How to fix common iOS 16 Problems, Bugs, and Issues

Here are a few of the bigger issues you may find in iOS 16, according to our testing.

iOS 16 problems can spoil Apple’s otherwise beautiful iPhone software upgrade, so we’re here to help you fix the iOS 16 bugs and glitches that you may run into.

Here is the list of possible iOS 16 problems

• Quick Battery Drain.
• Overheating issue
• App Crashing Issue.
• Wi-Fi Not Working.
• Cellular data not working
• Personal Hotspot Not Working.
• Bluetooth not working
• Touchscreen Unresponsiveness.

Don’t see your iOS 16 problem listed? We’re happy to troubleshoot it with you. Please drop a comment and share your problem, and we’ll either reply or direct message you (if it’s a long one) with a solution if we find one.

Common iOS 16 problems and solutions

Below, we’ll explain the top iOS 16 problems along with any fixes that have been figured out so far. Some of the issues are solved by simply updating to the latest version of iOS; when we note that an update addressed the issue, consider it fixed for every later version of iOS unless we say otherwise.

1. The battery is draining quickly after iOS 16

This is a common problem that some users report after every update to a new iOS generation. Sometimes this is an innate cost to upgrading: It can take time for a new iOS to run as efficiently as the old iOS (especially if it’s juggling a lot of new features), and increased power use is a side effect in the meantime. But if the iOS 16 battery is draining really fast without warning, something else may also be going wrong.

Restart your device. This is always a great first step to help deal with any potential issues with background apps, bugs, or settings problems that are causing iOS battery drain.

Check Background App Refresh (Settings -> General -> Background App Refresh) and Location Services (Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services) features. We suggest you disable both of these features entirely or on a per-app basis to improve your iPhone’s battery life.

Check your key power settings like screen brightness, low power mode, etc., to make sure that the update didn’t reset your preferences.

Besides, it would also be apt to update all apps and get rid of outdated ones, considering how problematic they have always been.

2. Overheating issue in iOS 16

It’s perfectly normal for your iPhone to heat up a little when it’s running iOS 16. So if you feel your iPhone overheating after iOS 16 update, it’s because the old CPU is running many calculations for the new iOS. But if you feel it getting so hot you can barely touch it, that’s not a good thing. Overheating issue can cause permanent damage to your iPhone’s battery, so you need to take it seriously if your iPhone starts to get really hot when you are using it.

What we recommend in an iPhone overheating situation is to take the following steps:

• Check to make sure the heavy case surrounding your iPhone isn’t causing the overheating. To do this, remove the case from your iPhone and test by using it for a day or so.
• Check your iPhone for crashing apps. Certain apps that are crashing in the background on your iPhone could be causing your phone to overheat. To check, go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics > Analytics Data. See an app crashing often? Delete the app and try another one. Or, delete the app and download it again.
• Update your iPhone apps that need updating. There are some apps that don’t update automatically. Outdated apps with bugs can drain your iPhone’s power, causing overheating.
• Check for apps using all of your iPhone’s battery and draining your iPhone’s CPU. Go to Settings > Battery, then check the list of apps. Is there an app using a lot of your battery or draining it quickly? It’s time to delete it and replace it.
• Make sure your iPhone is updated by installing any new updates. An outdated iPhone can cause an overloaded CPU, resulting in overheating. It’s critical to keep your iPhone updated each time a new update is released.
• Check your iPhone’s network connection. Sometimes, a bad network connection can also cause your iPhone to go into overdrive while searching for a signal. This can happen in areas with bad service or when Wi-Fi isn’t detected.
• Try changing the brightness of your iPhone’s screen. Sometimes, having your iPhone’s brightness on the maximum level can cause it to overheat while in use. Simply access the iOS control center and use the brightness slider to decrease it.
• Try turning off background app refresh. Background app refresh allows your apps to look for new information at all times. When all of your apps refresh together, it can drain your iPhone’s CPU. To turn it off, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh > Background App Refresh, then tap Off.

3. App Crashing Issue in iOS 16

Another issue that has seemingly haunted many iOS 16 users is the random app crashing problem. While some apps tend to crash out right after the launch, others crash while in use. From what I can tell based on my experience, this issue can be sorted out by simply updating the apps. Outdated apps are known to be problematic as they tend to often face issues like crashing and freezing. So, try updating your apps. If that doesn’t yield the desired result, delete the apps and reinstall them again.

• Update Apps: Open App Store on your iPhone and tap on your profile picture at the top right. Next up, go ahead and update all apps at one go or get it done one app at a time, depending on your convenience.
• Delete Apps: Long-press an app icon on the home screen -> Remove App -> Delete App.

4. Wi-Fi Not Working in iOS 16

Wi-Fi connectivity has also been found to be ill-functioning on iOS 16 and iPadOS 16. In some cases, the iPhone automatically disconnects from the Wi-Fi network. And, at times, the iPhone refuses to connect to the Wi-Fi network. Since Wi-Fi issues on iOS have been around for years, there is no need to lose sleep over it either. As for the solution to fix Wi-Fi issues in iOS 16, I recommend trying out these viable fixes.

