Earlier this week, Apple released iOS 9 to the public and all was good, for some time. Users started to face problems while installing the update and were shown a ‘Software Update Failed’ error. This has been fixed now, but was most likely due to Apple’s servers being slammed by millions of update requests. Another error that users are now facing is the iOS 9 update getting stuck at the ‘Slide to Upgrade’ screen.
The Slide to Upgrade screen appears after the OTA update process and the installation of iOS 9. Several users have reported that their iOS devices freeze at the Slide to Upgrade screen and they aren’t able to do anything. This bug is real and Apple has duly responded to it by outlining a fix in a new support document.
This error can be fixed, but you’re going to need a little patience and a backup of your device from before it was updated to iOS 9. An iTunes backup to be more specific. If you do not have an older backup, then it’s time to take your iOS device to Apple Care.
Here’s how to Fix iOS 9 update Stuck at ‘Slide to Upgrade’ Screen:
- Connect your iOS device to a Mac or PC. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes. If your device is not detected, force restart it by holding the Power and Home button for about 10 seconds.
- After the reboot, select your device on iTunes and Restore from a backup that was made prior to the iOS 9 update.
- Select the Backup and click on Restore Backup.
The Restore from an older backup should fix the problem and you can then go ahead with the update. Don’t worry, you’re still on iOS 9, because this method merely fixes the stuck at ‘Slide to Upgrade’ error. After the reboot, you can continue the upgrade process and it will not get stuck again.
Let us know if this helped you! Are you on iOS 9?
Update #1: Apple released iOS 9.0.1 for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch which fixes the ‘Slide to Upgrade’ bug and other bugs.
When I click restore backup, it says find my iPhone must be off and I can’t turn it off
I spent two hours on the phone today with Apple because I have the same problem with my iPad. When I try to do a restore it says it can’t because the find my iPad option is enabled. Tech support had me remove my device from iTunes and did several reboot options but to no avail. They still have an active ticket open and I will post it we reach any resolution. Frustrating beyond belief!
>>After the reboot, select your device on iTunes
Itunes on my desktop PC asks me if my ipad allows the access, and asks me to respond this on ipad. However, if ipad is stuck on this never ending “slide to upgrade”, there’s no way to respond. This means itunes will not show the device. All options under the device are greyed out. Any suggestion will deeply be appreciated.
To the previous poster: Hi John, how did you get that far? Did itunes ask you to allow the access FROM ipad? (usually there’s a button to hit on ipad when asked)
This is all good but if it says to disable the “find my phone” feature and you cannot get into your phone it is worthless. I do not have an I cloud account either. Any ideas?
Like Aaron, I’m getting a message that I have to turn off “Find my Phone” before restoring. Frustrated!
It says I have to turn off my iphone to restore my ipad but how am I supposed to do that when my ipad is frozen on “Slide to Upgrade” -_-
and when I log on to icloud.com my device isn’t there. -_-
I’ve tried the fixes including restoring my iPad twice via iTunes and it still is stuck on slide to upgrade. Apple have told me there is nothing I can do until they bring out iOS 9.1! I’m very angry!
I am having the same issue. Stuck on “slide to upgrade”, and when I go to iTunes my phone does not show up. This is why I will never buy another apple product again! If anyone figures out how to fix this problem another way please post it. Thanks.
Here is my fix:
1. Log into your icloud.com account and remove the AppleID from the associated device, in other words, find my phone is gone because there is nothing registered anymore.
2. restore your device (iOS restore)
3. REGISTER YOUR PHONE AS NEW PHONE
I have gone through this multiple times, each time I have my old backup data restored, either using iTunes or third party application, the phone restarts after restore, show slide to update…finally got stuck again.
That is after I have setup as new phone, experienced a while the new iOS 9, then figured if I restore the data now it might work. NO, every time I do that, it got stuck.
So, for me at least, it is the old backup data triggered the iOS 9 bug. So try restore and then setup as new phone, see if you can turn your paper weight into a phone again.
I will wait till Apple has real fix then try to restore data.
I have been to Geek Squad support twice, and online with Apple tech support for hours upon hours the last 2 days. I have had my iphone wiped clean twice and downloaded my back-up files from itunes (a 3 hour process) successfully twice –but my phone freezes back in the “slide to upgrade.”. All I get now when I call Apple is “sorry.”
Try this solution if you have a backup, yet you cannot disable Find my Iphone to restore the Iphone: h**ps://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/DFU_Mode
Entering DFU Mode on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
Plug your device into your computer with a USB cable.
Turn off the device.
Hold the Power button for 3 seconds.
Hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds.
Release the Power button but keep holding the Home button.
After about 15 seconds you will be alerted by iTunes saying that it has detected a device in Recovery Mode.
I am in the same boat. The iPad belongs to my young son and he is very frustrated as am I. It is stuck on the update screen. Can’t turn it off, can’t reset, can’t connect to iTunes.
I’m the same. I’ve even tried the DFU reset and as with all my other tries it gets right to the end and then it goes to the “slide …” frozen screen again! I want to scream!!
Helpless, I receive the same message to allow access, please respond on your iPhone I can’t allow it because it’s stuck on the slide to upgrade screen. I’ve removed my phone from iCloud but nothing seems to work.
Exactly the same for me as described above. iphone 5 completely stuck and USELESS, having tried the itunes ‘method’ of restroing it, and removing the registration of my iphone from icloud. What the hell are Apple playing at? I can only hope their brilliant staff are working 25 hours a day to resolve this problem. How come their brilliant staff allowed the release of this update that has caused this massive problem for millions of consumers who have faithfully bought Apple products. It’s a complete shambles and a scandal. No news. No information. Nothing.
Has anyone had any luck with this problem? I spent two hours on with support and they told me to wait for a new version, which would give a backdoor through iTunes. iTunes was not recognizing my device although it did recognize my wife’s phone which had not been upgraded. Still haven’t made any progress despite the new update that is out.
Forcing into recovery worked for me
Get the latest iTunes and open it
Turn off phone. Make sure it is completely off unplug cable from phone
hold down home button ( the round button on the face) and plug in your cable (same time almost)
Continue holding until you see the connect to iTunes icon on your phone. release home button
Wait for windows to install any USB drivers.
iTunes will prompt you to update or restore. I chose update
wait forever, this is a 2 GB file and it took me almost an hour ( must be apple servers getting slammed)
if your phone goes back to the “slide to update baloney” don’t panic, it means the phone just gave up on waiting for iTunes. to update it .
I checked the progress of the download and waited till it was about 5 minutes away from completion. ( you can Google where iTunes keeps software updates for your OS, win7, XP, mac, etc
or just wait a while and try again, just don’t close iTunes. heck you spent this much time, wait an hour.
my file size for an iPhone 6s 9.0.1 update was 1.99 GB
when it got close I did put the phone into recovery mode again.(see above)
it finally got the IOS 9.0.1 installed from there you can then restore from another backup or just start over.
I had to do this to a 5S first (same procedure) and then back it up. to the computer then did the Iphone 6S. recovery. . steps above .
What an afternoon
After several attempts, I’ve cracked it – my iphone 5 is up and running again, with ios9 installed.
I went via this route – https://www.theiphonewiki.com/wiki/DFU_Mode – similar to that described by John G above.
Fortunately all my data was stored on icloud so I’ve lost nothing except time, loads of it – and, doubtless, at least one year of my life through frustration.
I still find it hard to believe that Apple (despite its brilliant products) rolled this upgrade out without anticipating the huge problems it would cause for millions of their customers.