iPhone Stuck On Updating iCloud Settings During iOS Install or Restore?

Recently updated your iPhone or iPad and now you’re stuck on updating iCloud settings screen? Or performed a backup and tried to restore your iPhone or iPad, only to get caught in that same Updating iCloud Settings message or seeing that never-ending spinning loading circle? If so, you are not alone!

Quite a few of our readers tell us they’ve seen this problem over the years, after either updating their iOS version or after attempting a restore from an iCloud backup. The good news is their experience helps all of us!

So here are some tips that our readers use to help get that Updating iCloud Settings screen unstuck and get your device back up and working again!

Quick Tips 

Follow These Quick Tips To Fix When Stuck on Updating iCloud Settings

• Restart or force restart your iDevice and try again
• Check Apple Servers to ensure there is no current issue with iCloud
• Use a different WiFi network, try cellular data, or connect to iTunes and use Ethernet
• Reset your network’s settings
• Disable any restrictions
• Skip setting up iCloud after updating or restoring and connect to iCloud later via the Settings App

Related Articles

• How To Use Automatic Setup in iOS 11 & 12
• Is Your iPhone Stuck on Apple Logo? How-To Fix
• iCloud Greyed Out in Settings? Fix it

Why is My iPhone Updating iCloud Settings Anyway?

You usually see this screen AFTER your iDevice updated the iOS or restored from a backup. 

Once iOS thoroughly updates, it automatically reboots your device and then sends you through a series of screens to finalize the update. These steps include connecting to your Apple ID and iCloud account.

And that’s where the problem comes up!

Checklist When Your iPad or iPhone Is Stuck on Updating iCloud Settings

1. Ensure your device has sufficient internal storage for the iOS update. Check these at Settings > General > Storage 
   1. If your storage is full, check out these tips to help clear some clutter!
2. Verify Apple Servers are up and running with no reported issues
   1. Visit their System Status Site to see the current performance snapshot 
3. Connect to your fastest and most stable WiFi connection
   1. Or use iTunes and an Ethernet connection
4. Charge your battery or better yet, keep your iPhone or iPad on the charger when you update
5. Be patient! Remember syncing iCloud content can take a lot of time
   1. Troubleshoot when it’s stuck on this screen for over an hour 

How-To Fix When Your iPhone or iPad Gets Stuck on Updating iCloud Settings

• Restart your device and try updating or restoring from backup again. Sometimes, the simple solution works best
• Force Restart and try again
  • On an iPhone 6S or below plus all iPads & iPod Touches, press Home and Power at the same time until you see the Apple logo
  • For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo
  • On an iPhone X/XS or iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and promptly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo 
• Try a different WiFi network or use Cellular/Mobile Data instead–if you have sufficient bandwidth in your mobile carrier’s plan
• Reset your network settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings 
• Try a different time of day for your updates
  • During busy seasons (iOS releases, holidays) Apple Servers get slammed with requests, so try updating at off-peak times like early in the morning or late at night as opposed to business/daytime hours
• Turn off (disable) any and all Restrictions or any Content & Privacy Restrictions
  • If your router has any restrictions enabled, turn those off too (temporarily) 
• After seeing the “update complete” screen, when asked to enter an Apple ID or Apple ID password, choose Skip, Skip This Step, or Set Up Later. Do not enter your Apple ID and password
  • Once your iPhone or iPad updates normally, go to Settings > Apple ID Profile  and enter your information there 
• Use iTunes to update or restore a backup instead

If unable to update or restore an iTunes backup, use Recovery Mode

1. Shut down the device
2. Connect the lightning cable to the device and a computer that runs iTunes (the latest version)
3. Open iTunes then immediately press the following buttons and keep holding them down until the connect to iTunes screen appears
   1. On an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or iPhone 8 Plus: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the side button–hold this button down until the connect to iTunes screen appears on your device
   2. On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time–hold these down until the connect to iTunes screen appears on your device
   3. On an iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad, or iPod touch: Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons at the same time–hold these down until the connect to iTunes screen appears on your device 
4. Choose Update when you see the message “There is a problem with…” 
   1. iTunes attempts to reinstall your device’s iOS without erasing your data
   2. Wait until iTunes downloads all the software to your device
   3. If your device exits the connect to iTunes screen and the download takes more than 15 minutes, repeat steps 3 &4
5. After iOS downloads and installs, follow the on-screen instructions

Reader Tips 

• First, take your device to another location with a WiFi connection not saved on your device. Once you get to your Home Screen, open Settings. And see if there are any red exclamation points next to your Apple ID or iTunes and App Stores. If so, tap these and choose to “Agree with new conditions.” Then try connecting to your iCloud account or going through the steps again to update or restore your device.

Elizabeth Jones

For most of her professional life, Amanda Elizabeth (Liz for short) trained all sorts of folks on how to use media as a tool to tell their own unique stories. She knows a thing or two about teaching others and creating how-to guides!

Her clients include Edutopia, Scribe Video Center, Third Path Institute, Bracket, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Big Picture Alliance.

Elizabeth received her Master of Fine Arts degree in media making from Temple University, where she also taught undergrads as an adjunct faculty member in their department of Film and Media Arts.