Apple’s iOS 16.6.1 update is a small point release, but it could still take quite a bit of time to install on your iPhone.

The company’s pushed a new iOS 16.6.1 update to iPhones that are compatible with iOS 16. The software brings fixes that address lingering issues with iOS 16.

If you’re moving your iPhone from the latest version of iOS 16 to iOS 16.6.1, you get the shortest list of changes and the smallest download size.

If you’re upgrading from an older version of iOS, your iOS 16.6.1 download could be fairly large because the changes from the update(s) you skipped are baked in.

While some of you might want to skip the iOS 16.6.1 download for the time being, most people should install the software today, or, at some point in the near future.

If you decide to install iOS 16.6.1 on your iPhone, you’ll want to set aside some time to get the upgrade properly installed on your device.

Moving a device from one version of an operating system to another can cause problems so you’ll want to monitor the download and installation.

We can’t tell you exactly how long the process will take because it will vary. That said, we can help you approximate how much time you should set aside should you choose to install the latest firmware on your iPhone.

Pre-Installation

Before you start the iOS 16.6.1 download make sure you’re prepared.

If you don’t know how to properly prepare for an iOS upgrade, take a look at our pre-installation guide. It’ll walk you through the most important steps to take before you start the installation process.

You should be able to get through these steps in 30 minutes, but it all depends on your skill level and the current state of your iPhone.

If you haven’t backed up your data in awhile or you if you aren’t familiar with iOS 16.6.1, the pre-installation process could take you a longer.

You don’t need to follow every single step in the guide, but at the very least you’ll want to make sure your phone’s data is backed up properly.

Data loss issues are pretty rare, but if you store sensitive data (photos, videos, etc) on your device, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.

iOS 16.6.1 Download

Once you’ve prepared, it’s time to start the download process.

Again, the exact size of your iOS 16.6.1 download will depend on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running.

If your phone is on the latest version of iOS 16, you’ll see the smallest download size. If it’s running an older version, your download will be larger.

If you’re connected to a fast Wi-Fi network, the iOS 16.6.1 download should finish up in 10 minutes or so. If your connection is slower, or you’re downloading during peak hours, it could take longer. In some cases, much longer.

iOS 16.6.1 Installation

Once your device is done pulling iOS 16.6.1 from Apple’s servers, the installation process will begin.

On newer iPhones, the iOS 16.6.1 installation process could take 10 minutes or less to complete. It took about eight minutes to install on an iPhone 12 Pro that was previously running iOS 16.6.

Your iPhone might reboot itself a couple of times during the installation process, but this is perfectly normal. Your device should boot up in regular fashion once the installation process completes.

Post-Installation

After the installation finishes up, you might need to spend time logging into your iCloud account or signing into your device’s various apps and services.

You also might want to spend some time checking your important data (photos, music, etc) to make sure everything carried over properly.

After you do that, make sure you test your core applications and services to ensure they’re working normally. New versions of iOS can cause apps to go haywire.

If you notice an issue with one or more of your apps, try downloading the latest version. Developers are currently rolling out iOS 16 support updates.

You’ll also want to poke around your phone for bugs and performance issues. If you notice something take a look at our list of fixes for common iOS 16 problems.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

> 1 / 15

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

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Here’s How Long the iOS 16.6.1 Update Takes is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple’s iOS 16.6.1 update should alleviate some issues, but there are still problems plaguing iOS 16 and the iPhone as we push away from the company’s latest software release.

Some iPhone users are noticing an improvement after upgrading to the latest version of iOS 16. On the flip side, some iPhone users have run into a variety of bugs and performance issues. Some of these issues have carried over from older iOS software, others are brand new.

In this guide to iOS 16 problems we’ll take you through the current state of these issues. We’ll show you where to find potential fixes for the most common iOS 16 problems and provide you with some resources that will help if you run into trouble.

We’ll also touch on the state of the iOS downgrade and outline what you can expect from Apple and iOS 16 down the road.

iOS 16 Problems

The current list of iOS 16 problems includes some very common issues. We’re currently seeing complaints about the following problems:

• UI lag
• AirPlay issues
• Touch ID and Face ID issues
• Safari issues
• Battery life problems
• Issues with the Mail app
• iMessage issues
• GPS issues
• Problems with AirDrop
• Issues with iMovie and Final Cut Pro
• Spotlight problems
• Data transfer issues
• Camera issues
• Wi-Fi problems
• App Store problems
• Bluetooth problems
• CarPlay issues
• Lockups, freezes, and crashes

We expect the list of iOS 16 problems to grow as more iPhone users transition from iOS 15 to iOS 16 and from older versions of iOS 16 to the latest version.

If you haven’t downloaded the newest version of iOS 16 yet, we recommend preparing your iPhone for the download. Some prep work ahead of time can help you avoid major headaches.

We’ve put together a step-by-step pre-installation process and it will take you through the best way to prepare for the move.

Where to Find iOS 16 Reviews

If you’re currently running iOS 16 on your iPhone, or if you’re planning to upgrade, you’ll want to sift through feedback from other users. This feedback will alert you to potential problems and performance issues others are having on the same iPhone model.

We’ve released our list of reasons to, and not to, install Apple’s latest iOS 16 update and it’s a good starting point for those of you weighing a move up from iOS 15. It will also help if you’re already on iOS 16 and you’re thinking about moving to the latest version.

We’ve also released a guide that goes over the iOS 16.6.1 update’s performance. It’s also a worth a look if you need additional feedback.

We also recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and the MacRumors forums for additional feedback about iOS 16’s performance.

How to Fix iOS 16 Problems

Some problems might require a fix from Apple in a future iOS update. Others, you may be able to fix on your own.

Before you get in contact with Apple customer support, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS 16 problems.

We’ve also released tips that could help you improve your device’s performance and a guide that shows you how to fix iOS 16 battery life problems. If you’re running into severe battery drain issues after installing iOS 16, have a look at those.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our guides, you should head on over to Apple’s discussion forums. If they can’t help you, you might want to get in contact with Apple Support via Twitter or via the company’s website.

