. This is accomplished by turning on Airplane mode, rebooting the phone, and then turning off Airplane mode.
To do so, navigate to Settings-> Airplane mode and then hit the switch to turn it on. When Airplane mode is turned on, all wifi functions are turned off at the same time. While in this mode, restart the phone and then switch off Airplane mode.
When you use the Airplane mode method, all wireless services on your iOS device get a simultaneous refresh, which reduces important issues like Wi-Fi hiccups.
Switch to a Wi-Fi network if the issue occurs when your iPhone is connected to the internet through cellular data. If the underlying reason is a sluggish or unreliable cellular connection, this will most likely cure the problem.
Return to Settings and check for the updated iOS version after optimising your iPhone’s wireless connections.
4. Delete the existing Wi-Fi network and create a new one.
If your iPhone’s online services aren’t operating as they should and you can’t get to over-the-air updates through settings, uninstalling and re-adding the Wi-Fi network could help.
When an internet problem occurs as a result of a faulty Wi-Fi network, online apps and services might become inoperable.
Simply follow these procedures to erase your iPhone 13’s Wi-Fi network:
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Select Wi-Fi.
- Next to the Wi-Fi network, tap the information ‘i’ symbol.
- Select Forget This Network from the drop-down menu.
- To confirm, read the warning popup and then tap Forget.
Reboot your iPhone, then return to the Wi-Fi option under Settings. To display accessible networks, make sure the Wi-Fi switch is switched on. Choose the Wi-Fi network to which you want to connect. Enter the Wi-Fi password if required, then hit Join.
When the internet connection is established, go back to Settings and check for the most recent software update for your iPhone.
5. Reset all of your iPhone’s Network settings.
If the issue persists after you’ve tried everything else, the next step is to do a network settings reset. Internet difficulties caused by improper settings, such as rogue custom networks, are frequently resolved by restoring default network and system settings.
Resetting network settings and resetting all settings are among the options available on the iPhone. A network reset does not destroy any user data rather it cleans all network bugs.
Simply follow these procedures to reset the iPhone 13’s network settings:
- Open the Settings app on your phone.
- Select General.
- Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom of the page.
To continue, tap Reset. - Then, from the list of choices, select Reset network settings.
- If asked, enter your passcode, then touch to confirm the action.
After that, the phone will delete all personalised settings and restore the default applications, values, and choices.
The iPhone reboots automatically after the reset. Simply wait for it to finish rebooting, and then return to the Software update settings page to view the most recent iOS version to download and install on your iPhone.
Still can’t get your iPhone 13 to update wirelessly?
Other iPhone users who had the same issue were able to resolve the issue by executing the following adjustments.
Make sure the date and time are right: Conflicts can also arise when downloading over-the-air updates if the date and time are incorrect or inaccurate. If your iPhone’s date and time settings are set to manual, change them to Set Automatically. This will cause your device to utilise the date and time information from your current location’s time zone.
Make a DNS change (optional): Try browsing the internet using Safari and visiting random websites and pages to see if your iPhone’s internet connection is reliable. Check the DNS settings in the Settings-> Wi-Fi menu if you’re having issues with slow or sporadic downloads. You may verify if the issue is fixed by using different DNS addresses, such as Google’s DNS server address 8.8.8.8.
Remove any iOS beta accounts you may have: Due to various conflicts, if you’ve registered for iOS beta testing, your phone may face difficulties when installing the newest stable iOS version. In this instance, it’s best to delete the beta profile.
Make use of iTunes: Occasionally, the issue is limited to the iPhone system. You may also try upgrading your iPhone with iTunes on a Windows or Mac computer as an option. Just make sure you’re running the most recent versions of iTunes and Finder on both PC and Mac. Also, make sure your computer has a strong Wi-Fi connection.