Software downloads, installation, and updates are among the most frequently performed actions smartphone owners do each day so as to make the most out of their respective devices. However, not all the time each of these processes can go smoothly as problems can emerge while attempting to perform apps download and installation, as well as when updating device software. Even users of the newest and most powerful smartphones to-date including the Apple iPhone 7 Plus device can suffer the same dilemma when downloading apps, performing updates and iOS firmware restore.
In this post, we will attempt to address one of these problems, in which the iPhone 7 Plus is stuck at ‘Waiting’ status. If by any chance, you too are facing the same issue while trying to download apps, update software, or restore iOS on your iPhone, then this content might be able to help. You may also find some highly recommended workarounds and potential solutions you can try on. Read on to learn more.
But before anything else, if you have other concerns with your iPhone 7 Plus, make sure you drop by our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most commonly reported issues with this new iPhone. If you need further assistance or if you can’t find what you’re looking for in that page, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit. Don’t worry, it’s a free consultation service so you don’t have to worry about anything. Just give us more information about the problem and we’ll do our best to help you fix it.
Why is your iPhone 7 Plus stuck on ‘Waiting’ status?
Given the powerful specs, your new iPhone is supposed to carry out certain tasks without a hassle. However, not all iPhone owners are getting positive experience with this new Apple device. Recent reports have it that some iPhone 7 Plus users have experienced some issues that occur during apps download, software update installation, and iOS system restore. Others have experienced the same problem, wherein their iPhone 7 Plus is stuck at ‘waiting’ while attempting to delete, install or re-install apps on the phone. Subsequently listed are the known causes of this error.
Poor or unstable connection. Network problems appeared to be the most common factor that triggers an iPhone to be stuck on the ‘waiting’ state. Tasks like apps download and installation, software update, and iOS restore requires a stable network connection in order to be completed successfully. Thus, if the network is not stable or always cutting off, then most likely any of these processes would not be completed. And the ‘Waiting’ prompt should serve as a system note telling you that the process could not be completed due to intermittent connection. Unless the process is aborted, your device will continue to attempt and establish connection with the server so as to complete the requested process. In this case, you should work on fixing the existing problem on the network and once the issue has been resolved, the rest should be fine.
Also check if there are any on-going outages that may have affected the Internet service in your location. You may contact your Internet service provider (ISP) for that matter, especially if the problem occurs all of a sudden.
Insufficient memory or internal memory glitch. Downloading, installing, and updating software also requires your iPhone to have sufficient memory space to allocate newly added contents. Although this is unlikely the case considering that what you have is a new device with high-storage capacity, checking the phone’s memory status is still highly recommended. This way, you can constantly monitor and manage memory and properly allocate internal storage space on your device. With insufficient storage space, your device wouldn’t be able to take additional files and therefore any apps download, software updates, or installations could not go through.
You should consider this note especially if you already have added several bulky apps and stored multimedia contents to your iPhone.
Server unavailability or clogged network. Sometimes, the waiting error simply tells you to wait further because the server is currently unavailable, busy or slow. This usually happens when a major iOS update is up for grabs and that many users are trying to get it, thus resulting to a clogged network. The higher volume of requests is in queue, the more chances of your request to be processed by the server at a later time. Or your request might have already been placed in queue and should be processed once the server is ready to take additional requests.
Your iPhone can also be stuck at ‘waiting’ while attempting to download an app from the App Store and the Apple server is busy or temporarily unavailable due to scheduled maintenance or system revamp. Your only option in this case is to wait until the server is up and running again and ready to take new service requests from users.
How to get your iPhone 7 Plus out of the ‘waiting’ status?
Considering the problem is triggered by some factors other than network outage, or unavailable server, you can try some workarounds to resolve the underlying cause. The standard approach in troubleshooting issues in mobile devices is to start from looking into the possible cause. This denotes the need for you to think of what has happened before the problem occurs. Were there any changes made to the iPhone settings or perhaps you have configured some options? Doing so will help you isolate the problem and from there you will know where to start and what to do in order to fix it.
Before you proceed, make sure your iPhone is not suffering from any sort of physical or liquid damage. Otherwise, you can skip this troubleshooting and contact Apple Support for other options. Otherwise, you may take your device to an authorized technician for hardware check and/or repair, if necessary.