If you still can’t fix your issue(s), you might want to schedule an appointment to see a Genius at your local Apple Store. They should be able to diagnose your problem.

iOS Downgrade Status

If you run into bugs or performance issues on iOS 16, you might try downgrading your iPhone’s software in an effort to improve its performance.

Apple’s currently signing on iOS 16.6 which means you can downgrade back to the previous version of iOS 16. Unfortunately, you can’t downgrade to any iOS software older than iOS 16.6.

For more about how the downgrade process works, take a look at our walkthrough.

What’s Next

If your iPhone is struggling on iOS 16.6.1 or an older version of iOS, you’re on your own for the time being.

iOS 16.6.1 was the last known update in Apple’s iOS 16 pipeline, but it looks like the company might be working on a new iOS 16.7 update. If it is, it should roll out in September alongside Apple’s new iOS 17 operating system.

The company will push iOS 17 to the iPhone in mid-to-late September. Unfortunately, Apple will drop support for three older iPhone models: iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. Those devices will stay on iOS 16.

With iOS 16.7 reportedly on the way, it looks like Apple will continue to support these devices with security patches and occasional bug fixes.

For more about iOS 17 and its release, have a look at our guide.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

> 1 / 15

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

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iOS 16 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Installing Apple’s iOS 16.6.1 update might be tempting, but there are some steps you should take before moving your iPhone from iOS 15 to iOS 16 or your current version of iOS 16 to iOS 16.6.1.

Apple’s released a new version of iOS 16 for iPhone. iOS 16.6.1 is a small point upgrade and the software brings under-the-hood improvements to compatible iPhone models.

If your iPhone is currently running the latest version of iOS 16, you get the shortest change log and the smallest download. If you’re moving from an older version of iOS, your iOS 16.6.1 update will be more substantial. That’s because the changes from iOS updates you skipped are baked into your upgrade.

Most iPhone users should install iOS 16.6.1 today or at some point in the near future. That being said, it’s difficult to predict how the new software will impact your iPhone’s performance.

While some of you could see a boost to your iPhone’s performance, others will run into frustrating bugs and performance issues. And that’s precisely why it’s important to do some prep work before you start the installation. A little work ahead of time could help you avoid serious problems.

With that in mind, we want to help you prepare for the transition from iOS 15 to iOS 16 or your current version of iOS 16 to iOS 16.6.1. This guide will take you step-by-step through the process we use before we tap install.

Cleanup Your iPhone’s Storage

If you’re running out of space on your iPhone, you might need to do some cleanup in order to install iOS 16.6.1.

iOS 16.6.1 requires a chunk of space on your iPhone’s internal storage. If you’re near the threshold, go through your device’s storage and delete files you no longer need to make sure you have room for the download.

Backup Your iPhone’s Data

Data loss issues are fairly rare, but don’t take your chances. Make sure you backup your files before you install iOS 16.6.1.

Many of you already know how to properly backup your iPhone’s data (photos, videos, etc), but if you’re unsure, we’ve got you covered.

Some of you will want to backup using Apple’s iCloud service. It’s an easy way to ensure your important files are safe. If you’re unfamiliar with the iCloud backup process, you’ll want to check out Apple’s guide.

If you don’t want to use iCloud, you can backup your files using iTunes. If you’re running macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur or macOS Catalina, you’ll need to use Finder, not iTunes.

If you store a ton of data on your iPhone, the backup process could take awhile so remain patient.

Get Familiar with iOS 16.6.1

Make sure you get familiar with iOS 16.6.1’s changes before you start the installation process.

We’ve released a walkthrough that will hold your hand through the biggest changes on board the latest versions of iOS 16, including iOS 16.6.1.

Dig Into iOS 16.6.1 Reviews

If you’re feeling leery about the move to iOS 16.6.1, and we don’t blame you if you are, you should dig through feedback from people using the software.

Again, there’s a chance you encounter bugs and/or performance issues on your device after moving it up to Apple’s latest iOS 16 firmware.

iOS software updates often hits older iPhone models the hardest so if you own a device like the iPhone 8, and you’re concerned about the move to iOS 16.6.1, you’ll want to gather feedback from those who have taken the plunge.

This feedback will alert you to potential bugs and problems. You also might learn about some potential benefits of Apple’s software.

You’ll want to poke around on Apple’s discussion forums, YouTube, and social media sites like Twitter for feedback from iOS 16.6.1 users.

Some of you might want to wait for long-term feedback to emerge before committing to iOS 16.6.1. Others might even want to wait for Apple to roll out its next batch of bug fixes before downloading the firmware.

For more about iOS 16.6.1’s performance, check out our quick review.

Find Fixes for iOS 16.6.1 Problems

We’re already hearing about a number of iOS 16-related problems. Some of them are minor bugs, others are far more problematic.

If you don’t have an encyclopedia of fixes for iOS issues stored inside your head, you’ll want to track down and bookmark fixes for potential problems.

We’ve put together a list of fixes for the most common iOS 16 problems. This is an excellent place to start if you can’t find a fix for your issue.

We’ve also released guides that will help you improve your iPhone’s battery life as well as your device’s overall performance.

Learn How to Downgrade

Apple allows you downgrade back to older versions of iOS. This is useful if your current version of iOS 16 starts causing problems on your iPhone.

The downgrade path back to the company’s previous version of iOS won’t be open forever and Apple will close it off without warning.

We recommend getting familiar with the downgrade process right now so that you aren’t scrambling if and when you need to use it.

Check with IT

If you use your iPhone for work you might want to check with your IT team (if you have one) and make sure you’re got the green light to install iOS 16.6.1.

Enterprise problems plague every single version of iOS and they can be particularly nasty immediately after Apple releases new iOS software.

If you depend on your phone to get you through a day of work it’s important to get in touch with IT to see if the iOS 16.6.1 update is safe to use.

