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 latest iOS software.

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 2022 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 new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max users are dealing with activation problems. Activation issues are fairly 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 list that outlines the best reasons to upgrade to the latest version of iOS 15. And if you’re thinking about moving your iPhone X to iOS 16, or if you’ve already made the move, take a look at our guide that goes over the latest version of that 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.

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.

How to Downgrade the iPhone XS

If you recently downloaded an iOS 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

If your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max is struggling, you’re on your own for the time being.

Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 16.3 update and it’s currently in beta testing ahead of a release later this year. We expect it to arrive in early 2023.

If you can’t/don’t want to wait for the official release date, you might try downloading the iOS 16.3 beta and see if it helps resolve your issues.

For more on iOS 16.3 and the beta, have a look at our walkthrough. For more about the iOS 16.3 release date, check out our guide.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 16.2 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 16.2 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 16.2 update right away.

iOS 16.2 brings a ton of important security patches with it and you can dig into the details on Apple's security site.

The update also brings 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 hold off on installing 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.