How Long Does It Take to Update iOS 16 (Solved!)

Apple announced iOS 16 on June 6, 2022. With iOS 16, iPhone models with A9 and A10 Fusion chips (such as iPhone 6S/6S Plus, the 1st gen iPhone SE and iPhone 7/7 Plus) are no longer supported. This release includes more features and improvements. For more information about iOS 16, you can find more iOS 16 hidden features.

iOS 16

PAGE CONTENT:

1. Overview of iOS 16
2. How Long Does It Take to Update iOS 16
3. Why Does It Take So Long to Update iOS 16
4. How to Update iOS 16 More Quickly

Part 1. Overview of iOS 16

Compared with the previous versions, iOS 16 features a customized lock screen and intelligent technology and improves Focus Mode and email search mode.

Pros of iOS 16:

The lock screen is customizable now.
You can edit and cancel the texts you just sent in the Messages app.
Focus Mode uses Focus filters to filter out distracting content in apps.
You can use Visual Look Up to lift the subject of an image from the background and copy and paste it to other apps.
New updates to Mail, Maps, Wallet, Health, News, and more.

Part 2. How Long Does It Take to Update iOS 16

Actually, there is no exact time for the iOS 16 update. It depends on various factors, basically including five parts, namely data sync, device backup, iOS 16 download, iOS 16 installation, and iPhone setup.

Now let's explore the factors that impact the time to update iOS 16!

Operation	Time
Data Sync (optional)	> 1 min
Device Backup (optional)	> 5 mins
iOS 16 Download	5~20 mins
iOS 16 Installation	8~20 mins
iPhone Setup	< 5 mins
Total	20 mins ~1 h

1. Data sync and device backup (> 5 mins)

Before updating your iPhone to iOS 16, backing up your important data and files is vitally important. If you do not back up your important original information, it may be lost during the update. In addition to Apple's exclusive services － iCloud and iTunes, you can also back up and transfer your data with a third-party tool. Here, we recommend Qiling Mobimover to sync and back up your data more quickly.

2. iOS 16 Download (5~20 mins)

After the device backup, you can confidently download iOS 16 by following the steps below:

Step 1. Tap Settings > General > Software Update.

Step 2. If there is more than one update option available, choose the version that you want to install.

Step 3. Then tap Download and Install > Install Now to update the new iOS 16 on your iPhone.

Steps on how to install ios 16 on iPhone

Note: Make sure there is enough storage space for the iOS 16 update.

3. iOS 16 Installation (10~20 mins)

Once your device has downloaded iOS 16 from Apple's server and you tap Install Now, the process of installing will begin automatically. Traditionally, the newer the device, the shorter the installation time. Just wait a few minutes and you can use the updated operating system.

4. iPhone Setup (< 5 mins)

When you're done with the download and installation of iOS 16, your iPhone needs to be set first before use. Specifically, you may need to log into your iCloud account, sign into your device's various apps and services, and set up Apple Pay. In order to ensure that everything is transferred correctly, you might also want to take some time to review your pictures, music, and other vital data.

Part 3. Why Does It Take So Long to Update iOS 16

After learning how long it would take to update iOS 16, we proceed to explore why it takes forever to update iOS 16. As long as we know the reasons, then we can reduce the update time.

There are several possible reasons for the slow update:

Too much data to back up, or the transfer tool is not so good.
Not enough storage space on your iPhone to download iOS 16.
The Internet is terrible, or the signal is unstable in case of download.
An old iPhone model would slow down the installation speed.
Unexpected system issues

Part 4. How to Update iOS 16 More Quickly

For the possible issues that cause the too long time to update iOS 16 mentioned above, we will develop solutions for each one to shorten the update time comprehensively.

And here's how:

For quick device backup, use iCloud, iTunes, or Qiling MobiMover (mentioned before) to transfer your data.
Make sure there's enough room to download iOS 16 on your iPhone before you decide to update it. And free space appropriately.
Check if your Internet connection is running perfectly before you download the system.
Learn your own iPhone model to estimate the time. On an iPhone 13 running iOS 15.6.1, it would download and install the system in less than 10 minutes. For older versions and models, it would take up to 20 minutes.
Check problems with the Apple Server to see if some stuck issues happen unexpectedly.

Anyway, make sure everything outlined above is ready to go. In addition, for more information about quick device backup, refer to "How to Speed up iPhone Backup".

Conclusion

In this article, we have fully covered issues related to the iOS 16 update, such as how long does it take to update iOS 16, why it takes so long, and its solutions.

We hope you can update to iOS 16 successfully with the help of this article and enjoy your iPhone with the new iOS 16 features.

FAQs on How Long Does It Take to Update iOS 16

If you have any other problems with the iOS 16 update that is not involved in this article, review the frequently asked questions below.

1. How many GB is iOS 16?

It is around 5.02GB in size.

2. What Device will iOS 16 run on?

The iOS 16 is compatible with all iPhone 8 and newer models (2017 and later)

3. How do I uninstall an iOS update?

Go to Settings.
Tap General > iPhone Storage.
Delete the Update from the list of apps.

4. Is it worth updating to iOS 16?

With its customized screen lock, Focus Mode to filter out distracting content in apps, and big updates to Messages..., most users will access a better experience if they grab the latest version.