If you’ve got an IT department, they should be able to provide you with feedback about the core applications and services you use on a daily basis.

If you don’t have an IT department or a tech on site, you might want to ask around the office or talk to friends who use the same services and see how they’re doing on iOS 16.6.1.

Update Your Apps & Dig Into Reviews

If you rely on your apps to get you through the day you should read app reviews before you install iOS 16.6.1 on your device(s).

App developers are still rolling out iOS 16 support updates. These updates will be crucial to your experience on the new operating system.

Before you install iOS 16.6.1 you’ll want to head to the App Store and read reviews from iOS 16 users. If reviews are mostly positive, you may want to go ahead and install the latest update(s).

If the feedback is negative, you might want to wait for a new version of iOS 16 or for the developer to update the app before moving your device to the latest software.

Gather Your Login Info

Installing iOS 16.6.1 on your device will prompt you to input your passcode and, in some cases, your Apple ID/iCloud account details.

Most of you should know these by heart, but if it has been awhile since you’ve had to login, or if you’re installing iOS 16.6.1 for someone else, you’ll want to make sure you have that information readily available when you start the installation.

There’s also a chance you’ll get logged out of some of your first and third-party apps and services after the installation completes so you’ll want to have this login info handy as well.

If you want to complete the iOS 16.6.1 installation process in the shortest amount of time, make sure you have all of this info ready to go.

Decide How to Install iOS 16.6.1

If you plan on installing iOS 16.6.1 Over-the-Air (OTA) through your device’s Settings app, you’ll need to have at least a 50% charge and you’ll need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network unless you have an iPhone 12, or newer, connected to a 5G network.

You can also install the iOS 16.6.1 update via iTunes. Simply plug your device in, find your device, and check for an update.

Note that if you’re running macOS Ventura, macOS Monterey, macOS Big Sur or macOS Catalina you’ll need to update to iOS 16.6.1 via Finder, not iTunes.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

> 1 / 15

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

> 1 / 15

10 Things to Do Before Installing iOS 16.6.1 is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

This is how you bring your iPhone back to iOS 16.6 from iOS 16.6.1.

If you run into problems with iOS 16.6.1 on your iPhone and you think moving your iPhone back to an older version of iOS 16 could help, this guide will help you downgrade.

You can only go back to iOS 16.6. You can’t go back any further than that. The path back to older versions of iOS is closed and won’t re-open.

Once you downgrade, you can only restore a backup that you made on iOS 16.6 so keep that in mind in case you need to restore a backup.

Most users will have a recent backup, but you may lose some items if you aren’t regularly backing up your photos and messages to iCloud.

While this isn’t officially supported, it is easy to do and you won’t lose any customer support or mess with your iPhone’s warranty.

How to Downgrade from iOS 16.6.1 to iOS 16.6

Here’s what you need to do to go back to iOS 16.6 on your iPhone. While you are downgrading you cannot use your phone so you will need to open this on your computer or another device.

If you make an archived backup, you can use that after you restore it. If you are doing this right after moving your phone up to iOS 16.6.1, you might have a iOS 16.6 backup available on iCloud or your computer.

Follow these steps to go back to iOS 16.6 from iOS 16.6.1:

• Download the iOS 16.6 update for your iPhone from this website.
• Make sure there is still a green checkmark in the Apple Signing Status column. If there isn’t one, do not proceed.
• Turn off Find My iPhone on your iPhone. Go to Settings -> tap on your Name at the top of this menu -> Tap on your name at the top -> Tap on Find My iPhone -> Toggle off and Enter your password.
• With your phone backed up and all the steps above completed, plug your iPhone into your computer.
• Open iTunes and Click on the iPhone icon.
  This is how this process works if you are still on macOS Mojave. If you’ve already upgraded to macOS Catalina, macOS Big Sur, macOS Monterey, or macOS Ventura, you will need to start this process in Finder. Instead of opening iTunes, open Finder and click on your iPhone in the left side.
• Click on the Restore iPhone button using a special click. On a Mac, hold alt/option when you click. On PC, hold Shift when you click.
• In the window that opens, find the iOS 16.6 file you just downloaded, click on it, and then click open.
• Choose to erase and restore your iPhone. Click Restore to begin this process
• While you wait the iPhone will restart multiple times. When it is finished you will be back on iOS 16.6.

This process takes a little while to complete. When it does, you can start fresh or restore a backup made on iOS 16.6. Most people will want to install a backup.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

> 1 / 15

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

> 1 / 15

How to Downgrade from iOS 16.6.1 to iOS 16.6 is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

Apple’s iOS 16.6.1 update could have a huge impact on your iPhone’s performance. While some iPhone users should install the  software right now, others might want to wait before moving up from iOS 15 or older versions of iOS 16.

iOS 16.6.1 is Apple’s latest iOS 16 upgrade and it’s available to download right now if you own an iPhone 8 or newer, all the way up to the iPhone 14 series. The software brings important fixes to compatible iPhone models.

The iOS 16.6.1 update requires a fairly small download if you’re moving your iPhone up from 16.6. It may be larger for those moving up from older versions of iOS. That’s because the features and fixes from the updates you skipped are baked into your version of the update.

Those of you dealing with issues on iOS 16.6.1 or an older version of iOS could see a huge turnaround after installing iOS 16.6.1. We’re already hearing about positive changes. That being said, we’re also hearing about various bugs and performance problems.

If you do run into an issue, note that you can downgrade your iPhone’s software back to iOS 16.6 if needed. The company’s currently signing on the previous version of iOS 16, but it’s not signing on older versions of iOS.

This means those of you having a great experience on iOS 16.5.1, and older versions of iOS, need to approach iOS 16.6.1 with a sense of caution. Once you make the move, you can’t get back to your phone’s current version of iOS.

