Experiencing problems after updating to iOS 16 on an iPhone happens for some users, and while it’s annoying, the good news is they’re usually easy to resolve.
From battery issues, to the feeling that an iPhone is hotter than normal, to sluggish performance, problems with installing the update itself, wi-fi issues, apps crashing, and other misbehaviors, every iOS update sometimes has hiccups for a select group of users. Read along and let’s troubleshoot these issues so that you’ll be using your iPhone as intended in no time.
Always back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer before engaging in software updates or troubleshooting tricks.
1: iOS 16 Update Not Showing as Available?
Is the iOS 16 update not even showing up as available for you?
First you should confirm that you have a compatible iPhone with iOS 16. If that checks out, then you want to make sure your iPhone has an active internet connection.
Sometimes simply restarting the iPhone will allow the update to show as available as well.
2: iOS 16 Stuck on “Preparing for Update” or “Verifying Update”, Can’t Install iOS 16 Update
Perhaps you can’t even begin to install iOS 16 because the update is stuck on “Verifying Update” or “Preparing for Update”? Usually if these messages show up in the Software Update section, it goes away on it’s own, but it may take a few hours.
If it has been a very long time and the update is still not proceeding, you can also try restarting the iPhone by turning it off and on again, or by force restarting the device.
3: Seeing Beta Versions of iOS 16 Instead of Final Releases?
If you participated in the iOS 16 beta program, you will continue to receive beta updates instead of final versions on the iPhone.
You can leave the iOS 16 beta program to stop getting beta updates on your device.
4: Apps Crashing After Updating to iOS 16
If apps are crashing after you have installed the iOS 16 update, the first thing you should do is update your apps.
Developers often need to update apps to be compatible with new versions of system software, and installing those updates can be critical for things to behave as expected.
Open the App Store > your name > Go to “Updates” and choose to “Update All” apps
5. iPhone Battery Draining Faster with iOS 16
Many users are reporting that iPhone is draining battery life faster with iOS 16. This is not uncommon, and it happens for many users after installing system software updates.
Usually it’s a matter of patience, as the iPhone completes background tasks, and battery life returns to normal. Try leaving the iPhone plugged in over night for a night or two, it should resolve on its own.
You can review more about fixing battery issues with iOS 16 here if interested.
6: iPhone is Slow After Updating to iOS 16
Performance issues are not unusual after installing system software updates to iPhones.
Much like the aforementioned battery issue, performance degradation typically resolves itself in a day or two after the iPhone has been plugged in and left unattended, like overnight when charging.
iOS updates trigger many background tasks that reindex the device, data on the iPhone, photos, etc, but performance should return to normal within anywhere from hours to a day or two.
7: iPhone is Hot After Installing iOS 16
Some users feel their iPhone is hot to the touch after installing iOS 16. This often coincides with sluggish performance.
A warm iPhone typically indicates the device is using a lot of resources, usually because it is indexing data or performing background tasks. And, much like the aforementioned battery issues and performance issues, if the iPhone feels hot to the touch it will usually resolve itself when plugged in and left unattended for a few hours, up to a few days, as background tasks complete on the device.
8: iOS 16 Failed to Install, And Now the iPhone / iPad Isn’t Working
If the iOS 16 update failed to install and the iPhone is now bricked, go here to read what to do with a bricked iPhone after a failed software update. This is very rare, thankfully.
9: Bluetooth Problems with iOS 16
Occasionally, Bluetooth connectivity acts up after installing a software update, and iOS 16 is no exception.
First you should try restarting the iPhone, which may resolve the problem immediately.
You can also try to forget and pair the Bluetooth device again, which is a little annoying, but tends to resolve just about every Bluetooth issue with an iPhone. TO do this, go to Settings > Bluetooth > tap (i) on the Bluetooth device, select “Forget this device”, and then go back through the process of setting up the Bluetooth device again.
10: Wi-Fi Problems with iOS 16
Some iPhone users have noticed wi-fi issues after updating to iOS 16.
Simply restarting the iPhone may resolve wi-fi issues. Also, make sure the wi-fi network is active and online for other devices.
If all fails, you can reset network settings on the iPhone, but doing so will cause the device to forget network passwords which is kind of annoying. Do this by going to Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings.
If need be, you can read more about troubleshooting and fixing iPhone wi-fi when it’s not working here.
11: Cellular Reception Diminished, Calls Dropping After Installing iOS 16?
Some users report that their iPhone has reduced cellular reception, or that calls are randomly dropping after updating to iOS 16 on their iPhone. It’s unclear if this is a specific issue with iOS 16 or if it’s coincidence, but it’s possible that the software update impacted how the iPhone moves between cellular towers or maintains a connection with a wireless carrier.
When users complain of the cellular issue, they typically report that their cellular reception bars are lower, or that the iPhone appears to hang onto cell towers longer without switching to a closer tower with better reception and full bars, often in areas where they used to have full coverage.
Again this may just be a coincidence.
If you are experiencing any issues with lower cellular reception or calls dropping with iOS 16, you can try to toggle AirPlane mode off and on, which will cause the iPhone to reconnect to nearby cell towers.
Be sure to install software updates to iOS for your iPhone as they become available as well.
iOS 16.1.2 update includes a non-specific improvement to “compatibility with wireless carriers” that may address this issue.
Misc iOS 16 Issues, Problems, Bugs
Some miscellaneous iOS 16 issues also include the following:
- Some users report being constantly bothered by an Allow Paste popup alert, a bug that is resolved with iOS 16.0.2 update
- Some users report Siri does not activate or listen properly when in a car with iOS 16, either connected through Bluetooth or through Lightning cable, this is likely a bug that will be resolved in a software update
- Be sure to periodically check for software updates for iOS 16, since bug fix updates will be released often by Apple to address obvious issues
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Did you experience any problems with iOS 16 on iPhone? What kind of issues did you encounter? Did the above tips help resolve those issues? Let us know your experiences in the comments.
