People love buying iPhones and iPads because of Apple’s premium design and its smooth software experience. But how would you feel if an error occurs when you try to update your iPhone or iPad to the latest software?
Imagine this! Your iPad gets the latest software update for iPadOS 26 beta version, but the ‘Download and Install’ button seems greyed out, meaning it can’t be clicked. The error reads, “This update requires a Wi-Fi network connection to download.“
The device is already connected to a Wi-Fi connection, and everything is working good — from web browsing to running YouTube and other apps. But, there’s a connection issue only in the software update screen.
Don’t worry, this post is all about the possible reasons and their solutions for the Wi-Fi connection issue in the software update of iPhone and iPad.
Possible Reasons for Wi-Fi Connection Issues
Even if you’re connected to a working Wi-Fi, your iPhone or iPad may show the error “This update requires a Wi-Fi network connection to download” in the software update screen. Here are some possible reasons for this issue.
- Network settings misconfigured
- iOS glitch or corrupted cache
- Weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal
- DNS or firewall settings
- Low battery percentage
- Mobile hotspot or metered connection
Solution to Fix Wi-Fi Issue in Software Update
There can be a mix of possible reasons why your iPhone or iPad is having a connection issue even after being connected to a fully working Wi-Fi. But the solution is very straightforward — either reset your network settings or connect to another Wi-Fi for the software update.
- Reconnect to the Wi-Fi after forgetting it.
- Reset Network Settings in your iPhone or iPad.
- Restart your device, and the Wi-Fi router too.
- Make sure it’s not a personal hotspot or metered connection.
- Switch the DNS Servers in the connected Wi-Fi settings.
- Disable VPN or any custom proxy if you’re using.
- Check Date & Time Settings, and set it automatically.
- Try a different Wi-Fi connection.
The Last Option
Switch to a different Wi-Fi network.
If nothing solves the issue in your iPhone or iPad, then the final and 100% working solution is to connect to a different Wi-Fi connection.
You can ask your friends to connect to their Wi-Fi and then try updating your iPhone or iPad. In most cases, the issue will be resolved, and you can install the latest software update on your device.
I know, this is not a solution to the issue, but you have to connect to a different Wi-Fi for the software update. After that, you can always use your own Wi-Fi for other things, as it’s already working for Internet browsing.
Updating iPhone/iPad by Connecting to MacBook
If your iPhone or iPad is not able to download the software update because of a Wi-Fi connection issue, then there’s another method that will surely work. You need to connect your iPhone/iPad to your MacBook through a USB cable.
- Connect your iPhone or iPad to your MacBook with a USB cable.
- Open the Finder app on your Mac, and click on your device showing in the left sidebar under the ‘Locations’ option.
- Now, click on ‘Check for Update’ under the General tab to see if your device has any software updates.
- If there’s a software update available for your iPhone/iPad, you’ll see the option to download and update your device.
- Follow the on-screen instructions, and your Apple device will have the latest software as the update is completed.
