iOS 7 OTA “Software Update Unavailable”, iTunes error 9006 – FIX

Software Update Unavailable

Apple’s iOS 7 launch isn’t going as smoothly as they had hoped. Users trying to update their iPhone or iPad to iOS 7 via OTA (over the air) are receiving the error “Software Update Unavailable”. If they then try to update using iTunes many receive a different error, “iTunes error 9006”. Apple’s official fix doesn’t seem to be much help. Apple might be out to lunch on the issue but I figured out a workaround that will let you update via OTA, circumventing the “Software Update Unavailable” error. Just follows these steps:

1) Perform a hard reset by holding power + home until the device shuts off. (This step MUST be a hard reset. Do not simply power off the device by holding the power button and sliding to reset.)

2) Turn the device on by pressing the power button and enter your passcode.
      –If prompted that an update is available, proceed with the installation. If not, continue to steps 3-10 below.

3) Open Setting and go to the Wireless Settings.

4) Hit the arrow next to the Wireless network you’re currently connected to, scroll down, click forget network.

5) Back out and turn off wireless.

6) Close the settings app.

7) Open the settings app, go to Wireless Settings, turn wireless on again.

8) Connect to your wireless network.

9) Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

10) Click install on the available update.

That’s it! The software update will now verify, your phone will reboot, and the upgrade to iOS 7 will begin.

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33 Responses to iOS 7 OTA “Software Update Unavailable”, iTunes error 9006 – FIX

  1. I connected my iphone4s to ITUNES and it went through the installation process. It reached the literal end when I got ERROR 6 that told me it was un-able to update.
    NOW when I turn my phone on / hard reset all I get is the ITUNES logo, with a USB cord prompting me to plug it in.
    When I plug it in, it says “the iphone software update server could not be contacted”.

    Anyone else having this issue?
    I’ll keep this window open for quick responses.

  2. I’ve been getting that system update since since hours ago. I tried the hard reset instead of power off I know I did too and I even tried steps 3-10 and I still keep getting the software update error…..

  3. I did just the hard return part–and I think it worked! It restarted, and now I have a scrren with a white apple logo and a progress bar…a very, very slow progress bar. Wish me luck–oh, and thanks for the tip!

  4. Ok, I just got an ipad as a hand me down and went into the settings and erased everything to set it up as a new ipad from the gray welcome to ipad screen. I go through the prompts (selecting a language, selecting country, selecting wi-fi) then it says activating and will only say “Your ipad could not be activated because the activation server cannot be reached. Try connecting your ipad to itunes to activate it, or try again in a few minutes.” So I tried to connect it to itunes and got a message that said “We could not complete your itunes store request. The network connection was lost.” I have tried hard resets, DFU recovery mode resets, EVERYTHING and can not get passed these two errors. I obviously can not get in to system settings to try this other method that was posted. How the hell am I supposed to work around this?!

  5. Was very skeptical of this method, believing none of it would actually be linked to the software updating. However it did work, first time, having tried and failed countless times before. Thank you

  6. When i hooked my iphone to computer to install it was installing then out of nowhere it stopped and went into setup new iphone then it went into activate your iphone but it will not activate someone please help me

  7. OMG, it worked!! I tried to install the update at least 15 times and every time (after trying to
    “verify installation” for ages) I got the “Software Update Unavailable” message. Restarted my phone several times too. Followed the steps above exactly, including forgetting my wireless network, and it worked! My iPhone is restarting and installing as I type! THANKS!

  8. I’ve now tried the hard reset 5 or 6 times and it still has not worked. The download portion is finished but I get an error every time during the “verifying installation” step.

  9. Thanks for this! Worked on the first try. Im so glad I stumbled on your article, I was trying to update my phone for the past hour.

  10. After the hard reset my phone was just off, and I turned it on by clicking the power button again.
    Right when the phone rebooted, I was notified of the update and I just clicked Update Now and it worked for me like that.

    Mine actually just finished installing and I’m now on the homescreen of iOS 7!
    Hopefully it works for you too!

  11. This is really a pointless set of steps. Forgetting wifi and then reinstating can have nothing to do with it. That is not how networking works. I can believe that rebooting the phone may cause it to clear an error flag though. Oh, the later suggestion about Siri is even more lame. No connection whatsoever between an update and Siri being enabled.

  12. Worked for me on the second try. The first try I didn’t “hard reset” my phone, I only turned it off like I usually do.
    But the second try I did hold down the home + power button and I was about to follow the next steps…
    when my phone notified me of the available update.
    So I just skipped the rest of the steps and I clicked update now and it just worked!

    Hope it works for others too.

    • I did the same as you except my first and second attempt were turning the phone off normally only. I tried the hard reset and let the message pop up on its own and it still did not work (iPhone 5).

      Did it automatically turn back on for you after the hard reset?

      • After the hard reset my phone was just off, and I turned it on by clicking the power button again.
        Right when the phone rebooted, I was notified of the update and I just clicked Update Now and it worked for me like that.

        Mine actually just finished installing and I’m now on the homescreen of iOS 7!
        Hopefully it works for you too!

        • Unfortunately, after 5 hard resets, the software update fails to download. After about 30 seconds of “Verifying update…”, it just fails. Even after following Chris’ tutorial and your steps, it seems to dislike my phone :). I’ll just be patient and keep trying.

          Thanks