iPhone SE 2 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

While some people are having a great experience, others are running into problems on their iPhone SE 2.

We continue to hear about issues plaguing the device. We still haven’t heard about any truly widespread issues, but we have heard about an assortment of bugs and performance issues impacting the iPhone SE 2’s performance.

With that in mind, we want to take you through the most important things to know, right now, iPhone SE 2 problems. Our guide we’ll take you through the current state of these issues, potential fixes for problems, places to find feedback about problems, and information about the next software update for iPhone SE 2 users.

iPhone SE 2 Problems

If you’re having issues activating your iPhone SE 2, check Apple’s System Status page. If “iOS Device Activation” doesn’t have a  green symbol next to it, you’ll want to wait until it’s green before trying the activation process again.

If it’s green and the process still isn’t working, make sure you have a SIM card inserted into your iPhone. If you’re receiving a “No Sim” or “Invalid SIM” error, you’ll want to head to this guide on Apple’s website for assistance.

iCloud Restore issues are also a common problem. If you run into issues restoring your data from iCloud, head here for some potential fixes.

We’re also hearing about a variety of issues including issues with Touch ID, abnormal battery drain, issues with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Exchange issues, problems with first and third-party applications, and a variety of other problems.

We expect the list to grow as Apple releases new iOS 16 software and as more people buy the iPhone SE 2 throughout the year.

Where to Find Feedback

If you’re thinking about buying an iPhone SE 2, or if you already own one, you’ll want to monitor feedback from early adopters. This feedback will alert you to potential issues with the device’s hardware and software.

We recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter, and the MacRumors forums for ongoing feedback about the budget device.

We’ve also put together a list of the best reasons to, and not to, install the latest version of iOS 15. iOS 15.7.1 is Apple’s latest iOS 15 firmware for the iPhone SE 2.

Apple’s also pushed new iOS 16 software to the iPhone SE 2. If you’re debating a move from iOS 15 to iOS 16, or a move from one version of iOS 16 to another, have a look at our iOS 16 walkthrough.

How to Fix iPhone SE 2 Problems

While some issues might require a fix from Apple in a future iOS update, some problems can be fixed from the comfort of your home.

If you run into a problem, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iOS problems. It will take you through fixes for issues like broken Wi-Fi.

We’ve also released some tips to help your device’s performance and a guide that could help you improve battery life if you’re noticing abnormal drain.

If you can’t find a fix in those guides, you’ll want to check Apple’s discussion forums for potential fixes for your problem(s).

If you can’t find anything on Apple’s forums, you might want to get in touch with Apple. You can do so via the company’s support account on Twitter or via the company’s website.

If you’d rather explain your issue in person, you should take your new phone into your local Apple Store. If you’ve got an Apple Store in your area, and it’s open, you’ll want to schedule a Genius Bar appointment when you can.

How to Downgrade iPhone SE 2 Software

If you’re having issues on your iPhone SE 2, you can sometimes downgrade the software in an attempt to improve the device’s performance.

If you’re unfamiliar with the downgrade process our guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

What’s Next

If you encounter problems on your current version of iOS 16, you’re on your own for the time being.

The iOS 16.6 update was the last known upgrade in Apple’s iOS 16 pipeline so it’s unclear when a new version will roll out. We could see another bug fix upgrade for the iPhone SE 2 down the road, but don’t expect much.

Apple will push iOS 17 to the iPhone SE 2 later this year, probably sometime in mid-September. For more about iOS 17 and its release, take 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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