If you’re currently debating a move to iOS 16.6.1, allow us to walk you through the best reasons to install the software today and the best reasons to hang around on your current version of iOS 16 for a little bit longer.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

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4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 16.6.1 & 11 Reasons You Should is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

One of iOS 16’s best features is the ability to edit or unsend a sent iMessage on iPhone. In this guide we’ll show you how to do it.

There might be a time where you send an iMessage to a friend or family member and immediately regret it due to the content of the message or a typo. On previous versions of iOS, you could only send another iMessage for clarity.

Fortunately, iOS 16 does away with that and iOS now allows you to unsend a message within two minutes or edit a message within fifteen minutes. You currently have up to five edits.

One other thing to keep in mind is that messages will only be unsent if the other person is also running iOS 16 on their iPhone. If they’re running iOS 15 or below, the message will remain.

With all of that in mind, here’s how to unsend, or edit, an iMessage you recently sent on your iPhone.

How to Unsend or Edit an iMessage on iPhone

Again, in order to unsend or edit iMessages on iPhone, you need to download iOS 16. For more about the operating system, check out our iOS 16 walkthrough.

Once you get iOS 16 on board your iPhone, head into your Messages application and find the message thread where you want to edit or unsend a message.

Find the message and perform a long press on the message you wish to unsend or edit. This will pull up the menu you see in the screenshot above.

If you wish to unsend the message, tap Undo Send. If you don’t see the Undo Send option, two minutes have probably elapsed which means there’s no way to unsend the message.

If it’s successful, you’ll see “You unsent a message” in place of the message. If the person is still running iOS 15, it will note that the other person may still see the message on devices where the software hasn’t been upgraded.

If you want to edit an iMessage on your iPhone, you’ll want to tap on Edit in the popup menu instead. You’ll then see a text box like the one depicted in the screenshot above.

If you don’t see Edit available, you’ve waited too long and you can’t edit the iMessage.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

> 1 / 15

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

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How to Unsend a Message on iPhone is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

As we push away from the latest iOS 16 release we’re hearing about the bugs and performance issues plaguing Apple’s latest software.

The current list of iOS 16 problems includes abnormal battery drain, Wi-Fi issues, UI lag, crashes, Touch ID issues, and installation issues. A lot of these problems are brand new, others have carried over from older versions of iOS 16.

While some of these issues will require a fix from Apple in a new version of iOS 16 or perhaps a visit to your local Apple Store, some issues can be fixed in minutes from the comfort of your home.

In this guide we’ll take you through potential fixes for the most common iOS 16 problems we’ve heard about or seen on our iPhones.

If you’re noticing abnormal battery drain, issues with your Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, or if you’re having issues installing iOS 16, have a look through these fixes before you contact customer support or take your iPhone into a store.

How to Fix iOS 16 Freezing

If your iPhone locks up and stops responding, here’s how to get it unstuck.

In order to get your iPhone unstuck, try performing a hard reset. Here’s how to do that if you own an iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 12, iPhone 11, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, iPhone SE 2, or iPhone SE.

For more iOS 16 performance fixes, check out our guide.

How to Fix iOS 16 Battery Life Problems

If you encounter battery life issues after installing the latest version of iOS 16, there are a few things you can try.

If you’re experiencing extreme battery drain after installing Apple’s newest firmware, take a look at our list of fixes. They could help.

If nothing in that guide works, there’s a chance you’ve got a bad battery. If you determine that might be the case, you’ll need to get in touch with Apple about a replacement.

If you live near an Apple Store, make an appointment at the Genius Bar. They should be able to diagnose your problem in minutes.

If you don’t have an Apple Store near you, you’ll want to get in contact with Apple customer service.

How to Fix iOS 16 Bluetooth Problems

If you’re unable to connect your iPhone to a Bluetooth device, here are a few solutions that have worked for us in the past.

First, you’ll want to forget the Bluetooth connection on your iPhone. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into your Settings.
• Tap Bluetooth.
• Select the connection using the “i” in the circle.
• Tap “Forget this Device”.
• Try reconnecting.

If that doesn’t work, try resetting your iPhone’s Network Settings:

• Go to your Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap on Reset Network Settings.

This process will take a few seconds to complete. It will also cause your iPhone to forget known Wi-Fi networks so make sure you’ve got your password(s) handy.

You can also try resetting your iPhone’s settings back to their factory defaults. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings.
• Enter your passcode if you have one enabled.

Bluetooth issues can be difficult to fix so if none of these solutions work, you might need to get in contact Apple’s customer service or the company who makes the product you’re trying to connect to.

How to Fix iOS 16 Wi-Fi Issues

If you’re noticing slower than normal Wi-Fi speeds and/or your connection is continually dropping, here are some steps you can take to try and fix these issues.

If you’re on your home Wi-Fi network, try unplugging the router and/or modem for minute before plugging it back in. This could help.

If you can’t access the router and/or modem you’re connected to, or if you’re positive the issue has nothing to do with your router/modem, head into your iPhone’s Settings app.

Here you’ll want to forget the Wi-Fi network that’s giving you a headache. Here’s how to do that:

• In the Settings app, tap Wi-Fi.
• Select your connection by tapping the “i” in the circle.
• Tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen.

If this doesn’t work, try resetting your phone’s Network Settings:

• Go to your Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap on Reset Network Settings.

If none of those help, you’ll want to check out Apple’s guide to Wi-Fi problems.

How to Fix iOS 16 Cellular Data Issues

If you’re seeing a “No Service” symbol and/or your iPhone can’t connect to your cellular network, here are a few steps to take.

First, make sure there isn’t a cellular outage in your area. Check social media for reports and/or get into contact with your service provider on social media. We also recommend checking Down Detector to see if others in your area are having similar issues.

If you determine the issue is unrelated to a network outage, you’ll want to restart your iPhone and see if that fixes the connection.

If you still can’t get it to work, you’ll want to try toggling Cellular Data off and on. Here’s how to do that:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap Cellular.
• Toggle Cellular Data to off.
• Leave it off for a minute and toggle it back on.

