iPhone XS Problems: 5 Things to Know

iPhone XS Problems: 5 Things to Know is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max owners are dealing with a variety of problems after moving to Apple’s iOS 14.4.1 update.

iPhone XS users are complaining about connectivity issues, activation problems, Bluetooth issues, battery life issues, Wi-Fi issues, and more.

The list of problems is growing and we expect it to get larger as more people decide to buy the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Plus in 2021 and beyond.

In this guide we’ll take you through the most common problems plaguing the two models. We’ll also provide you with some tips and resources that will come in handy if and when you start noticing issues on your device.

iPhone XS Problems

Some iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max users are still dealing with activation problems. Activation issues are extremely common so if you’re having trouble activating your new phone there’s no need to panic.

If you’re unable to activate your iPhone right now, check Apple’s System Status page. If it’s not green, you’ll want to wait until it’s green and then try again.

If it’s green and it’s still not working, make sure you have a SIM card in your iPhone. If you’re getting a “No Sim” or “Invalid SIM” error you’ll want to head here for help.

On top of that, we’re hearing about iCloud Restore problems. This is also a common issue with new phones and it can be rather tricky to fix. If you run into issues restoring from iCloud, head here for a few potential fixes.

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max users are also complaining about problems setting up Face ID, problems with iCloud, Wi-Fi problems, sound problems, cellular data issues, and Bluetooth issues.

We expect the list to change, and potentially grow, as we push deeper into the year.

Where to Find Feedback

If you start noticing issues on your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max, or if you’re thinking about buying one, you’ll want to dig into feedback and fixes from those who have upgraded. There are a few places to do that.

We recommend keeping an eye on YouTube, Apple’s discussion forums, social media sites like Twitter/Facebook, and the MacRumors forums.

We’ve also put together a mini iOS 14.4.1 review which is worth checking out if you need additional feedback about the devices current software.

How to Fix iPhone XS Problems

If you run into an iPhone XS problem there’s no reason to panic. There’s a very good chance you can fix the issue(s) you’re seeing in a matter of minutes.

If you don’t know where to start, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iPhone XS problems. This guide outlines fixes that could help you get your experience back on track.

We’ve also released some tips to help you improve your device’s overall performance and a guide that could help you improve your iPhone XS battery life.

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

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max, 256GB, Midnight Green, Fully Unlocked (Renewed)

Fully unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US-Cellular, Cricket, Metro, etc.).
The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charger and charging cable that may be generic, in which case it will be UL or Mfi (Made for iPhone) Certified.
Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arms length.
Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.

If you’d prefer to get in touch with Apple, you can do so via the company’s support account on Twitter. You can also get in contact with Apple Support via the company’s website.

If Apple’s frontline customer service can’t fix your problem, you might want to take your phone into your local Apple Store or your local carrier location to see if they can diagnose your issue.

If you’ve got an Apple Store in your area, schedule a Genius Bar appointment and have them run diagnostics on your device to see if they can pinpoint the problem.

Your iPhone XS is under warranty so they might offer you a replacement if they determine there’s a serious defect.

How to Downgrade the iPhone XS

If you recently downloaded an iOS 14 update on your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max and you’ve started noticing problems, you might be able to downgrade back to an older version.

Downgrading isn’t a guaranteed way to fix performance issues, but it’s an option if you want to try and get a handle on your phone’s performance.

Apple typically keeps the downgrade loophole open for a few weeks after it releases a new version of iOS so you’ll need to move quickly if you want to drop back down.

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

What’s Next

Apple’s confirmed a brand new version of iOS 14.

The company recently put iOS 14.5, a milestone upgrade (x.x), into beta testing and the software will bring new features, fixes, and important security patches to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.

Apple hasn’t confirmed an iOS 14.5 release date, but it should roll out sometime in the early spring. If you can’t wait, you should join one of Apple’s beta programs.

For more on iOS 14.5, take a look at our guide.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 14.4.1 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 14.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing iOS 14.4.1 right now.

iOS 14.4.1 has an important security patch on board and you can read more about the change over on Apple's website.

If you skipped iOS 14.4, you get the update's patches with your upgrade. You can learn more about iOS 14.4's security patches right here.

If you skipped iOS 14.3 you'll get its nine security updates with your upgrade. You can read more about them on its security site.

iOS 14.3 also included a new privacy information section on App Store pages that includes a developer-reported summary of the app’s privacy practices.

If you skipped iOS 14.2, your iOS 14.4.1 update includes iOS 14.2's 24 security patches. You can learn more about the patches on Apple's security website.

If you're still running iOS 13, iOS 14.4.1 includes iOS 14.0's security updates.

iOS 14.0 brought 11 new 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 website.

In addition to those patches, iOS 14 comes with some security and privacy upgrades including improvements to Home/HomeKit and Safari.

For instance in Safari, you can now tap the Privacy Report button to better understand how websites handle your privacy.

With iOS 14 on board you can now get information on the App Store that will help you understand the privacy practices of apps before you download them.

There is also a new recording indicator that will appear at the top of your screen whenever an app is using your microphone or camera. You can see if an app has used them recently in Control Center.

Researchers also discovered that Apple brought a new "BlastDoor" sandbox security system to iOS 14. The system is meant to prevent attacks from occurring via the Messages app.

You can read more about "BlastDoor" right here.