iPhone 12 Problems: 5 Things You Need to Know

Problems are plaguing iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max users.

iPhone 12 users are complaining about a wide variety of issues ranging from minor bugs to serious performance issues. And while some of these issues will likely be resolved by Apple in future iOS updates, we will likely see more problems will popup as people put more wear and tear on their devices.

In the guide below, you can learn about the current state of iPhone 12 issues, potential fixes for these problems, places to find feedback, and what’s next from Apple in terms of iOS 17 updates.

Updated October 27th to reflect the release of iOS 17.1. This post was first published on Friday, October 23rd.

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iPhone 12 Problems

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.

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.

If you’re thinking about moving to Apple’s iOS 17 firmware, or if you’ve already made the move, take a look at our guide that covers the latest version of the software.

We’ve also released a quick review that covers the performance of the most up-to-date version of iOS 17, iOS 17.1.

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 your phone’s battery life if you start 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 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.

How to Downgrade 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.

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 phone is struggling on iOS 17.1 or an older version of iOS, you might be on your own for a bit.

Apple’s confirmed a new iOS 17.2 update and it’s currently in beta testing. We expect the release to come sometime in December iPadOS 17.2 and macOS Sonoma 14.2.

If you can’t/don’t want to wait for the official release date, you might try downloading the iOS 17.2 beta on your iPhone and see if performance improves.

For more about iOS 17.2 and the beta, have a look at our walkthrough. For more about the upcoming iOS 17.2 release date, check out our guide.

4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 17.1 & 11 Reasons You Should

Install iOS 17.1 for Better Security

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If security is important to you, think about installing Apple's iOS 17.1 update right away.

iOS 17.1 brings 18 security fixes to iPhone. It addresses issues within Weather, Status Bar, WebKit, and more. These are essential fixes for your iPhone and this is just one reason why you should install iOS 17.1 today.

As for older versions of iOS 17, iOS 17.0.3 brought two patches for two security issues Apple identified within the software. If you want to read about the patches, head here.

iOS 17.0.1 delivered three important patches to iPhone. If you're interested in the exact nature of these improvements, you can read about them over on Apple's security website.

As for iOS 17 itself, it brought 40+ new security patches with it. A staggering number to say the least. If you want to learn more about them, head over to Apple.

In addition to those patches, iOS 17 brings some additional enhancements to privacy and security including improvements to Communication Safety beyond Messages.

It now includes content sent by AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime, and the systemwide photo picker. You now have an option to blur out sensitive photos and videos before you choose to view them.

There's also an expanded Lockdown Mode which will help protect you against cyber attacks.

Apple's also improved sharing permissions and you now have more control over what you share with the apps on your device.

The company also notes that starting in iOS 17, Voice Memos encrypts the titles of recordings stored in iCloud, in addition to the recordings themselves.

If you skipped older versions of iOS, you'll get the security patches from those updates with your iOS 17.1 update as well.