Apple has introduced several new improvements and features with the new iOS 18 update. While there are mixed reviews about some of these changes, overall, the update has been well-received by the Apple community. However, these reviews come from only select lucky people who've had the chance to try it so far. For a good number of us, the iOS 18 update is still playing hard to get. Now, I may not be the best at scoring a date, but when it comes to nailing iOS tricks, I'm on top of my game. Stick with me, and I'll help you get there, too.
If you have an older iPhone, you won't be able to upgrade to iOS 18, no matter how many fixes you try. After a while, iPhones just get too outdated to handle the latest features.
Your phone is compatible with the new update if it installed iOS 17 last fall, along with all the updates that came after. You can also refer to the list Apple has announced for which iPhones can upgrade to iOS 18:
Unfortunately, that means any iPhone 8 models and older won't be able to get iOS 18.
Once you have confirmed that your device is compatible with iOS 18, the first thing you should do if the update isn't available is to install the one that is. For many users, that update is iOS 17.7. This will fix any potential bugs in your iOS and restore it if it is corrupted. This might make iOS 18 available again. Before updating, make sure your iPhone is fully backed up.
When a new iOS update comes out, like iOS 18, thousands of other iPhone users are trying to update at the same time. This overloads Apple's servers, and you will often end up with a delayed response or a failed update. In these situations, I've learned it's better to wait for a few days for the servers to settle down before trying the update again.
iOS 18 requires a few gigabytes of free space on your device to install properly. Here's how you can check your storage:
A slow or unstable connection can lead to frustratingly slow downloads or, worse, incomplete ones. To make sure your iPhone detects and installs any updates, you need a strong internet signal.
Connect to a reliable and fast Wi-Fi network. I would not recommend using cellular data. In my experience, Wi-Fi is usually faster and more stable, which makes the download process much smoother. Once you are connected, go to speedtest.net to check the Wi-Fi speed.
If the Wi-Fi signal isn't strong enough, move closer to your router or restart it.
Before starting the update, make sure your iPhone is at least 50% charged. If it's lower, connect it to a power source and try updating it again.
With Low Power Mode off, background activities resume, and the battery doesn't restrict essential tasks like installing updates.
If your update is stuck on preparing or installing, restarting the update process works wonders. By going back to the beginning, you can cleared any errors or glitches that were blocking the installation. You will have to delete the update file and download it again. This will also take care of any corrupted or incomplete update files. To do so:
Once you have deleted the update file, follow the steps in this guide to learn how to install the iOS 18 update again.
Your Wi-Fi may be working just fine but your phone may have network issues. Resetting Network Settings can help restore the connection.
Sometimes, a simple force restart resolves software glitches that block the iOS 18 installation.
If your iPhone is unresponsive and won't restart normally, you will have to do a force restart.