Apple
iOS 7 Error 9006 Plagues Users in iTunes
iPhone and iPad users trying to update to iOS 7 Over-the-Air are running into Software Update Failed errors, errors that prevent the iOS 7 install from being completed. Those looking for a remedy through an iTunes install won’t find it either as iOS 7 installation errors have hit iTunes as well as a 9006 error is plaguing users trying to manually install.
Earlier today, Apple pushed its big iOS 7 update live to iPhone, iPad and iPod users in the United States and around the world. The update comes with a brand new look and several new features including AirDrop. Problem is, many iPhone and iPad users are unable to install iOS 7 due to a Software Update Failed error that continues to pop up during the download process.
Read: iOS 7 Software Update Failed Errors Frustrate Users.
iPhone and iPad owners are unable to get the iOS 7 update downloaded and thus, the update is unable to install and replace the previous iOS update, iOS 6. Many of those looking for a remedy haven’t found a suitable one yet as the error continues to pop up even when users retry the update. And unfortunately, those looking to go the alternate installation route are running into errors as well.
iPhone and iPad users looking to avoid the Over-the-Air update by installing through iTunes are encountering errors as well. When we went to try and update to iOS 7, iTunes told us that the most current version of iOS for iPhone and iPad was iOS 6, not iOS 7, thus not allowing us to download the software. The errors can be seen in the screenshot below.
After numerous attempts, we finally updated to iTunes 11.1 which also gave us an error when trying to download. After several tries, we were able to get it download and installed, only to get greeted with another error that looks like the one below.
After starting the update again, and letting it download for at least five minutes, we were greeted with yet another error that looks like this, stating that an unknown error occurred listing a 9006 error.
We’ve tried starting the update again though we keep getting this 9006 error, preventing us from installing the software through iTunes on both the iPad and the iPhone.
Apple’s website suggests a fix for the error, saying that owners should “Quit iTunes, discard the .ipsw file, (see the steps under Advanced Steps > Rename, move, or delete the iOS software file (.ipsw) below for file locations), open iTunes and attempt to download the update again.”
Those that don’t want to follow those steps will likely want to sit and wait for Apple’s servers to cool off before trying to install iOS 7 again. At some point, the download process will work, it’s just clear as to when.
Lady
09/18/2013 at 11:26 am
You’re the first I’ve seen to report on this. Apple’s fix hasn’t worked for me either.
rioo
09/18/2013 at 3:43 pm
just turn off and on you device and then go ahead and start your update normally i just try it and it works,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,good kuck
rioo
09/18/2013 at 3:44 pm
i mean luck!!!!
Alex
09/18/2013 at 11:32 am
I reset my phone and turned wireless on and off. I was then able to download the update. I then repeated the above process for install and it is working right now.
Bala
09/20/2013 at 6:57 pm
Hi, I downloaded ios7 but could not install. It throws a message “error occured installing ios7”. Please help to fix this
Cheryl
09/18/2013 at 11:34 am
I shut down phone then installed as well :)
Arpan Ghosh
09/18/2013 at 11:38 am
Same issue “error 9006”
daddy
09/18/2013 at 11:51 am
you sir should never make another article. just because it isnt working for you or your little queer friends doesn’t mean the rest of the world is running into errors
jo
09/18/2013 at 12:33 pm
wut? just… wut? he’s trying to help other people who are having the same problem as him and you start cussing and hit? thats really mature of you
Dee B.
09/18/2013 at 12:54 pm
I’ve been having the same problem for hours now. I’m so glad I found this article to let me know that it is not something on my network or access I need to fiddle with.
Johnny Appleseed
09/18/2013 at 1:18 pm
daddy, please calm you tits.
Ted Strayer
09/18/2013 at 1:42 pm
faget
Bob Saget
09/18/2013 at 1:46 pm
There seems to be a wall of comments that say otherwise, little man.
Lynn
10/20/2013 at 5:10 pm
What an ass!!
Christopher Schiffner
09/18/2013 at 12:01 pm
Follow these steps to fix the issue: https://www.schiffner.com/ios-7-ota-software-update-unavailable-itunes-error-9006-fix/
Randy Gentry (@randygentry)
09/18/2013 at 3:54 pm
Awesome. This worked for me.
Annie
05/13/2014 at 12:52 am
This worked for me. Many thanks!
scott
09/18/2013 at 12:02 pm
what’s daddy’s problem?