If that doesn’t work, try turning Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it off. Airplane Mode kills all of the connections on your device.

If nothing here works, it may have something to do with your account. If you think that could be the case, get in contact with your service provider.

How to Fix iOS 16 FaceTime Issues

If you’re having trouble making or receiving FaceTime calls, you’ll want to make sure Apple isn’t having issues with the service. If FaceTime has a green symbol next to it, the issues are probably on your end.

First, make sure your iPhone is properly connected to Wi-Fi or your cellular network. If it is, make sure FaceTime is turned on. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into Settings.
• Tap FaceTime.
• If you notice a message that says “Waiting for Activation”, turn FaceTime off and then toggle it back on.

If FaceTime is on and you’re connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network, try restarting your iPhone.

If you’re having trouble connecting via FaceTime over a cellular network, make sure cellular data is currently turned on for FaceTime. Here’s how to check that:

• Head into Settings.
• Tap Cellular.
• Scroll Down and make sure FaceTime is toggled on.

How to Fix iOS 16 App Issues

If one or more of your applications start acting up after you move to the latest version of iOS 16, here are a few things you can try before getting in contact with the developer.

First, try restarting your iPhone. If that doesn’t improve the app’s performance, you’ll want to check the App Store for an update. Developers are still pushing iOS 16 support updates and the downloading latest version of the app could help.

You can also try deleting the app and downloading it again.

If you can’t fix the issue yourself, get in contact with the app’s developer and see if it knows about the issue. If it does, it might have a manual fix or an ETA on an update that will address the issue.

How to Fix iOS 16 Random Reboots

If your iPhone starts randomly rebooting, here are a few fixes to try before getting in contact with Apple.

First, restart your device. If you haven’t turned your device off in awhile, this could solve the issue.

If you’re still seeing random reboots, go ahead and update all of your applications and see if that solves the issue. If it doesn’t, you might need to have a chat with Apple’s customer service.

For more on how to fix iOS 16 performance issues, have a look at our guide.

How to Fix iOS 16 Visual Voicemail Issues

Visual Voicemail sometimes breaks after Apple releases a new version of iOS. If you can’t get visual voicemail to work properly on your phone, here are a few things to try.

First, try letting the voicemail play all the way through. Once it’s done, exit the Phone app and re-open it. If that doesn’t work, you’ll want to restart your iPhone.

How to Fix iOS 16 GPS Issues

If GPS starts acting up after you move your iPhone to the latest iOS 16 firmware, try restarting the device before you do anything else.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll want to try toggling Airplane Mode on and off. If it’s still acting up, go into your location permissions and make sure you’re permitting the app, or apps, to use GPS. Here’s how to do that:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap Privacy.
• Tap Locations Services at the top.
• Tap on the app in question and make sure you’re using something other than “Never.” If you have Never selected, GPS won’t work.

You can also try toggling Location Services off and on. Here’s how to do that:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap Privacy.
• Tap Locations Services at the top.
• Toggle Location Services off, wait a few seconds, and toggle it back on.

If you still can’t get GPS to work properly, try resetting your device’s Network Settings:

• Go to your Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset
• Tap Reset Network Settings.

Update Your iPhone

Apple will periodically release new software. Point updates (iOS 16.x.x) are typically focused on fixing bugs while milestone upgrades (iOS 16.x) usually deliver a mix of features and fixes.

The company may not call out general fixes (ex. a fix for Bluetooth issues) in an update’s change log, but new software always has the potential to help.

For more on the latest version of iOS 16, take a look at our guide.

Downgrade

If you can’t fix your issue and you can’t wait for the next version of iOS 16, you can try downgrading back to a previous version if the option is available. This could help improve your phone’s performance.

If you don’t know how to downgrade your iPhone’s software, take a look at our walkthrough.

Restore as New

If your phone is really struggling on iOS 16, you can try restoring your iPhone as new. You can do this via Finder, iTunes, or iCloud. This should only be used as a last resort.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

> 1 / 15

10 Common iOS 16 Problems & How to Fix Them is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

As we push away from the latest iOS 16 update’s release we’re hearing about a variety of performance issues plaguing iPhone users.

While many iPhone users are having a great experience on Apple’s latest software, others are complaining about bugs and performance problems.

The current list of iOS 16 performance issues includes UI lag, freezes, lock ups, and random reboots. These are extremely common, particularly on aging iPhone models. Newer models like the iPhone 14 series aren’t immune to performance problems though.

Performance issues can be difficult to fix. While you might be able to fix some problems on your own, others may require a fix from Apple in a new software update. In some cases, you may need to contact Apple support or bring your iPhone into an Apple Store.

If you can’t wait for a new version of iOS 16 and/or you don’t have time to get in touch with Apple support, we have some fixes that could help fix the iOS 16 performance issue(s) you’ve encountered on your phone.

Restart Your Phone

If you start noticing UI lag or another performance issue after installing the latest version of iOS 16, try restarting your iPhone. Power it down, leave it off for a minute, and the turn it back on. This has resolved many issues for us in the past.

Update Your iPhone

Apple will occasionally push new iOS 16 software to your iPhone. The company’s point updates (x.x.x) are typically focused on fixing bugs while milestone upgrades (x.x) usually deliver a mix of new enhancements.

The company might not call out performance fixes in an iOS 16 update’s change log, but new software always has the potential to help (or, in some cases, hurt) your iPhone’s overall performance.

For more on the latest version of iOS 16, take a look at our guide.

Update Your Apps

If you haven’t done so already, make sure you update your applications to the latest version.

App developers are rolling out iOS 16 support updates and they could help stabilize iOS 16’s performance on your iPhone.

Before you install the latest version of an app you’ll want to go into the App Store and read reviews from other iOS 16 users. If the reviews are mostly good, download the latest version

Cleanup Your iPhone’s Storage

If you’ve had your iPhone for awhile you might have a ton of clutter taking up space on its internal storage. Deleting unnecessary files could help speed up your iPhone. This is especially true if you’re almost out of storage.

