Hi my iPhone says it cannot connect to the server whenever I try to update . Please assistance anyone

Hi bongani178,

welcome to the Apple Community.

Wondering which iOS version you are trying to update from:

NB: Seems you cannot update iPhone 5s past iOS 12

NB: Syncing iPhone 5s with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires:

• • Mac: OS X v 10.8.5 or later
  • PC: Windows 7 or later
  • iTunes 12.3 or later (free download from www.apple.com/itunes/download)

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You might want to try the update solutions,

(with or without iTunes,) in this Apple support article: (link below)

If iTunes can't contact the software update server for iPhone, iPad, or iPod

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210712

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If you still need help, try:

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT204204

or

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the Finder

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212185

All the best :-)

iPhone 5s tops out at iOS 12; to 12.5.5, currently.

iPhone 5s cannot be updated to iOS 13, iOS 14, nor the current iOS 15.

As for your updates, if you have an add-on VPN app installed, remove it and try the update again.