iPhone 12 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

iPhone 12 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.

New problems are plaguing iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max owners as we push deeper into the year.

While Apple’s iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max have earned excellent reviews, they are still amongst the best phones you can buy, they aren’t perfect.

iPhone 12 users are complaining about a wide variety of issues ranging from minor bugs to serious performance issues. Keep in mind, Apple’s iPhone 12 models are still fairly new.

And while some of these issues will likely be resolved by Apple and its partners, we will likely see more problems will popup as people put more wear and tear on their devices.

The iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max face similar problems as they share many parts, were released at the same time, and are the first iPhones to launch with 5G connectivity.

In the below guide, you can learn about the current state of iPhone 12 issues, potential fixes for these problems, places to find feedback, and what’s next in terms of iOS software updates for these devices.

iPhone 12 Problems

Activation issues always plague iPhones so it comes as no surprise to learn that some new iPhone 12 owners have been dealing with them.

If you’re having issues activating your phone, check Apple’s System Status page. If you don’t see a green symbol next to iOS Device Activation, you’ll want to wait until it’s green and then try activating the phone again.

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

We’re also hearing about Face ID problems, issues with first and third-party applications, Exchange problems, iCloud issues, visual voicemail problems, SIM card issues, Bluetooth issues, issues with the screen, charging problems, Wi-Fi issues, sound problems, and excessive battery drain.

Owners of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12, both of which employ a design with aluminum edges, are reportedly seeing discoloration on the chassis. A report from from Svetapple states that the color is fading on parts of the edges.

On top of that, iPhone 12 users are complaining about 5G/LTE issues. Some users are saying cellular service is dropping unexpectedly while on-the-go. Others are complaining that they aren’t seeing the 5G speeds they expected.

It’s important to note that 5G is a relatively new technology and coverage can be inconsistent. Some of the frustrations with slow 5G performance should resolve over time as carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile build out their 5G networks.

Where to Find Feedback About iPhone 12 Performance

If you’re thinking about buying an iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or an iPhone 12 Pro Max, or if you already own one, you’ll want to monitor feedback from those who have adopted these devices. This feedback will alert you to potential issues with the hardware and software.

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

We’ve also put together lists that run down the best reasons to, and not to, install the latest version of iOS 15 and it’s worth a look if you’re on the fence about downloading Apple’s newest software.

How to Fix iPhone 12 Problems

If you run into a problem, there’s no need to panic. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to avoid taking your new device into an Apple Store or your local carrier store for assistance.

First, take a look at our list of fixes for the most common iPhone 12 problems. It will take you through fixes for common issues like broken Bluetooth and busted Wi-Fi.

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

If you can’t find a fix for your issue(s) in our guides, you’ll want to check Apple’s discussion forums and see if someone has a fix for your problem(s).

If you can’t find anything there, it’s time 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 you’d rather explain your issue in person, you should take your phone into your local Apple Store and see if they can diagnose your problem. If you’ve got an Apple Store in your area, you’ll want to schedule a Genius Bar appointment.

Your iPhone 12 might still be under warranty so they might offer you a replacement if the problem is serious enough.

How to Downgrade Your iPhone 12’s Software

If you’re dealing with software problems on your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max, you can try downgrading to the previous version of iOS if the option is available. Right now, it’s not.

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

What’s Next for the iPhone 12

If your device is struggling on iOS 15.4.1, or an older version of iOS, you might be on you own for a bit.

Apple’s confirmed a new version of iOS 15 and iOS 15.5 is currently in beta testing ahead of its public release. The company hasn’t confirmed an iOS 15.5 release date and we expect it to stay in beta for several weeks.

If your problems are really bad, or you just want to try new software, you might try downloading the iOS 15.5 beta onto your iPhone 12 model right now.

For more on iOS 15.5 and the beta, have a look at our walkthrough. For more about the upcoming iOS 15.5 release date, check out our guide.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 15.4.1 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 15.4.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, you'll want to think about installing Apple's iOS 15.4.1 update right away.

iOS 15.4.1 has one new security patch on board and you can read more about it over on Apple's website. It will help protect your phone from harm.

If you missed the iOS 15.4 update, it had a whopping 36 new security patches on board. If you want to learn more about these patches, head on over to Apple's security site for the particulars.

If you missed iOS 15.3.1, it had one security patch on board. For more about it, head over to Apple's security page.

If you missed iOS 15.3, you'll also get its patches with your upgrade. iOS 15.3 brought 10 new security patches to iPhone users. If you're interested in the details, you can read more about them right here.

If you missed iOS 15.2.1, you'll get its security patch with your upgrade. You can learn more about the change over on Apple's website.

If you missed Apple's iOS 15.2 update, you'll get its 30+ security patches with your upgrade. You can read all about them over on the company's security site.

iOS 15.2 also included some important upgrades to privacy. The software brought the company's App Privacy Report to Settings. This lets you see how often your apps have accessed your location, photos, camera, microphone, contacts and more during the last seven days. You can also see their network activity.

In addition, iOS 15.2 brought Apple's communication safety features for kids. You'll find these features in the Messages app, in Siri, in Spotlight, and in Search.

If you missed iOS 15.1, iOS 15.4.1 will bring its security patches to your iPhone. You can read more about them on Apple's website.

If you missed iOS 15.0.2 you'll also get its security patch with your upgrade. You can learn more about it right here.

iOS 15.0 also brought numerous security patches to your iPhone. If you'll be moving up from iOS 14 and you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website.

Apple's updated its website with new information about iOS 15's batch of security patches. The company now says the software patched up an issue that could have exposed a user's private Apple ID information and in-app search history. It also says iOS 15 patched up an issue that allowed apps to override Privacy preferences.

If you skipped iOS 14.8 or any older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 15.4.1 update as well.

In addition to those patches, iOS 15 comes with some security and privacy upgrades including improvements to Siri. Requests made to Siri are now processed on the device itself using Neural Engine. This makes it more secure.

If you're an Apple Card user, you'll now get a security code that changes regularly to use when you make online transactions.

Apple's also included a built-in authenticator that's similar to Google Authenticator. This will let you generate verification codes for enhanced sign-in security under your Passwords.

There's also a Mail feature that hides your IP address. The company will add a new App Privacy report feature in the next version of iOS 15 that will tell you when an app has accessed sensitive information.