Several users have reported that they are receiving error messages when they try to update their device’s (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) software wirelessly. In particular, many readers see the message unable to check for update. An error occurred while checking for a software update”.
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Check Apple Servers for a Problem
This error often happens when Apple Servers are down. To check, visit Apple’s System Status site and see if any of Apple’s services are impacted. Services include things like iCloud, App Stores, iTunes, Software Updates, Siri, Maps, Apple Pay and so forth. Services listed in green on the System Status page are working normally. Things listed in yellow are experiencing current issues.
On the System Status page, click on the particular service name next to the yellow warning icon to get more information from Apple. This data usually includes the date, time, and short description of the reported problem as well as number or percentage of users impacted and if the issue is on-going or resolved.
And usually, you see the following message, “Users are experiencing a problem with the service listed above. We are investigating and will update the status as more information becomes available.”
If Apple System Status shows all green
- That means the problem is likely on your end, so performing the steps below should help
- Sometimes there is a small problem on Apple’s end that doesn’t show up on the System Status page. So if you try all the steps and nothing helps, check the internet for news stories about your specific problem
If Apple System Status shows some yellow
- There is a problem with Apple’s current servers and services so check if your problem is listed with the yellow caution sign
- If your issue is reported and cautioned, there’s not much you can do. The problem is way beyond just you and your device
- If you want to know more, check online for news related to your problem or to Apple OR type in a news search using search terms “apple servers down today”
Apple Servers and Friends
Apple actually stores information on Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services (the Big 3 of cloud storage with AWS in a strong lead.) These are in addition to Apple’s own in-house data storage centers. These cloud services store things like our iCloud backups, photo storage, music streaming, and video downloads. Governments, Institutions, Companies, and even us small folks, are more dependent on the cloud than ever before so when an outage occurs, we notice (and maybe scream!)
Everything’s Connected–it’s the web after all
These days everything is connected, so when any of these big three cloud services experience problems or goes offline, Apple, along with tons of other companies large and small, is also affected. These outages cause a variety of symptoms from sites going completely offline, web services not available or working, website failing to load properly, an inability to unable to load assets, to major and minor slowdowns and intermittent issues.
And these problems translate all the way down to us, the actual users who no longer are able to check for software updates, download apps or iBooks, and a host of other potential downstream effects. So when you find that you are not able to update any of the apps on your iPhone or iPad today, it just might be a much larger problem with impacts around the globe.
How to Troubleshoot Unable to Check for Update Error
So if you determined this is not a server or Apple systems issue, the tips below should help get things back to working order.
Try each step until you resolve your issue
- Try updating your software via iTunes. Updating your software may fix this problem
- Settings > WiFi and turn Wi-Fi off and then on again
- Toggle Cellular Data OFF
- Toggle Airplane Mode ON and OFF (do this a couple of time)
- Power OFF your iDevice, wait 20-30 seconds, and power back ON
- Reset network settings by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings
- Free some space on your iDevice–your iPhone etc. may not have sufficient space for the iOS update
- Change your DNS settings. To do that, simply tap Settings > Wi-Fi then Tap the blue arrow next to your current Wi-Fi network. Tap the “DNS” field and enter the DNS servers; 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4 (Google’s Public DNS). After this, try a software update
- Try forced restart by holding both the power and home buttons (volume down for iPhone 7 and above) at the same time until you see the Apple logo on the screen. Wait for 20-30 seconds before turning your iDevice back on again. Check and see if it allows to update
Ahtisham says
ur the best thanks a lot
Bobby says
It worked perfect for me.
I used step 5
Thanks a lot
angelia says
I deleted unnecessary apps on my ipad and now able to update.
unknown bluelady says
thanks ios ghandi tried all the steps mentioned but it didnt work for me then ive read your message and luckily it work… thanks again 🙂
Amando says
Please help i did not get it!
Elliott Royle says
I tried the steps mentioned above and nothing worked for me. Finally, it occurred to check how much space was available on the device. It was full. I freed up lots of space because updates can be large and it resolved the update issue.
iOS Ghandi says
Put mine in airplaine mode after a couple of retries, it worked. Didn’t do any of these steps anyways.