Doesn’t work for me either, and I’m not little or queer.
9006 error on everything I try with. Ipad2, Ipad with retina, iPhone 5 and via iTunes.
Esteban
09/18/2013 at 12:02 pm
After 4 times downloaded with error 9006 I turned off Windows Defender and Windows Firewall and now good on the first try… Installing IOS 7 right now :-)
Monica
09/18/2013 at 12:05 pm
I had to delete some items on my iphone to allow for a enough space for the install, it worked after that
Pete
09/18/2013 at 12:20 pm
Tried to download the update 15 times and got it to download completely. Then when I tried to install, I got an error, “software update unavailable”. Tried another few times to install it and it’s finally going. Probably should’ve waited till later tonight or early morning.
Nathan Coblentz
09/18/2013 at 12:28 pm
Apparently you need 3 GB of free space in order to install correctly, even using iTunes. I cleared up some space and the install worked like a breeze for me :)
dcharmingone
09/18/2013 at 12:29 pm
I am getting the same error on all my iPhones and iPads. I guess I won’t be playing with it until tomorrow when everything dies down.
Jdres
09/18/2013 at 12:36 pm
All I did was turn off wifi then turn on wifi, after that it let me do the update over the wifi connection on my iPad. Hope this helps others
Bob Saget
09/18/2013 at 1:45 pm
Confirmed. I toggled the wifi on my iPad and it worked.
Julian Finn (@DearThey)
09/18/2013 at 12:43 pm
From the conversations I’ve had on Twitter, and from personal anecdotal experience, newer iDevices don’t seem to be having the issue. My wife and I both started downloading around the same time (10 to 11 am Mountain time, right when the update pushed). My download on my iPad 2 started first, my wife’s iPhone 5 about 5 minutes later. By 11:30 she was running iOS 7, it’s now 1:40 and I’m 20% through my 70th or so attempt to download the update.
I’ve done iCloud, iTunes, on a Mac, on a PC and in DFU mode in both devices. Through iTunes (11.1) I get the 9006 error, in DFU mode I get told that my device lacks permission to communicate with the update server. I’m not using a jailbroken device.
My informal twitter poll had 100% occurrence rate with this issue on any iDevice older than an iPad 4 or iPhone 5. My gut tells me that Apple is deliberately prioritizing server access to more current models, which, if true, would be one of the douchier things they’ve pulled.
Mike
09/18/2013 at 3:35 pm
Same experience. All my devices are doing great except for the iPad 2. Have done all suggested methods. If Apple is deliberately prioritizing server access we will never find out. But there is a special place in hell reserved for anyone who would make a decision like that.
Vincent
09/18/2013 at 12:46 pm
Turns out, after i deleted some things from my phone, i needed atleast 3.0 GB of space open and it worked perfectly!
Harlan Proehl
09/18/2013 at 1:08 pm
Yep, that solved my 9006 error as well. iTunes didn’t flag it as a lack of storage by the wireless update pointed out the 3GB requirement. Offloaded 3 GBS of photos and I was good to go.
Benjamin Allison (@BenjaminAllison)
09/18/2013 at 12:48 pm
I simply turn the wifi on and off, then I turn off my iphone.. waited a minute.. then turned it back on. It seems to working now.
Josh
09/18/2013 at 1:04 pm
Apple should have anticipated the millions of users wanting to download the update. While I’m sure that they did, they failed to do something about it. I guess the whole error are clear signs that 1) the vision died with Steve 2) Apple is now just another company 3) it’s time to switch to android devices.
Julian Finn (@DearThey)
09/18/2013 at 1:17 pm
Just remember that, if you switch to Android, yeah you’ll get an objectively better system (with just as broken an update system, mind you) but you won’t be able to sms any of your old iPhone contacts for about a month. Unless you give up your number.
Michael
09/18/2013 at 5:09 pm
A good time to switch to an android phone. Very frustrating. They are as incompetent as MICROSOFT
angrrybirrd
09/20/2013 at 2:45 am
For all those who share the same fate. But at last I did upgrade.
https://tamemeiamtired.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/9006-error-while-upgrading-to-ios7-ios.html
iOS 7 download links
10/08/2013 at 2:31 am
I have not faced this issue on my devices. I heard that some people are facing this issues while updating to iOS 7.