To start, you’ll want to check and see how much space is free on your iPhone. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap iPhone Storage.

Apple makes some recommendations based on your utilization of your iPhone’s storage, but you can also just go through each section manually delete files you no longer need.

Stop Using Background App Refresh

iOS’ Background App Refresh feature refreshes apps in the background to show you the latest data when you open them up. It also makes your phone work in the background. So, if you don’t need this, you might want to shut the feature off. Here’s how to do that:

• Go into the Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Background App Refresh.
• At the top of this screen tap Background App Refresh and toggle it off.

If you want to keep it on for some apps, leave it on and then go down your list of apps and manually turn it off for apps you don’t use.

Reset All Settings

If you’re still not getting the kind of performance you’d like out of your iPhone, try resetting your settings. Here’s how to do that:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Reset Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings.
• Enter your passcode if you have one enabled.

This will restore your iPhone’s settings to their factory defaults.

Downgrade

If you can’t find a fix for your problem and/or don’t want to wait for Apple’s next iOS 16 update, you can try downgrading back to the previous version of iOS. Your downgrade options will change over time and sometimes downgrading won’t be available.

For more on the iOS downgrade process, take a look at our walkthrough.

Restore

If you can’t find a fix for your issue, and you want to avoid taking your iPhone into a store, you might want to restore your device. This should only be used as a last resort.

You can do this via Finder, iTunes, or iCloud.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

> 1 / 15

If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

> 1 / 15

How to Fix iOS 16 Performance Problems is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

If you run into iOS 16 battery life problems on your iPhone, there are some steps you should take before getting in contact with customer service.

As we push away from the latest iOS 16 release, iPhone users are reporting a variety of iOS 16-related problems. One of the issues on the list is abnormal battery drain, a common problem that pops up after every iOS release.

Some battery life issues might be hardware-related, but many others are probably related to Apple’s new firmware. In many cases, it’s an app causing the issue.

If your iPhone is getting awful battery life after moving to the newest software, you may be thinking about a move back to an older version of iOS 16. That’s an option to consider if the downgrade is available, but you should try and fix the issue so you can keep your iPhone on the latest firmware.

Fixing iOS 16 battery life problems can be tricky, but we’ve got some solutions that have worked for us, and many other iPhone users, in the past.

Restart Your iPhone

If you start noticing abnormal drain after installing the latest iOS 16 update on your iPhone, we recommend restarting your phone before doing anything else.

Power your iPhone down, wait for a minute, and then power it back on. A quick reboot can have a tremendous impact on your device’s performance so this is definitely the first thing to try.

Update Your iPhone

Apple will periodically release new iOS 16 software. Point updates (x.x.x) are usually focused on fixing bugs while milestone upgrades (x.x) typically deliver a mix of features and fixes.

The company might not call out battery life fixes in an iOS 16 update’s change log, but new software always has the potential to solve battery life issues.

If a new software update is available, dig into feedback about its performance and then decide if it’s worth installing. For more about the the latest version of iOS 16, check out our guide.

Check Your Apps

Apps have a tendency to start acting up after Apple releases new software so there’s a chance one of your apps is the source of your iPhone’s battery life problems.

Checking app performance is fairly straightforward on iOS 16 and it should only take you a few minutes to find the app, or apps, causing trouble. Here’s what you need to do:

• Go to the Settings app.
• Select Battery.
• Head into the Battery Usage tool. This tool will show you the apps draining your battery and when they’re doing so.

If you use an app on your phone a lot, it will obviously drain more battery than an app you never use. So if you see something out of the ordinary, like an app you rarely use draining battery for instance, you’ll want to investigate further.

If you see one or more of your apps eating up an abnormal amount of battery, try deleting the app from your device and see if that improves your iPhone’s performance.

If the app is essential to you day-to-day use, we recommend downloading the latest updates. If that doesn’t help, and you really need to the app to get through your day, you might need to downgrade back to the previous version of iOS 16.

Turn Down Screen Brightness

If you constantly have your iPhone’s screen at maximum brightness, it’ll drain the battery. To avoid this, you should enable Auto-Brightness to help prevent battery drain.

• Go into the Settings app.
• Tap Accessibility.
• Tap Display & Text Size.
• Make sure Auto-Brightness is toggled on.

Turn Off Keyboard Haptics

iOS 16 allows you to enable haptic feedback for the iPhone’s keyboard.

Unfortunately, Apple says turning on keyboard haptics might affect the battery life of your iPhone. If you don’t need keyboard haptics enabled, you should turn it off.

• Open up the Settings app.
• Go to Sounds & Haptics
• Tap Keyboard Feedback.
• Toggle Haptic to off.

Reset All Settings

You can also try resetting your iPhone’s settings.

Before you do this, note that it will cause your iPhone to forget known Wi-Fi networks (and Bluetooth connections) so make sure you have your passwords handy before you tap reset.

Here’s how to reset all of your iPhone’s settings:

• Go to Settings.
• Go to General.
• Scroll and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings and enter your passcode if one is enabled.

Once the process is complete, you’ll need to reconnect your iPhone to your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices.

Downgrade

If you can’t find a fix for your problem and/or don’t want to wait for Apple’s next iOS 16 update, you can try downgrading back to an older version of iOS.

Your downgrade options will change over time and downgrading may not be available as Apple stops signing on older iOS 16 software.

For more on the iOS downgrade, take a look at our walkthrough.

Buy a Battery Case or Battery Bank

If you can’t seem to shake your battery life issues and you don’t want to take your phone in and/or replace it, buying a battery case or battery bank could help.

We generally recommend going with a Mophie battery case, but Apple’s official battery cases are a great alternative if you’d prefer a first-party accessory.

If you don’t want to put a bulky case on your iPhone, you might want to buy a battery bank.