Anassgw says
New update for iPhone 6.
1.80 GB iTunes
40 MB iPhone not working
Stupid thing
Ceri says
Switching phone 6s off and back on worked for me
hamidreza says
not working for me 🙁
Dea a says
It’s worked! Thanks:)
I prefer downloading on my iphone than itunes lol
All i do was just turning wifi off and then on. And when i check the software update it worked!
Anon Anon says
Step 1 should be – make sure you have enough memory. I got rid of some unused/unneeded items and it freed up enough space to allow the update.
Mohsen says
Not Workinggg!!!!!!! 🙁
iPhoneSavvy says
I can use iTunes to download the update but the stupid itunes is downloading a *complete* iOS file (Worth more than 1.3GB) which is ridicoulous.. Updating through iPhone means a smaller file (iOS 9.0.2 update was a mere ~40MB if I remember right)..
For iOS 9.1 update, as I read in other forums, is around 300MB for iPad; since I’m using iPhone 4S I bet it’ll be smaller than that.
Not of the above methods are working for me. Apparently iTunes is the only way to go but I have such limited bandwidth.
Would appreciate if someone has a solution.
Sakthivel says
DNS change worked for me.
Krishna Panthi says
Amazing! It worked like a charm. Thank you very much.
Xander says
None of these worked? Help
Marjeo says
It worked like a charm, thanks so mch…
Supo says
DNS changed to 8.8.4.4 on my Ipad 3 and worked. Many thanks.
Deanna says
Tried all of the above with no luck. Anything else I can try?
Maurine says
Many Thanks. Worked a treat! Merry Christmas!
Bill says
Thanks, worked like a charm!!!
Marie says
Followed steps 1-4. When I checked my I-phone 5s, I had no internet access, so I had to enter my network security key to reestablish my wireless connection. Once I did that, I went back to settings and was able to download the update. What a process, but it finally worked.
geff says
didnt work for me
Jane says
Worked for me. Thanks.
Bhukailas says
It worked for me. Thank you very much
GP says
I got it to work! I followed Step 5, and then when to software update. It showed ios7 ready to download but I kept getting an error message when downloading. I changed my DNS back to what it was before by clearing the DNS and going back to the main wi-fi page. Once reconnected to my wifi, I went back to the software download page. I tried a few more times after getting the error message, but after about the third time I got it to download! As expected, it took a little while because of the overload of people.
Thanks for this tip!! Really appreciated.
April G says
I have followed exactly what was explained… Step by step & it didn’t work for me. So you mean to tell me only one person out of all of us got it to work? ! Please if anyone has gotten it to work let us all know… Thx so much…
Abdullah says
ufffffffff not working
William says
Not working
sushi says
not working !!!!!!!!!!!
Abs says
Not working duhhh
kyle says
worked for me! Thank you
Bart says
Thanks fir nothing! Didn’t work for me either.
Genius123 says
Doesnt work
olebogeng says
Same problem here.I tried to use itunes for update but it also gives error message “you do not have permission to access the requested resources”.
Alfredo Schiavo says
I had tried to install ios 6 everything seems to run, but after 2 hours the process do not finish. It keep showing the apple and the bar filled almost till the middle.
Someone can help?
Emily says
Mine either, help
Greg says
Doesn’t work. I’ve tried everything… Reset, changing the DNS, restating the settings etc. I cannot download the update to iTunes on my pc either. always gives me a timed out message after downloading for a half hour.
Viktor says
same here. Can anyone give the correct solution please?
Brit says
Ive tried all of those and it’s not working for me either..
Jen says
I tried all the steps and it is still not working…
Robert says
I just tried it and it WORKED! I did not do the final step, the DNS entry, because once the wifi picked up the networks after the reset, I simply redid the password for the router, the password for iTunes (I reset it last night while setting up my wife’s new MacBook Pro), and away we went!
Zee Me says
Thank you very much. It worked!