• Turn Off/ On Wi-Fi: Head over to Settings -> Wi-Fi and turn off/ on the Wi-Fi toggle.
• Forget the Wi-Fi Network and Reconnect: Go to Settings -> Wi-Fi -> “i” button located right next to the Wi-Fi network -> Forget This Network.
• Reset Network Settings: Navigate to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.

5. Touchscreen Unresponsiveness

One of the most terrible issues that I have faced on iOS is touchscreen unresponsiveness. Unfortunately, it continues to be a nightmare even on the latest iteration of iOS. But bother not, as there are some reliable solutions that help fix the touchscreen not working problem in iOS 16 on iPhone and iPad. Follow the pointers below:

Force Restart Your Device

Force restart (aka hard reset) is a go-to solution for troubleshooting a frozen touchscreen on your iPhone. So first, let’s give it a chance.

On iPhone 8 or later and iPad without Home Button: Press and quickly release the volume up button. Then, press and quickly release the volume down button. After that, hold down the power button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.

Update Apps

If the touchscreen of your iOS 16 device tends to become unresponsive while using certain apps, there is a high chance that the problem could be due to those apps and not your device. In this case, go to App Store -> your profile and update all apps.

Update Software

If the touchscreen unresponsiveness problem continues, try updating the software. Go to Settings -> General -> Software Update and do the needful if there’s an update waiting for you.

Restore Your Device As New

Another solution that you should try if your iPhone touchscreen continues to be unresponsive is to restore the device. Bear in mind that it will completely erase your device. So, make sure to back it up beforehand.

Connect your iOS device to a computer and launch iTunes/ Finder. Now, back up your device if you haven’t already. Then, restore it.
Alternately, you can also erase your device without a computer. Again, I would recommend you back up your device first (Settings -> profile -> iCloud -> iCloud Backup). Then, go to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone ->Erase All Content and Settings. Once your device has been erased, follow the instructions to set up your device.

Note: While it’s not a full-on solution per se, make sure your iPhone screen protector is applied properly. Many cheap screen guards tend to become unresponsive after a while. So, remove the screen guard and try to use the iPhone touchscreen. If the touchscreen works normally, your screen guard and not iOS 16 was the issue.

6. Bluetooth Not Working in iOS 16

For some iOS 16 users, the iPhone either refuses to connect to a Bluetooth device or randomly disconnects from it. For those unfamiliar, this is a perennial issue that has managed to exist on almost every iteration of iOS. So, I’m not surprised to see it becoming a focal point in iOS 16 as well. Luckily, the solutions listed below have almost always worked for me, and I hope they help solve your iOS 16 connectivity problem as well.

• Turn Off/On Bluetooth: Head over to Settings -> Bluetooth and turn off/ on the toggle.
• Forget the Bluetooth Device and Reconnect: Go into Settings, and choose Bluetooth. Find the device you’re having problems with, then select the small “i” icon with a circle around it. Choose Forget this Device, and then try reconnecting with Bluetooth from the very beginning.
• Reset Network Settings: Go into Settings, select General, select Reset, and select Reset Network Settings to begin. You’ll have to log back into your Wi-Fi when this process is completed.

7. Unexpected Sluggishness

Last but not least, unexpected sluggishness has also become a huge problem for some iOS 16 users, but we have some easy solutions. When your iPhone is slow after iOS 16 update, it not only slows down your workflow but invites other major issues, including overheating and battery drain as well. So, the sooner you get rid of this problem, the better it is. To resolve this issue, I would suggest you try four tried and tested solutions.

• Update All Apps: Launch App Store -> Your profile. After that, update all the apps on your iOS device.
• Reset All Settings: Go to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad -> Reset -> Reset All Settings.
• Update Software: Head over to Settings -> General -> Software Update and install the latest update if there’s one waiting for you.
• Declutter Your Device: If none of the above-mentioned tricks have worked in fixing your sluggish iPhone, it’s time to clean up the iOS 16 device. The best way to proceed with this radical move is to go to Settings -> General -> iPhone Storage section to check the storage consumption. Find the apps that are eating into your storage space and delete them.

iOS 16 problems: Fixed!

It’s usual to encounter unexpected issues during the beta testing phase. There are likely more iOS 16 problems 6than the ones we’ve covered above, but these are the ones that have been most widely reported. It’s worth keeping an eye on Apple’s official iOS 16 updates page, because the company will list the bug fixes being applied to iOS as well as the new features that are being added.

If you’re experiencing an iOS 16 problem that we haven’t mentioned in this article, then tell us your issue below—maybe intrepid GeeksModo readers can help solve it.

See also: 10 Best iOS 16 Features Every iPhone User Should Know