If you’re having issues while attempting to update your device to iOS 7, it might make you feel slightly better to know that you’re not the only one.
Twitter and Apple’s support site are full of posts from users who are attempting to install the update and are being presented with interminably slow downloads, or are presented with an error saying the “software update failed.”
Other users are reporting difficulty connecting to the iTunes Store in order to update apps for their devices.
The likely cause for the problems is the sheer numbers of users hitting Apple’s servers, which are pushing out the updates to the devices and to iTunes. While Apple’s services page is showing all services as up and running, there has to be a terrific load on Apple’s servers at this time.
CNET points out that one possible contributor to the traffic slowdown is the size of the update, which is larger than most Apple has released in past years. The update can range from just above 600 or so megabytes for older devices, while the 4th-generation iPad’s update weighs in at 935MB.
You’ll also need to make sure you have plenty of free space on your device for the update to install, as in some cases that will top 3GB of needed space.
Apple has not yet commented on the issues users are facing.
In the meantime, perhaps we can all take to heart a lesson that an incognito Loki taught the Cookie Monster about patience:
Make sure to check out our full iOS 7 coverage roundup for all the details regarding iOS 7, and all of our iOS 7 launch coverage for today and the near future!
