iPhone 11 freezes on iOS update and shuts down iTunes

Question

stekle1962 Author

Level 1

11 points

iPhone 11 freezes on iOS update and shuts down iTunes

Got a notification to update phone to iOS 18.2.1 (I think). I have a lot of music on my phone, so I connect to iTunes to handle the update. In the early stages of the process (progress bar at ~5%), iTunes shut down. Now phone is stuck at the 5% level. Have tried hard restart and both update/restore options but get the same result - iTunes shuts down. When I reopen iTunes, it doesn't seem to recognize the phone (but oddly does been when I disconnect/connect it). any ideas???

iPhone 11, iOS 18

Posted on Jan 9, 2025 09:43 AM

Reply

Answer 1

MrBill3

Level 10

104,338 points

Jan 9, 2025 10:27 AM in response to stekle1962

Hello,

Hmm, don't know, but verify that you have the latest version of iTunes. So your computer is a Windows PC or an early version of a Mac, correct? Otherwise, if it's a newer Mac, you should be using the Finder app on your Mac.

If you can't update or restore your iPhone or iPod touch - Apple Support

Also see:

If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod

Good luck.

Reply

Answer 2

stekle1962 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 10, 2025 07:48 AM in response to stekle1962

Well I'm not sure if it was lucky timing, a coincidence, or there's actually something different about the iTunes versions on apple.com vs. MS store (same ver #), but deleting iTunes and reinstalling from apple.com worked!

https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win64

Reply

Answer 3

stekle1962 Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 9, 2025 11:46 AM in response to MrBill3

hey, Mr. Bill (oh no!! ;-)),

Thanks for a quick reply! pretty sure I have the latest version of iTunes (12.13.4.4) on my Windows PC. I tried the suggestions on both of the links you gave (I'd forgotten about the Apple Devices app) and get the same result. With Apple Devices, it gets to about 50% and the "restoring iPhone software" step and fails saying "The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred." Found a different thread (link below) suggesting to reinstall iTunes from apple.com (vs. MS Store). Will try that next.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255769005?answerId=260822158022&sortBy=rank#260822158022

Reply

Answer 4

MrBill3

Level 10

104,338 points

Jan 10, 2025 09:07 AM in response to stekle1962

Hello stekle1962,

Thanks for the update :-)

Reply

iPhone 11 freezes on iOS update and shuts down iTunes

Similar questions