The all-new iOS 16 drops on September 12. You can update your iPhone manually or automatically from the Software Update section of the Settings app.

Many iPhones display "Update Requested" or stall at "Preparing Update" when attempting to install iOS 26. Learn how to fix if ...

Recovery mode allows you to update or restore your iPhone using a computer with iTunes or Finder. Here's how to access it.

I'm not seeing reports of iOS 26 installs going sideways, but I still always take these steps before making a major upgrade.