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

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

Apple’s released a new iOS 16.3 update for iPhone and the software comes with some intriguing enhancements.

iOS 16.3 is the company’s third milestone upgrade for iOS 16. Like its predecessor iOS 16.2, the software delivers new features, bug fixes, and security updates that should improve the iPhone experience.

With that in mind we want to take you through everything you need to know about iOS 16.3, Apple’s latest and greatest iOS 16 update for the iPhone.

• iOS 16.3 Review
• iOS 16.3 Problems
• iOS 16.3 Features
• iOS 16.3 Jailbreak
• What’s Next

In this guide we’ll walk you through iOS 16.3’s features, the firmware’s performance, the current state of iOS 16.3 problems, the iOS 16.3 jailbreak status, and more. We’ll start with some quick thoughts on iOS 16.3’s performance.

iOS 16.3 Review

If your iPhone is currently running iOS 16.2, you’ll see the smallest iOS 16.3 download size when you go to install the new software in your Settings app.

The exact size of the iOS 16.3 download depends on your iPhone model and the version of iOS it’s currently running. If your device is running a really older version of iOS 16, or an older version of iOS, you’ll likely see a bigger download because iOS 16.3 will have the changes from the updates you skipped on board.

If you’re moving your iPhone up from iOS 16.2, the installation process should take 10 minutes or less to complete. It took about seven minutes to install on an iPhone 12 Pro.

We’ve been using the iOS 16.3 update on an iPhone 12 Pro for a few days now and here’s what we’ve learned about the software’s performance thus far:

Connectivity

• Battery life is stable.
• Wi-Fi connectivity is fast and reliable.
• Bluetooth is working normally.
• GPS and cellular data are both stable.

App Performance

• Third-party apps including Netflix, Twitter, Slack, Asana, Gmail, Chrome, and Spotify are working fine at the moment.
• First party apps like Safari and Podcasts are also stable.

Speed

• iOS 16.2 feels as fast as iOS 16.3 did. We haven’t noticed an increase in lag and animations and transitions are crisp right now.

If you’ve been dealing with bugs and/or performance issues on iOS 16.2 or an older version of iOS 16, you should probably install the iOS 16.3 update on your iPhone.

If you need help making a decision about an upgrade, check out the best reasons to, and not to, install the iOS 16.3 update on your iPhone right now.

iOS 16.3 Problems

iOS 16.3 is causing problems for some iPhone users. Some of these problems are brand new, others have carried over from older iOS firmware.

The current list of iOS 16.3 problems includes abnormal battery drain, installation issues, Wi-Fi problems, Bluetooth bugs, UI lag, issues with Face ID, and issues with various first and third-party apps.

If you encounter a problem with the software, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS 16 issues. We’ve also released some tips that could help you improve your phone’s performance and some tips that could help you fix iOS 16 battery life issues.

Apple stopped signing on iOS 16.2 which means you can’t move your iPhone’s software back to the previous version of iOS 16 in an effort to improve its performance. You can’t downgrade to older versions of iOS either.

Keep this in mind if you’re having a good experience on your current version of iOS. Once you make the move to iOS 16.3, you won’t be able to get back.

For more on the downgrade process, check out our guide.

iOS 16.3 Features

Apple’s milestone updates (x.x) almost always bring new features, enhancements, security patches, and bug fixes to iPhone users and that’s what you’ll get from iOS 16.3.

Here’s the full iOS 16.3 change log:

Features

• New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month.
• Security Keys for Apple ID allow users to strengthen the security of their account by requiring a physical security key as part of the two factor authentication sign in process on new devices.
• Support for HomePod (2nd generation).
• Emergency SOS calls now require holding the side button with the up or down volume button and then releasing in order to prevent inadvertent emergency calls.

Bug Fixes

• Fixes an issue in Freeform where some drawing strokes created with Apple Pencil or your finger may not appear on shared boards.
• Addresses an issue where the wallpaper may appear black on the Lock Screen.
• Fixes an issue where horizontal lines may temporarily appear while waking up iPhone 14 Pro Max.
• Fixes an issue where the Home Lock Screen widget does not accurately display Home app status.
• Addresses an issue where Siri may not respond properly to music requests.
• Resolves issues where Siri requests in CarPlay may not be understood correctly. (This fixes a bug that prevented Find My app from working properly with CarPlay.)

While unlisted, it looks like iOS 16.3 lets iPhone users add lock screen widgets to classic wallpapers.

The software also brings new security patches to the iPhone and you can read more about those changes over on Apple’s security website.

iOS 16.3 Jailbreak

If you still jailbreak, make sure you avoid the iOS 16.3 update.

Developers have released a new jailbreak that works with iOS 15.0-iOS 16.2. Unfortunately, the jailbreak doesn’t work with iOS 16.3 and it’s only compatible with the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus.

We’ll let you know if that changes.

What’s Next

iOS 16.3 was the last known iOS software upgrade in Apple’s pipeline so it’s unclear when the next version of iOS 16 will roll out to iPhone users.

While unconfirmed, it looks like Apple is testing a new iOS 16.3.1 update for release ahead of the company’s next milestone upgrade.

We suspect Apple will put a new milestone update, dubbed iOS 16.4, into beta testing in the near future so keep an eye out as we cruise through the month.

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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5 Things to Know About the iOS 16.3 Update is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.