Battery banks are small, portable power sources that can fully charge your iPhone multiple times. There are a ton of great options out there, but Mophie’s powerstation and the Anker Powercore 20 are a couple favorites.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

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How to Fix iOS 16 Battery Life Problems is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max owners are complaining about a variety of bugs and performance issues. Fortunately, a lot of these problems can be fixed in a matter of minutes.

If you’ve run into trouble on your iPhone 12, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to fix your ailing phone long before new iOS 16 software arrives or you’re forced to get in touch with Apple support or your carrier.

In this guide we’ll take you through fixes for some of the most common iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max problems. Our list includes fixes for Wi-Fi issues, fixes for Bluetooth problems, fixes for charging issues, and more.

One reminder before you jump in: Before you start playing around with your device’s settings, make sure you update to the latest version of iOS 16. It could help.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Battery Life

Most users are enjoying excellent battery life. However, some are starting to notice their iPhone 12’s battery drain faster than it should.

If your phone’s battery suddenly starts draining faster than it normally does, have a look at our list of fixes for iPhone 12 battery life issues.

If the problems are really bad, you might have a hardware issue. If the drain is really bad, you’ll want to get in contact with Apple customer service.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Missing 5G

If you own an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max you’re probably interested in using your carrier’s 5G network. Thing is, you need to be on a plan that supports 5G connectivity.

If you go into the Cellular section of your phone’s Settings app and you don’t notice any options for 5G, this isn’t a bug. It’s likely because you’re not currently on a 5G-enabled plan with your carrier. If that’s the case, you’ll only see “LTE” and “4G.”

In order to make use of your carrier’s 5G network you’ll likely need to change/upgrade your plan. Before you do so, make sure 5G service is available in the areas you frequent most. You can do that via the carrier 5G maps below:

• AT&T 5G Map
• T-Mobile 5G Map
• Sprint 5G Map
• Verizon 5G Map

One other note: If you’re on AT&T you might notice that your phone is connected to 5Ge when its not connected to Wi-Fi. This isn’t AT&T’s 5G network.

5Ge stands for 5G Evolution and it’s a rebranding of the carrier’s LTE-A service.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Wi-Fi Problems

If you start noticing slow Wi-Fi speeds or an increase in dropped connections, here are some things you can try before getting in contact with customer service.

Before you start fiddling with your iPhone 12’s settings, you’ll want to investigate the Wi-Fi connection giving you problems. If you’re on your home Wi-Fi network, try unplugging the router for minute before plugging it back in.

If you’re positive it’s not the router, you might want to check Down Detector and see if others with the same ISP are having similar issues in your area.

If you can’t access the router your phone is connected to or if you’re positive the issue has nothing to do with your ISP/router, head into your iPhone 12’s Settings app.

Once you’re in here, you’ll want to forget the Wi-Fi network you’re having issues with. Here’s how to do that:

• In Settings, tap Wi-Fi.
• Select your connection by tapping the “i” in the circle.
• Tap Forget this Network at the top of the screen. (Note: This will cause your iPhone to forget the Wi-Fi password so you’ll want to have that handy.)

If this doesn’t work, try resetting your iPhone’s network settings:

• Go to your Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap on Reset Network Settings.

If none of those help, you’ll want to check out Apple’s guide to Wi-Fi problems.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Bluetooth Problems

If your device is unable to connect to one or more of your Bluetooth devices, there are a few steps to take.

The very first thing you’ll want to do is forget the Bluetooth connection that’s giving you issues. Here’s how to do that:

• Head into the Settings app.
• Tap Bluetooth.
• Select the connection using the “i” in the circle.
• Tap “Forget this Device”.
• Try reconnecting to the Bluetooth device.

If that doesn’t work, you should try resetting your Network Settings:

• Go to your Settings.
• Tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset Network Settings.

This process will take a few seconds to complete. It will also cause your iPhone to forget known Wi-Fi networks so make sure you’ve got your password(s) handy.

You can also try resetting your device’s settings back to their factory defaults though this should only be done as a last resort. Here’s how to do that on iOS 14 if, for some reason, you’re still running it:

• Head into the Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings.

If you’re running iOS 15 or iOS 16, here’s how to reset all of your iPhone’s settings:

• Go to Settings.
• Go to General.
• Scroll and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.
• Tap Reset.
• Tap Reset All Settings.

If none of those fixes work, you might have to contact Apple’s customer service or, if it’s not an Apple product, the company that makes the Bluetooth product you’re trying to connect to.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Charging Problems

We’ve seen some complaints about iPhone 12 charging issues and most of the problems have to do with the wireless charging feature.

If you encounter an issue with wireless charging, reset your iPhone. To do this, press and release Volume up, press and release volume down, and then hold down the power button until the phone shuts off. Turn the device back on and see if the feature is working normally.

If you’re using an iPhone case to store credit cards or security passes, you’ll want to remove those before charging your phone. You also might try taking your case off and try charging your phone that way.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Cellular Data Problems

If your iPhone suddenly displays a “No Service” symbol and you can’t connect to your cellular network, here are a few steps to take.

First, make sure there isn’t an outage in your area. Check social media for reports and/or get into contact with your service provider on social media. You can also check Down Detector and see if others in your area are having similar issues.

If you determine the issue is unrelated to a network outage, you’ll want to restart your iPhone and see if that fixes the issue.

If that doesn’t work, try turning Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds before turning it off.

If you still can’t get it to work, you’ll want to try shutting off Cellular Data completely. To do that, here’s what you need to do:

• Go to Settings.
• Tap Cellular.
• Toggle Cellular Data to off.
• Leave it off for a minute and toggle it back on.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Sound Problems

Your iPhone 12’s speakers should provide loud, crisp audio. However, if your sound starts to crackle or sound muffled, here are a few things you can try before getting in contact with Apple customer service.

First restart your iPhone. You also might want to check to make sure your SIM card is positioned correctly in the tray. The SIM card slot on the iPhone 12 is located on the left side of the phone.