Step 1. Verify network connections and fix network problems
If you are using Wi-Fi, make sure Wi-Fi is enabled and working fine in your device. Do the same with Cellular Data. Remember that a stable internet connection is necessary for downloads, updates, or apps installation to complete. If you are getting an intermittent connection, try to re-configure network settings on your iPhone beforehand.
If you are using a 3G/LTE network, you may try switching to Cellular Data and see if that will fix the problem.
To enable Cellular Data on your iPhone, go to Settings-> iTunes & App Store-> scroll down and tap to select the option to Use Cellular Data.
After that, try to download or update apps again.
Step 2. Use iTunes Sync for direct download or update of apps
Another potential solution you can try on is to use iTunes and download or update apps and update directly to your iPhone via iTunes Sync option. To get started, connect your iPhone to a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed. On your computer, open iTunes and follow these steps:
Navigate to the right side of the iTunes screen.
Locate and click the Apps tab to view a list of applications. Each app in the list should have corresponding options to Install, Remove and Update.
To install an app, click the Install button or click the Update button to install update on selected app.
Scroll down to the bottom-right of the iTunes screen.
Click the Sync button.
Your iPhone should then begin to sync with iTunes. Wait for iTunes to process your requested tasks and that should go through.
Step 3. Manage internal memory and clear up space if necessary
If the problem is inflicted by insufficient storage space or memory problems on your iPhone, then you have to deal with them first so you can proceed with the apps download, update, or iOS restore without having any more troubles. Many iPhone owners who have encountered the same issue in which their phone is stuck on the waiting status while updating iOS have noted other performance issues that were tied to memory problems. If by any chance you notice that your iPhone is showing other performance problems like performing very slowly, lags, or freezes more often, then most likely memory flaws are to blame in your case.
Verify your iPhone’s memory status and manage memory storage allocation by going to Settings-> General-> Usage.
If you see some apps that are unusually taking up huge amount of your iPhone’s overall storage, then you should consider doing something to properly manage memory consumption for each of these apps. If necessary, you can delete all non-essential apps to free up some space of your iPhone’s internal storage for additional contents and processes.
To do so, head over the Settings-> General-> Usage -> Storage (Manage Storage) -> search for non-essential app, and then tap the option to Delete App. The selected app will then be removed or uninstalled.
Follow the same procedure on other unnecessary apps to delete from your iPhone.
Step 4. Restart or force restart
A simple yet widely used workaround to deal with software-related issues in mobile devices is a restart. It is also possible that your iPhone 7 Plus is stuck at waiting because of faulty app or some corrupted files messed up the iPhone’s syncing functions. If the problem starts all of a sudden without changing anything or configuring settings on your iPhone, then performing a restart might help.
For starters, to restart your iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold the Power button. If you see the red slider, scroll towards the option to Power off your iPhone completely. After 20 seconds, press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears. Your iPhone should now reboot.
Alternatively, you can force your iPhone 7 Plus to restart if your iPhone is stuck at ‘waiting’ status and the screen is freezing or not responding to touch.
To perform a force restart, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons for at least 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears. Then let your iPhone reboot completely.
Step 5. Update, download, or restore software using Recovery Mode
If none of the previous workarounds is able to get your iPhone out of the ‘waiting’ state, then you can try to update, download, install apps, or restore software by putting your iPhone into recovery mode. You will need a computer with the latest version of iTunes installed to continue with this process. Once everything is ready, follow these steps:
Connect your iPhone to the computer and then open iTunes.
While your iPhone is connected, perform a force restart on your device. (Please refer to the steps above, if necessary.)
When you see the options to Restore or Update, select Update.
Wait as iTunes will attempt to re-install iOS without erasing contents from your iPhone, and then proceed with the software download or update. Once the entire process is finish, you may proceed with device setup.
Step 6. Contact Apple Support for more help
If none of our recommended troubleshooting methods is able to resolve the problem and that your iPhone 7 Plus is still stuck on the ‘waiting’ status, contact Apple Support to escalate the problem and ask for further assistance. Just let them know of what you’ve done so far. Should you encounter any error prompts or codes, let them know also so that they can figure out what went wrong and what has caused your device to get stuck.
Engage with us
If you have other issues with your Apple iPhone 7 Plus, we are always willing to help. Contact us through our iPhone issues questionnaire and provide us with all necessary information about your problem so we can find a solution to your issue.
The post Apple iPhone 7 Plus stuck on ‘Waiting’ when downloading, updating, and restoring [Troubleshooting Guide] appeared first on iKream.