If you find your iPhone or iPad stuck on the "Preparing Update" screen for too long, don't worry—you're not alone, and there are several practical steps you can take. First, make sure you have a stable and strong Wi-Fi connection, as unstable networks often cause update problems. Also, check your device's storage to ensure there is enough free space for the update to install. I personally found that restarting my device helped clear temporary glitches. To do this, simply power off your iPhone, wait a few seconds, and then turn it back on. If that doesn’t work, try to reset network settings, which can resolve underlying network connection issues affecting the update. For persistent issues, software repair tools such as FoneTool Repair come in handy. This free tool helped me fix my iPhone stuck on "Preparing Update" without causing data loss. It resolves common iOS update errors efficiently, making it a great option before considering a full restore. Also, keep an eye out for any problematic apps like WhatsApp that may freeze during data preparation. Deleting and reinstalling these apps after the update often clears up issues related to "Preparing Media." Lastly, if your iPhone encounters an error message like "This iPhone encountered an issue while starting," connecting it to a computer with iTunes or Finder and using recovery mode might be necessary. By applying these tips and tools, you can save time and frustration, restoring your phone to full functionality quickly after an iOS 18 update hiccup.