You can also try turning Bluetooth connectivity off and on.

If sound coming from the phone is still missing or distorted, make sure there isn’t debris blocking the speaker grille or the Lightning port.

If you start noticing a sudden drop in call quality, restart your phone. You’ll also want to check the device’s receiver to make sure it’s not blocked by debris or your screen protector if you have one. You can also try removing your case if you’re using one to see if that helps.

If your phone’s microphone suddenly stops working or starts randomly cutting out, try restarting your phone.

If the microphone is still busted, you can try restoring your phone from a backup. If restoring doesn’t work, you’ll want to get in touch with Apple because you might have a hardware issue.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Activation Problems

If you’re setting up your new phone and you’re unable to activate it properly, here are a few things you can try.

First, make sure Apple’s systems are up and running. You can do that over here on the company’s System Status page. If you see green next to iOS Device Activation, Apple’s services should be working normally.

If you see a green symbol and still can’t activate, make sure your SIM card is properly inserted in your iPhone. Also make sure you’re using the correct SIM card.

If you’re seeing an alert that says Invalid SIM or No SIM, and you’re positive you’re using the correct SIM card, here are a few additional steps to take:

• Make sure you have an active plan with your wireless carrier.
• Update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS 16.
• Restart your phone.
• Check for a carrier settings update. Go into Settings > General > About. If an update is available, you’ll see a prompt to select OK or Update.

If none of those work, get in contact with Apple or your service provider.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Performance

If your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max is lagging, freezing or locking up, or you run into another performance issue, please take a look at our list of fixes for performance issues.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Face ID Problems

If you’re having issues with your phone’s Face ID feature, here are a few things you can try.

First, make sure your iPhone 12 is running the latest version of iOS 16.

If you’re running the latest version of iOS and you’re seeing issues, head into your Face ID settings.

• Go to Settings.
• Head into Face ID & Passcode. Note that you’ll have to enter your passcode (if you have one) to gain access.

Once you’re in there, make sure that Face ID is setup on your phone and that all of the features you’re trying to use Face ID with are currently turned on.

If you’re having issues using your face to unlock your phone, make sure you’re actively looking at the screen.

If you constantly change your appearance, you might need to add an alternate appearance to Face ID. To setup an alternate appearance, here’s what you need to do:

You’ll also want to make sure there isn’t any debris (dirt, dust, etc) blocking your iPhone 12’s front-facing camera.

If your device isn’t registering your face when you’re setting up Face ID, make sure you’re scanning it in a well-lit room. You also might need to bring the iPhone 12 closer to your face or bring it more level.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Overheating Problems

We’ve seen a reports about iPhone 12 models running hot during the setup and while running apps and services like GPS. If you don’t want to take your phone into a store, here are a few things to try.

First, try removing your case (if you’re using one) and see if that helps. You’ll also want to try turning the phone off and back on. You can also try putting the phone into Airplane Mode.

You’ll also want to check out this guide to keeping your iPhone within acceptable operating temperatures. It’ll come in handy, particularly if you often use your iPhone in hot environments.

Downgrade iOS

If everything fails, and you can’t wait for the next version of iOS 16 and/or you don’t get a working solution from Apple customer service, you can try downgrading back to the previous version of iOS 16 (if the option is available). This could help improve your phone’s performance.

If you don’t know how to downgrade an iPhone’s software, take a look at our walkthrough.

Restore as New

If the problems are really bad, you can try restoring your iPhone 12 as new. You can do this via Finder, iTunes, or iCloud. This should only be used as a last resort.

Install iOS 16.6.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.6.1 update on your iPhone right away. iOS 16.6.1 isn't a huge upgrade, but it does have two important security patches for your device on board. If you're interested in what they patch up, here's Apple's guide.  As for older software, the iOS 16.6 update delivered 16 security patches. For more information about the changes, check out Apple's rundown.   iOS 16.5.1 brought two security patches to iPhone users  If you want to learn more, head on over to Apple's website. The company's iOS Security Response 16.5.1 (c) update also included a security update and you can learn more about it right here. iOS 16.5 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. You can find out more about them over on Apple's security site. iOS 16.4.1 included two security upgrades . You can learn more about the pair right here. Apple's iOS 16.4 update had a substantial number of patches on board. You can read about them in detail over on Apple's security site. The iOS 16.3.1 update had three security patches on board including one for an actively exploited vulnerability. For more on the security contents of iOS 16.3.1, check out Apple's security page.  iOS 16.3 brought 10+ new security patches with it and you can learn more about all of those right here.  In addition, the software came with support for physical security keys for Apple ID. These will beef up your account security by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process. Learn more about the change right here. If you skipped iOS 16.2, you'll get its changes with iOS 16.6.1. iOS 16.2 brought a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.  The update also brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud, iMessage, iPhone backups, Notes, Photos, and more. If you want to learn more about it, head over to Apple's guide.  If you decided to missed iOS 16.1.2, you'll get its solitary security patch with your upgrade. Learn more about it right here. If you skipped iOS 16.1.1, you'll get its security patches when you upgrade. You can learn more about them right here. If you missed the iOS 16.1 update, it brought 19 security patches to the iPhone and you can learn about the particulars of those over on Apple's website. If you failed to download iOS 16.0.3, it had one security patch on board, a fix for a potential exploit within the Mail app. For more about the fix, check out Apple's security site. If you're still running iOS 15 your iPhone, you'll get a bunch of other patches when you upgrade. iOS 16.0 brought a ton of security patches to the iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website. In addition to those patches, iOS 16 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including Safety Check which, according to Apple, will help "people in domestic or intimate partner violence situations review and reset the access they’ve granted others."  The feature also resets system privacy permissions for apps and restricts Messages and FaceTime to the device on hand. Apple's also made some improvements to Passkeys in Safari. iOS 16 brings a brand new sign-in method that's end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks.

> 1 / 15

11 Common iPhone 12 Problems & How to Fix Them is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.